Help needed: MATS C-54 belongs to RESCUE-Devision

[leutnantwerner]

Hi,
just working on my Air Force C-54 MATS project. At pictures on the net i found sometimes the division called 'RESCUE'. Does that mean that this plane is a dedicated rescue aircraft or can do cargo haul too?
Thank's in advance
Bernie

[burcham8]

IS it possible that it is an SC-54 from the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service?

Marc

[leutnantwerner]

Hi Marc,
sorry havn't got the picture on my smartphone. She looks like a standard MATS aircraft, with the text above the side windows, MATS insignia at rear side, code number on the nose gear doors. Just at the place were normaly is ATLANTIC or so she has a RESCUE text. Picture is dated around 1956. Hope this can help.
Bernie

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

It's probably an SC-54D, one of 38 converted by Convair in 1954. The only obvious changes are the slightly oddly shaped radome on the nose for the search radar (like a "nipple") and the large round observation blisters on the rear fuselage. They were redesignated HC-54's in 1962. They stored three 40 person inflatable lifeboats internally. They were flown by the Air Rescue Service, so unlikely to have carried cargo much.

[Defender]

Hi,

There were a number of these MATS SC-54's based at Prestwick late 50's/early 60's all with "RESCUE" on the tail. These were dedicated search and rescue aircraft belonging to the MATS 67th Air Rescue Service Squadron and not used for cargo. Eric Joiner did a lovely repaint job for them.  

Bill

[Tom/CalClassic]

Their stations in 1964. The number (31) means the 31st ARS (Air Rescue Service):

31 Clark AB, Philippines
33 Naha AB, Okinawa
36 Tachikawa AB, Japan
41 Hamilton AFB, CA
48 Eglin AFB, FL
54 Goose AB, Labrador
55 Kindley AB, Bermuda
57 Lajes Field, Azores
58 Wheelus AB, Libya
67 Prestwick AB, Scotland
76 Hickam AFB, HI
79 Anderson AB, Guam

[leutnantwerner]

Thank you guys,

for that good deal of information. I will look for the repaint Bill mentioned.

Bernie

[leutnantwerner]

Hi,

this is my work, I did so far with FSDS3 for FSX:



This is the picture I found.
The bubbled windows are invisible in this picture. Even this is a b/w picture i'm not sure about the additional colours Eric Joiner got in his repaint. Found out that the origin is at Prestwick airport, UK, in 1964.

Still something to do.
1) Internal work, I don't know where the radar operator got his place and the layout of the cargo bay.
2) External work, I'm not satisfied with the main gear and the engine nacelles.

Bernie

[Defender]

Hi Bernie,

Looks very nice indeed.

If you go here and scroll down you'll see 0-72624 in the paint scheme Eric Joiner used and where the observation windows were.

www.dhc-2.com/Gordon_Macadie.html

On the same site here you'll see various sister aircraft with just the yellow band at the rear. 0-50608 may not have had these windows.

www.dhc-2.com/Prestwick%20Portraits.html

Bill

[leutnantwerner]

Hi Bill,

thank you for the links to that really good web sides. I can remember me to visit the 'Prestwick portraits' when I was looking for pictures about the airport, to backdate the modern FSX version. I agree with you about the absence of the 0-50608 bubble windows. But the rear half of the cargo door might have a small hatch like insert.

Bernie

[Tom/CalClassic]

It appears that 0-50608 was a standard C-54G, probably flown by the ARS as a staff transport. Most parts of MATS had C-54's used for that purpose. AFAIK, there is no "SC-54G" model.

[Defender]

Tend to agree with you Tom. My recollection is that 50608 spent much less time on the ground at Prestwick than the other 67th ARS aircraft and was possibly mainly a bus service around the western Europe MATS bases, Mildenhall, Rhein-Main etc. Amazing how many different web entries there are listing it as converted to a "SC-54G" 'though. Maybe they all used the same incorrect source?

Bill

[Tom/CalClassic]

My MATS book doesn't mention it. Wikipedia says they were redesignated HC-54 in 1962. I'll look at my book for that designation.

[Maarten]

Hi there,

According to this list (http://www.uswarplanes.net/c54.html) about the production and variants of the DC-4 / C-54 series aircraft, 38 C-54D aircraft were converted to SC-54D (in 1962 redesignated HC-54D) Rescuemaster air-rescue planes. Only 1+ C-54G was / were accordingly converted to SC-54G (in 1962 redesignated HC-54G).
I didn't check the existing DC-4 / C-54 production lists (yet). At this moment a bit too large a job with 542 aircraft (C-54D's and C-54G's) to check. ;-)

Cheers,
Maarten

[leutnantwerner]

Hi,

another question is when the ARS planes were called to take off. Doing the rescue missions in the Vietnam war scene is understanding, but the planes at the other non Asia stations. Picking up crashed Air Force personal or US citizen only, rescue missions on civil aircraft or ships, on demand or flying patrols? When did they show the Air Rescue Service Emblem on the fuselage?

Bernie