C-54E R-5D
"SPIRIT OF FREEDOM"tm
Manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company
S/N 27370 and delivered to the Army Air Corps in March of 1945 as
44-9144. She was then part of a transfer of 25 C-54E's to the United
States Navy and recieved a BuNo of 90414 on May 30, 1945. She then took on
the designation of R-5D-4.
BuNo 90414 served with various units of the US
Navy, one being VR-3 and United States Marines in roles such as cargo
transports, personnel transport, and finally VIP Transport. At one
time she was based in Los Alamitos before being transferred to Washington
DC.
In 1975 she
was reported as being with the USMC HQ Flight Section at Tuscon Ryan
Field.
Following
her retirement, she was registered N48163 for A.A.A.P. Co Inc. For
what purpose, we don't know. After that she was registered
N904DS.
In April 1978, she went to Canada to work for Carl Millard of
Millardair, where she was registered C-GQIB. She was used to ferry
auto parts between Toronto and Detriot for the next 12 years. After
being sold in the early 1990's to serve in the same capacity for 2 years
or so.
The Foundation purchased Douglas C-54E #27370 on Dec. 22,
1992 and began the restoration to her current state, including the
creation of a Flying Museum and Memorial dedicated to the Berlin Airlift
on her inside.
In May 1998, "Spirit of Freedom" undertook a 70 day European Tour to mark the 50th Anniversary of "Operation Vittles", the Berlin Airlift. This tour included stops at Westover AFB, Mass., Goose Bay Labrado, Prestwick Scotland Biggin Hill England, Berlin -Templehof Germany, Berlin-Schonefeld Germany, Rhein-Main AB, Frankfurt Germany, Wiesbaden Army Air Base, Wiesbaden Germany, Duxford England, Kemble England, Coventry England, Luxembourg City- Luxembourg, and Nancy, France. During this trip, "Spirit of Freedom" was honored by visits from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and U.S. President Bill Clinton.
During the spring and
summer months, "Spirit of Freedom" can be found at airashows and
events throughout the US.
If anyone has any more information about the history of Douglas C-54E
/R-5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" or pictures of her in service,
contact the Foundation at airlift48@aol.com