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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 developed to meet the U.S. Air Force's need for larger, more modern transport aircraft post-Berlin Airlift, serving as a crucial asset during the Korean War.
  • It was a marvel for its time, capable of carrying heavy loads like fully assembled tanks and 200 troops, utilizing distinctive clamshell nose doors and a hydraulic ramp for cargo loading.
  • Despite its large capacity, the C-124 faced significant operational limitations, including restrictions to major runways and inability to air-drop cargo, earning it the nickname "Old Shaky" due to its constant vibration.
  • The aircraft also suffered from serious reliability issues, such as gas leaks and engine fires, culminating in a 1953 crash that was, at the time, the worst aviation disaster in history, highlighting its role as a transitional but flawed design.
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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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