All production Globemaster IIIs have been given an all-over Poly-Coat Gray finish which superseded the Air Mobility Command’s former three-tone green and grey scheme. This aircraft, 93-0601, is one of over 20 C-17s now on the strength of the 437th Airlift Wing, based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina.

Globemaster III P-13/92-3293 was delivered a day earlier than the contract date of June 30, 1994. It was one of 12 Globemaster IIIs from the 437th Military Airlift Wing which took part in the month-long evaluation exercise, during July-August 1995, into RAF Mildenhall from the USA.

An example of the impressive load carrying capability of the Globemaster III: front to rear; are two HUMVEES, an M110A2 self-propelled howitzer weighing 28,350kg, a 2.5 tonne truck and trailer and a 10 tonne Oshkosh truck.

Rough-field operations are an important logistical aspect of the C-17’s capabilities. Globemaster III 92-3293 is seen landing with a 56,700kg tank on board at the simulated forward operating base located at Bicycle Lake Army Airfield, Fort Irwin, California. The aircraft required only 854m of runway.

At the time of its first flight, the 78 tonne C-74 Globemaster I was the largest transport landplane to enter quantity production. The initial contract for 50 aircraft was reduced to 14 following the mass cancellation of military contracts after VJ-Day. Globemaster I 42-65402 was the first of the type to be built.

Although only 14 Globemaster Is were built for the USAF, one or two survived to become civil registered both in the USA and Panama. One such was HP-385 Heracles, one of several registered to Aeronaves de Panama.

The prototype Douglas XC-74 Military Transport (four 3,000 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-4360-27 Wasp-Major engines).
Until the introduction into service of the C-74 Globemaster I, with its transoceanic range capability, transport aircraft had lacked the payload and range required for the USAF’s worldwide commitment. Seen here is the first C-74 42-65402, c/n 13913, which made its maiden flight on September 5, 1945.

Initially, a double-bubble canopy was fitted over the pilots’ cockpit, but as this impaired crew communication, a conventional canopy and windshield was fitted as seen in this photograph taken on May 9, 1955, of C-74 42-65413. This aircraft was operated by the Continental Division of the USAF Military Air Transport Service.

Globemaster IIs served with squadrons of Tactical Air Command, Military Air Transport Service, Strategic Air Command, Air Material Command and the Far Eastern Air Force. During the late 1960s, C-124s were operated by Troop Carrier Squadrons of the Air Force Reserve. Illustrated is C-124C-DL ‘5207’ 52-1007 c/n 43916 which visited Blackbushe in the late 1950s whilst serving with the Military Air Transport Service.

Globemaster IIs were operated by the USAF for a quarter of a century. With a maximum cargo load of 33,500kg, it was reputed that the C-124 could transport 94% of all US Army field vehicles fully assembled. Depicted here is C-124A 51-0080 c/n 43414 in Military Airlift Command markings whilst operating with the 921st MAG from Kelly AFB on detachment to RAF Mildenhall in 1969.

Seen on approach to land at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, in the early 1950s is a C-124A Globemaster II, operating with the Military Air Transport Service. The prototype YC-124, a modified Globemaster I (42-65406) made its maiden flight at Long Beach on November 27, 1949.