<article><hdr>Aerial shot of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The C-54 Skymaster was the first four engined transport aircraft to enter service with the Army. The Army had no requirement for a long range transporter, although the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor suddenly highlighted the need. Douglas had produced the DC-4 for commercial airline service, with the militarised version being allocated the designation C-54. Aircraft on the production line at Santa Monica were commandeered for the Army, with additional orders being placed. Due to other priority programmes, Douglas opened a new C-54 production line in Chicago, with the majority of Skymasters being manufactured at this facility. The C-54 severed the Army and later the Air Force for many years with some examples providing support for Air National Guard combat squadrons until the early seventies. </hi>
