Unknown AIr Force Plane but is it from WWII?

[Jeffrey Ethell Collection]

What is this monster? Looks like one of those large 4 engine planes used by MATS towards end of WWII.

Surrounded by B-29 so I guess has to be near enough to WWII period.

J.

 

[fubar57]

Douglas C-74 Globemaster?

PUBLIC DOMAIN​

 

[Jeffrey Ethell Collection]

Thank you sir. When you see the engineer's heads disappearing between the cylinder rows you know you've got a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 - a beast of an engine.

J.

 

[tyrodtom]

My brother, his wife and 2 children flew back from Germany in a MATS C-124 in about 1960-61
He said it was the most miserable flight he'd ever been on, about everybody on board got airsick.

 

[DDonSS3]

Definitely a C-74. The "bug eye"canopies is a giveaway.

Photos from Douglas.

While design started in 1942, the first aircraft didn't fly until September of 1945. Only 17 aircraft were built after a large WW-2 contract was cancelled at the end of the war. So, although I would say definitely a postwar aircraft, I suppose you could say it was a WW-2 aircraft since design and building occurred during the war.

 

[RagTag]

Very cool! Maybe in time for the intended invasion of Japan?

 

[davparlr]

My brother, his wife and 2 children flew back from Germany in a MATS C-124 in about 1960-61
He said it was the most miserable flight he'd ever been on, about everybody on board got airsick.

And slow. I think there are still a few C-124s out over the Pacific trying to get home!

 

[Capt. Vick]

Ginter books recently released a book on this aircraft.