1/200 scale

 Known as the Douglas R5D by the USN or the C-54 by the USAF; both are military
versions of the DC-4 airliner. Due to the outbreak of WWII and before production had
started on the DC-4 the U.S. Government took priority and had the production lines set up
for the necessary conversion of the DC-4 to the R5D and C-54. The first flight of these
aircraft took place on February 14, 1942.


In 1955 the Thunderbirds were under command and lead by Captain Jacksel Broughton. It
was this year that the T-Birds received the new F-84F Thunderstreak and their first
support aircraft, a C-119, that carried the maintenance crew as well as spare parts. 1955
was a very demanding season with 91 performances scheduled. One of the support
aircraft the team used over the years was the Douglas C-54 Skymaster 0-272674. Since
the Thunderbirds were stationed at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada the aircraft was
named “City of Las Vegas”.