| | This aircraft was built as a DC-3-455 for Eastern Airlines and registered as NC30035. No evidence that it was delivered, but records show that on 1/27/43 it was impressed into USAAF service as C-49K 43-2013, and used as a 28-seat trooper. Inland Airlines operated it (most likely under USAAF contract) during 1943 until 3/6/44 when it was assigned to the Alaska Wing of Air Transport Command for about three weeks before reassignment back in continental USA. On 3/12/45 it went to Reconstruction Finance Corp. as NC17885. Sometime later it was re-registered as NC15748. The aircraft changed hands several times until November 1979 when it suffered double engine failure on take off from Coeur d’Alene Airport, ID. Pilot managed to return to the airport and left the plane. Over the years it suffered vandalism until recovered in 1984 by Salair of Washington state, and brought by vehicle to Spokane airport, the intent being to restore it to add to Salair’s cargo fleet. Determination made that restoration would not be cost-effective, so it was donated to the Boeing Museum of Flight in May 1987. The aircraft was painted in Alaska Airlines livery, and marked as one which crashed in Alaska in 1954, NC91008. Aircraft was later used for parts to restore the Museum’s N138D. This aircraft reported in July 2010 as being without wings or rudder and no markings, sitting derelict. |
by Terry Fletcher @ BFI
by Terry Fletcher @ BFI