Douglas C-124 "Globemaster II"

Many USAF transport aircraft were used during the 11 months of the Berlin airlift but only one, the Fairchild C-28, was designed especially as a military transport. This experience indicated the need for a new heavy transport aircraft. Amoung the first to be built was the C-124, based on the C-74 Globemaster design. One C-74 aircraft had taken part in the Berlin Airlift. C-124 development began in 1947 using the same wing, power plant, and tail unit as the C-74, but with a deep fuselage with clam shell nose loading doors and a built-in ramp. It retained the elevator hoist amidships which had been a feature of the C-74. The Globemaster II has a larger, but lighter fuselage. The 28th Logistic Support Group used the C-124 at the Hill AFB starting on 8 July 1953. The last C-124 assigned to the 945th Military Airlift Group (Reserve) flew out of Hill AFB on 27 November 1972.