<article><hdr>Airborne shot of a C-69 Constellation</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The first versions of the Constellation to join the US military were originally intended to be commercial transports for Trans World Airways and Pan American Airways. They were requisitioned by the Army with the designation C-69 being assigned. The first C-69 made its maiden flight at Burbank, California in January 1943 with the Army placing an order for 180 aircraft in total. However only 22 were built before VJ Day caused the contract to be cancelled. Those C-69s which were produced joined The Air Transport Command, with some seeing service during the last few months of the War. Following VJ Day the C-69s were declared surplus and were sold to the airlines.</hi>
