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Post by Defender on Jul 30, 2013 5:06:38 GMT -5
Hi,
Certainly with the Prestwick squadron they would have to be on station when fighters and other lighter aircraft were on transatlantic ferry flights, which were probably pretty frequent. Used to enjoy seeing the RCAF Lancasters, C-4's etc arriving as escort aircraft with the Sabres, Silver Stars and Canucks which came over for maintenance.
Bill
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jul 30, 2013 10:42:23 GMT -5
My MATS book has a color pic of 0-50608, and the caption states: "Douglas HC-54G Skymaster, 45-608, one of only a few ARS SC-54's not modified by Convair Forth Worth to SC-54D standard."
In 1958 42 Rescuemasters were being operated, apparently consisting of the 38 SC-54D's, a few old C-54's in RESCUE markings, and perhaps 1 or 2 SC-54G's.
They did assist civil aircraft and ships, in addition to military missions. A MATS SA-16 amphibian came to the rescue of a NWA Stratocruiser that ditched after takeoff near Seattle. At least 2 ARS aircraft flew out to meet a crippled C-97 approaching Hawaii, taking off from their base. This suggests there were typically no flying patrols unless something was expected to arrive soon.
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Post by leutnantwerner on Jul 31, 2013 2:54:58 GMT -5
Hallo,
thank you guys again, for that really competent answers. Now I will go on with an additional model, SC-54D, with the bubble windows. What is the reason why the standard C-54, without the bubble windows, is designated 'G' and the modified version 'D'?
Bernie
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Post by Maarten on Jul 31, 2013 4:21:38 GMT -5
Hallo, thank you guys again, for that really competent answers. Now I will go on with an additional model, SC-54D, with the bubble windows. What is the reason why the standard C-54, without the bubble windows, is designated 'G' and the modified version 'D'? Bernie Hi Bernie, You will find the answer to your question here ( www.uswarplanes.net/c54.html), here ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-54_Skymaster), and here ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Douglas_C-54_Skymaster_variants). Cheers, Maarten
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jul 31, 2013 10:15:54 GMT -5
Basically, the same reason that Douglas called them the DC-7 and DC-7B - upgraded model with better capabilities.
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Post by ejoiner on Aug 3, 2013 10:10:15 GMT -5
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 I did a repaint of a MATS SC-54 some time ago. Go to Avsim and search for mats_sc54_dayglo.zip Eric
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Post by leutnantwerner on Aug 3, 2013 17:59:17 GMT -5
Hi guys, now i got it all together, thank you all. Eric, i like the dayglow effect, your repaint realy looks nice! Bernie
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Post by matinee72 on Aug 22, 2014 16:28:44 GMT -5
I just joined today, am not an aircraft art practitioner, and so offer apologies for newbie intrusion, but I did find this thread useful with info and leads for background work I did recently about HC-54D Rescuemaster planes in military service (air rescue) in SE Asia in 1965. FWIW, and in thanks: I recently acquired some June 1965 USAF films that show 2 HC-54D aircraft serving at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. The films show the planes, from the 36th and 79th Air Rescue Squadrons, in flight, landing, taking off, and taxiing. There is some interior and exterior footage of crew as well. Perhaps contributors to and readers of this thread will find the aircraft images useful, even though these specimens lack the distinctive swaths of orange paintwork and were sent to AMARC a year or so later (disposition unknown).
There are 4 films (color, silent) in all. You can find them on YouTube with the search: udorn rescue 1965 .
Sincerely,
Harold
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Post by Defender on Aug 23, 2014 5:14:27 GMT -5
Thanks for these links Harold. Didn't realise the HC-54's stayed in service until 1965 but sadly it seems both the featured aircraft were stored and probably demolished the next year. They certainly still looked in very good condition although I think I prefer the dayglo.
The shots of the HU-16 sitting very low in the water looked odd. Was that normal?
Bill
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Post by matinee72 on Aug 23, 2014 10:54:39 GMT -5
You are very welcome, Bill. By the end of 1965 the 36th and 79th squadrons had started to receive rescue control replacements in the form of HC-130 and the HC-54 were sent away, so these films from Udorn might be among the last available images of both craft. I also prefer the dayglo rescue treatments and was kind of disappointed to see these planes in plain garb.
(BTW, the HC-54 - serial 42-72658 - seen in flight at the beginning of reel 8 was piloted by my father.)
I, too, thought the Albatross seemed low in the water, but haven't sought companion footage to see if that was normal.
Harold
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Post by ejoiner on Aug 23, 2014 21:20:29 GMT -5
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. I painted this aircraft a couple of years ago. The one thing I couldnt do was create the observatio bubbles on the rear fuselage. I decided to just go with what I could do without ability to alter the model. This is readily available on Avsim. look for the file mats_sc54_dayglo.zip
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