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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 a large cargo aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force following the Berlin Airlift, designed to transport heavy loads like troops and tanks, notably during the Korean War.
  • While notable for its impressive carrying capacity and unique clamshell doors, it was considered a "low-budget stop gap" due to significant operational limitations and mechanical issues.
  • Its drawbacks included requiring specialized runways, inability to air-drop cargo, frequent mechanical problems like engine fires and gas leaks, and a reputation for being noisy and shaky, earning it the nickname "Old Shaky."
  • The C-124 played a transitional role for the Air Force, bridging the gap between older aircraft and future, more effective cargo plane generations despite its challenges 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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