Meteorological Branch team members R.A. Shewchuck, E Stasyshyn and L. Goff discuss the mission during a flight in one of the C-54s.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

Douglas C-54B CF-KAD (c/n 18356) has its four Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp engines run up at an unidentified location. The aircraft’s ice-reconnaissance work with the Canadian Department of Transport (DoT) was undertaken from Gander in Newfoundland, but there is no information on where our photographs were taken; it is more likely that it was at Downsview airport in Toronto. Note the Canadair Sabre cockpit mounted in the cockpit roof.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

CF-KAD comes in to land on the 8,400ft (2,560m) runway at Gander having completed another successful mission. The C-54s were replaced by Lockheed 188 Electras CF-NAY and CF-NAZ, operated by Nordair Ltd of Montreal. The latter aircraft was also fitted with an observation dome similar to the Sabre cockpits fitted to the C-54s.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

Navigator G. Bayliss takes solar observations during one of the long C-54 flights in 1968. Ten years later, sideways-looking airborne radar (SLAR) was fitted to the Electras and a de Havilland Canada Dash 7, enabling a 100km (60-mile) swath either side of the aircraft to be imaged and downloaded instantly via datalink to the icebreaker vessels below.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

A member of the DoT’s Meteorological Branch team uses one of the C-54s’ starboard bubble windows to scan the ice fields stretching across the Gulf of St Lawrence during the winter of 1968-69. Kenting Aviation was established in 1947 as an aerial mapping and survey company using retired wartime bombers and transport aircraft specially converted for the role.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

CF-KAE undergoes maintenance, probably in one of the hangars at Downsview. The transparent nosecone has been removed for access to the electronic navigation suite in the nose.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

One of the two Kenting C-54s undergoes preparation for its next sortie, this view again showing the Sabre cockpit to good advantage. Today falling under the remit of the Canadian Ice Service, the “ice-spotting” task has been made considerably easier with the advent of satellite imagery, but a de Havilland Canada Dash 8 is still used.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942

Another photo of CF-KAD having its engines run up. The proximity of civilianised former RCAF Auster AOP.6 CF-NQC lends substance to the possibility that the series of photographs was taken at Downsview, as the Auster was based there during 1962-70.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Auster AOP.6 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1945Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942