1946-1959




The new DC-4 was developed under the darkening clouds of WW2, and upon the USA's entry into war all DC-4s then on the production line were requisitioned for the US military. The result was that the first DC-4 flew for the first time on February 14 1942 in military markings (as the C-54 Skymaster). The DC-4 was found to admirably suit the USAAF's requirement for a long range cargo transport, and 1162 were built through the war years.
As was the case with the DC-3, the end of war meant that much of that number were surplus and sold to the world's airlines. Further to this Douglas built an additional 78 DC-4s to new orders. Over the years the survivors have been passed down to charter and freight airlines, and today small numbers survive in service as freighters.
The high Range of the DC-4 allowed flights from Europe to the US, hence Swissair sterted its Service to New York with HB-ILA. Swissair bought 4 DC-4's at first, buying a 5th one - a used C-54 - after two of them had to be written of due to accidents. Swissair Subsidiary Balair also had three used DC-4s in their fleet. Swissair was not very lucky with its DC-4, since a third one was also involved in an accident in service with Balair...

 

Manufacturer
Douglas Aircraft Inc., Santa Monica, CA (USA)
Span
35.85 m
Length 
28.47 m
Height 
8.41 m
Power (HP)  
4 x 1470
Cruising Speed
340 km/h
Passengers
44-55
Range
 4600 km
Area of Operation
Europe, USA, Africa, Mid East

 

HB-ILA

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 43072

24.11.1946

29.05.1959

Genève
Purchased new by Swissair in 1946 for CHF 2'259'000. The Aircraft went to Balair in 1959.
It crashed into a 7000' high mountain after a series of navigational errors by the crew on May 15th, 1960 in Sudan killing all 12 on board

HB-ILE

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 43093

15.02.1947

13.12.1950

 Zürich
Delivered new to Swissair in 1947 as HB-ILE.
On December 13th, 1950 the aircraft flew too low on Approach to Sydney, Nova Scotia (Canada) and struck three approach light masts. Despite applying full power, the aircraft continued to descend because both propellers of engines 1 and 2 had suffered damage. The DC-4 hit the ground in a left wing low attitude and ground looped before coming to a stop. The left wing was sheared off and a small fire broke out which was initially controlled by the crew. No serious injuries among 20 passengers and 11 crewmembers. Later the fire re-ignited destroying the rest of the wreckage. The DC-4 was a scheduled trans-atlantic crossing from Geneva to New York via Gander and Halifax, but unfavourable weather forced the pilots to divert to Sydney.

HB-ILI

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 43097

26.04.1947

20.10.1958

 Basel
Delivered new to Swissair in 1947 as HB-ILI.
Sold to Syrian air in 1958 as YK-AAR. Was written off on September 1st, 1960 in Congo/Zaire, after aircraft slid into the river Congo.
Not the HB-ILI used later for nostalgic flights.

HB-ILO

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 43098

30.04.1947

14.12.1951

 Luzern
Delivered new to Swissair in 1947 as HB-ILO.
On ILS Approach to Amsterdam in thick fog, the pilots failed to initiate an go-around maveuvre in time and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. None of the 16 passengers or 4 crewmembers received serious injuries

HB-ILU

Douglas C-54E-5-DO

# 27289

02.04.1952

10.04.1959

Unterwalden
USAF 44-9063. Then bought by Pan Am as Clipper Monsoon and registered N88887. Came to Swissair in 1952 as HB-ILU until 1959, and was then sold to Balair.
Thereafter it flew with a number of registrations, such as EI-ARS for irish airline AER TURAS, as N88887 for Liberia World Airlines and National air cargo, ZS-LMH, EL-AJP and N88889. It is now on display in it's very first Livery as USAF 44-9063 as a memorial for the Berlin airlift in Frankfurt

Landing Gear Accident:


non-Swissair Aircraft
 

HB-ILI #2 (ZS-ILI)

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 42984

n/a

Was delivered new to South African Airways in 1946 as ZS-AUB and also flew for South African Government as 6905. It was leased by Swissair in the Summer of 1997 to comemmorate 50 years of transatlantic service and reg'd HB-ILI and ZU-ILI. It has returned to SAA as ZS-AUB since.

HB-ILB

Douglas C-54A-15-DC

# 10359

n/a

Aircraft flown by Balair. Was ex USAF 42-72254, then N75415.
After Balair it became N9760F and then G-ASOG with Air Ferry of Manston..
Crashed on landing at Frankfurt on January 21st, 1967. 2 killed

HB-ILC

Douglas C-54A-10-DC

# 10359

n/a

Aircraft flown by Balair from 1960 to 1963. Was ex USAF 42-72230, and then N88922, Clipper Radiant & Clipper Nurenberg at Pan Am. After Balair it became G-ASFY at Air Ferry Ltd then N3454 for LAVCO (Libyan Aviation Company). Withdrawn from use and broken up in 1969

HB-ILD

Douglas DC-4-1009

# 42995

n/a

Aircraft flown by Balair. Before Balair it was KLM PH-TCE, then PH-DBE, then Olympic Airways SX-DAG before entering service as HB-ILD at Balair.
After Balair it was 9Q-CWJ of Societe Generale d'alimentation, before beeing broken up.

 
 
Cockpit 1
Cockpit New
Cabin
     

 

 

 Please make sure you read the disclaimer regarding copyrights etc.

last updated January 2009