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One year and 11 days...
After the April 13, 2020 tornado wrecked our flagship “Spirit of Freedom” 44-9144, much has transpired in our world.
On April 24,2021, we have now flown our ‘new’ C-54D, brought back to life by our ever dedicated crew since we purchased her in August 2020. Surprisingly, we found that it has even more of an Airlift pedigree that the former “Spirit”.
If you would have told me we’d be in this position already after only a year, I wouldn’t have believed it. But, here we are, despite all the restrictions and obstacles resulting from the COVID pandemic.
How is that possible? It’s possible because of the dedication of our team and support from all of you. For this, we are thankful. The outpouring of support for us and our mission was extremely humbling.
Hopefully, soon we will be flying the airplane up to Walterboro to transfer the museum interior and other items from 44-9144 to 43-17228. Unfortunately, our original plan to go directly to Mena, Arkansas for paint will be postponed until June as that’s when we fit into the paint shop’s schedule. In the meantime, we plan to bring the C-54D north to participate in WWII Weekend at Reading, PA., continuing our unbroken streak of participating in that event (it was cancelled in 2020) as we have since 1999.
To be able to say that after only a year is a testament to all of you who’ve supported the Foundation and “Spirit of Freedom“ since it’s inception. Thank you. We are grateful.
According to records obtained from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, our ‘new’ C-54D, s/n 43-17228, is a genuine Berlin Airlift veteran.
After poring over these records trying to figure them out, other than the summary sheet, here's what I have concluded
So first stint (October 48) was 5 months with 61st TCS, based R-M, starting with what we assume was a 200 hour inspection done at Oberpfaffenhofen.
Early March of 49 back to CONUS for major overhaul at Burbank. (1,000 Hour inspection. They were done stateside)
Based on these figures, with each round trip from R-M to be 5 flying hours, we assume the airplane flew 150 missions at the minimum during this time.
Second stint May of 49 was with the 317th TCS at Celle until August /513th TCS Rhein Main first half Aug /then finally 313th TCS at Fassberg (second half of Aug) over another 5 month period
Sep 9, 1949- head back to CONUS
Basically it served on the lift from 10/48-9/49 with a month and a half out of action for major overhaul.
Plus, I recently found that our good friend the late Maj Bill Voigt flew this very airplane in 1948. (Thanks to the AMC Museum for this info)
This is fantastic news!!!
It was also assigned to various Air Transport Command units prior to June 1948
Plus, it seems it was retired to the boneyard twice. Once in 1965, then the Army took it and based it at Kwajalein Missile Range. The Army then retired it in 1978.
It didn’t stay there long, because the USAF Museum traded it to Lynn Florey for the 0-47 thats in the USAF Museum. Florey sold it immediately without ever seeing it. Only after its career with Ardco as a firebomber and a short life with Carlos Gomez and Florida Air Transport did it reunite with Mr Florey, who was surprised it was the same airplane he briefly owned so many years before. We bought it from him.
If anyone can find photos of it in USAF colors, it would be greatly appreciated.
See you at Reading!!
_________________ Kevin Kearney Vice President Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228 C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595) C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)http://www.spiritoffreedom.org
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