This DVD is about the Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a four-engine heavy lifter transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in WWII and the Korean War. Like the DC-3 C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the Douglas DC-4). Besides the transport of cargo, the C-54 also carried presidents, prime ministers and military staff. Dozens of variants of the C-54 were employed in a wide variety of non-combat roles such as air-sea rescue, scientific and military research, and missile tracking and recovery. During the Berlin Airlift, the C-54 hauled coal and food supplies to West Berlin. After the Korean War, it continued to be used for military and civilian uses by more than 30 countries. This was one of the first aircraft to carry the President of the United States and to assume the call sign as Air Force One.
Film #1 - AAF ID C-54 SkyMaster - This is an Army Air Forces film on how to identify the DC-4/C-54 Skymaster and its unique features. Great quality film! Runtime is about 11 minutes.
Film #2 - USAAF's Airlines to the Future - This is a USAAF film about the development of the Air Transport Service and its role in the war effort. ATC was becoming the airliner of the future. Runtime is about 11 minutes.
Film #3 - C-54 Airlines To Everywhere - This is a USAAF film on the ATC in action. This film tells the story of all the goods and services that were needed to win the war. Runtime is about 9 minutes
Film #4 - Transport Newsreels - Here is a series of newsreels on the C-54 Transport.
Runtime is about 18 minutes.
Film #5 - Berlin Airlift - East Berlin was controlled by the Russians after WW2 and Berlin was in the Eastern Bloc. Stalin wanted to stop the Allies influence in Berlin, so he cut off all land supplies from the outside world. What he did not count on was the USAF and Allies decision to bypass the blockade by flying supplies around the clock. An aircraft landed every 3 minutes and saved Berlin. It was a world embarrassment for the Russians and after 6 months, they lifted the blockade. The C-54 was a major contributor to this historic event. Runtime is about 11 minutes.
Total runtime for the USAAF Douglas C-54 SkyMaster WWII Heavy Lifter Cargo Plane DVD is about 60 minutes. Format is NTSC DVD and region-free.
