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The Story of ‘Old Shaky’

The C-124 tended to shake a lot, even in calm skies, earning it the nickname “Old Shaky.” National Museum of the US Air Force
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Key Takeaways:

  • The Douglas C-124 Cargomaster II was introduced to the U.S. Air Force post-Berlin Airlift, fulfilling a critical need for larger, more modern transport aircraft during a transitional period and playing a significant role in the Korean War.
  • Notable for its immense carrying capacity, the C-124 could transport 200 troops or fully assembled tanks and field guns via its distinctive clamshell nose doors, making it the largest transport plane available at the time.
  • Despite its capacity, the aircraft had several significant drawbacks, including restricted runway access due to its size, inability to airdrop cargo, and operational unreliability, earning it the nickname "Old Shaky" due to frequent mechanical issues, gas leaks, and engine fires.
  • Ultimately, the C-124 served as a "low-budget stop gap" aircraft, bridging the gap between older transport planes and more effective future generations despite its limitations and a history of accidents.
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As far as aircraft go, the Douglas C-124 Cargomaster II was a vital way marker for the U.S. Air Force in the days following the year-long Berlin Airlift when U.S. and British air forces began airlifting food and fuel to a blockaded West Germany in 1948.

Two years later, in 1950, the cargo aircraft that would provide airlift support for the Korean War was coming off the assembly line. The aircraft capable of transporting 200 troops and their gear, along with fully assembled tanks, field guns and trucks was a marvel on the tarmac due to its clamshell doors that split wide open under the nose to load cargo by a hydraulic ramp looked of another world

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