History

Douglas developed the DC-4 in response to requests from Eastern and United Airlines, after the failed DC-4E, which proved too complicated and uneconomical.

Before the type entered production World War Two broke out and all contracts were taken over by the USAF, designating the aircraft as C-54; US Navy gave it the designation R5D.

The first C-54 made ​​its first flight on 14 February 1942. 1163 Examples were built between 1942 and 1946. After the war a further 79 DC-4s were built.

After the war the type was developed into the larger DC-6 and DC-7.

 

Versions.

At  this website you may find an overview of DC-4 and C-54 variants.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 28,2 m Wingspan: 35,8 m
Height: 8,38 m Wing area: 136 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 17 660 kg Max. start weight: 33 000 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 442 km/hr Rate of climb: - m/min
Cruising speed: 310 km/hr    
Range: 6400 km Service ceiling: 6800 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 rated 1450 hp each. (type of engine installed may vary)
Crew: -
Armament: None

 


In service with NGAT (Netherlands Governent Air Transport) and NEIAF.

In service with Netherlands Government Air Transport.

The NGAT was in fact the successor of no. 1316 (Dutch Communications) Flight. Autumn 1945 fourteen C-54s were acquired from the USAF by the Dutch Government.

These aircraft were completely overhauled and modified for transport of 28 passengers and 2000 kg freight.

Initially the orange triangle was applied as national insignia and also "military" serials were added. The aircraft were property of the Dutch Government and flown by KLM crew. One of the reasons was that in those days it was forbidden for civil aircraft to use several (military) airfields along the route to Netherlands East Indies. Spring 1947 the situation has changed and the aircraft were officially handed over to the KLM and received a civil KLM colour scheme and also civil registrations.

See also the site of Herman Dekker for more information about this subject.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Nederlands-Indië in de kleuren van Netherlands Government Air Transport (omgezet in KLM in 1945).
Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Netherlands East-indies in the colours of te Netherlands Government Air Transport.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Staart van een Douglas C-54 Skymaster in de kleuren van Netherlands Government Air Transport (omgezet in KLM in 1945) tijdens onderhoud in de open lucht. Met oranje driehoeken.
Tail of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Netherlands East-indies in the colours of the Netherlands Government Air Transport during maintenance .
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Nederlands-Indië in de kleuren van Netherlands Government Air Transport (omgezet in KLM in 1945). Met oranje driehoeken.
Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Netherlands East-indies in the colours of the Netherlands Government Air Transport.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 

In service with NEIAF.

The four Skymasters arrived in November 1946 and entered service with no 19 squadron NEIAF. The aircraft flew mainly for NIGAT, Netherlands-Indies Government Air Transport.
The aircraft were meant for exploitation by the KNILM (Koninklijke Nederlands-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij).
As this came to nothing, the aircraft were sold to KLM in August

Douglas C-54 Skymaster van het 19e Squadron.
Douglas C-54 Skymaster of squadron 19, NEIAF.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Serial overview NGAT and NEIAF

Serial overview NGAT

Serial
Serial
 US Fiscal Year nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
 Constr.nr.
Constr.nr.
 Date in service
Date in service
 Date out of service
Date out of service
 Notes
Notes
All aircraft were in use with no 1316 Flight RAF
NL300 41-37303 3094     To KLM as PH-TAB
NL301 42-72275 10380     To KLM as PH-TAC
NL302 42-72274 10379     To KLM as PH-TAD
NL303 42-72316 10421     To KLM as PH-TAA
NL304 41-37290 3081     To KLM as PH-TAF
NL305 42-72315 10420     To KLM as PH-TAG
NL306 41-37277 3067     1316 Dutch Communication Flight. Burned on 5-11-1946
NL307 42-72287 10392     To KLM as PH-TAH
NL308 41-37288 3079     To KLM as PH-TAI
NL309 42-107445 7464     To KLM as PH-TAK
NL310 42-72270 10375     To KLM as PH-TAL
NL311 42-72286 10391     To KLM as PH-TAM
NL312 41-37293 3084     To KLM as PH-TAN
NL313 41-37308 3099     To KLM as PH-TAO
NL314 42-72271 10376     To KLM as PH-TBS
NL315 42-72272 10377     To KLM as PH-TBU
NL316 42-72207 10312     To KLM as PH-TCD
NL350 42-107436 7544     It is uncertain wether this serial was actually used. After the war (19-2-1946) to KLM as PH-TCP (ntu), became PJ-ALW

 

Serial overview NEIAF.

Serial US-Fisc. Year-nr. Constr.nr. Date in service Date out fo service Notes
DT-994     11-1946 08-1947  
DT-995     11-1946 08-1947  
DT-996     11-1946 08-1947  
DT-997     11-1946 08-1947  

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Mach2
    • GP034: Douglas DC4/C54 Skymaster (PanAm, USAAF, US Navy)
  • Revell
    • 04877: Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Modelling add-on

  • Harald Hensel
    • Set 72007: Corrected DC4/C54 Engine set (MACH2)
  • Aeroclub
    • Set P084: 2x Hamilton Standard 3 bld 13`6'' diam prop (C54,DC4)
  • Red Roo
    • Set 72148: DC4 Canopy and astrodome (MACH 2)
  • Eduard
    • Set E73-530: Detailset C54 Skymaster Cargo Interior (Revell)
    • Set E73-529 / SS529: Detailset C54 Skymaster Interior Self adhesive (Revell)
    • Set E72-605: Detailset C54 Exterior (Revell)

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72079: Dutch Flags (B25 Mitchell, C54, Lockheed L12 (NEIAAF), B24 Liberator, Catalina, D24 (MLD), Do24 (RAAF))
    • Set DC723: Douglas C54/DC-4, (Neth Government Air Transport, KLM, KNILM)
  • FlevoDecals
    • Set FD72-003: Netherlands East Indies KNIL 1942-1947 part 1 (Hurricane, C47, C54, P40N, B25 Mitchell)

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • --
    • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

 


The Skymasters were overall bare metal.

 

Scheme Colour name FS number BS number Humbrol XtraColor WEM Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Overall bare metal            

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Douglas C54_Skymaster-MLKNIL-SMALL
Douglas C-54 Skymaster: DT-997 no 19 Squadron NEIAF
Douglas C54_Skymaster-NGAT-SMALL
Douglas C-54 Skymaster: Netherlands Government Air Transport.

 


Literature.

Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 Paul A. Jackson pag. 126 1978 Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
Nederlandse Vliegtuig-Encyclopedie No. 14 Douglas Skymaster en DC-4 Hugo Hooftman   1982 COCKPIT-uitgeverij, Bennekom
Luchtvaartwereld; jaargang 1, nummer 7: Luchtvaartwereld Vliegtuigdossier nr. 8 Douglas DC-4 Skymaster Harm J. Hazewinkel pag. 38 - 39 1982 Uitgever: Geromy, Maarssen
AVIA; 43e jaargang nummer 1: DC - De geschiedenis van de Douglas-verkeersvliegtuigen. Bart van der Klaauw Pag. 54 - 57 1984 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Luchtvaartwereld; 4e jaargang nummer 7/8: Skymasters voor de vliegende Hollander Nico Geldhof pag. 215 - 219 1987 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Luchtvaartwereld; 4e jaargang nummer 9: Skymasters voor de vliegende Hollander Nico Geldhof pag. 245 - 251 1987 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht (derde herzien druk) Willem Helfferich pag. 22 1994 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)

 

Websites.

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