THE STORY OF ATC
In late 1937 the Army Air Force and airline representatives began to realize the need
for an air transportation plan in case the USA became involved in a global war.
Plans were made and orders were placed in 1940
for 545 C-47's, (a modified version of the DC-3)
and 200 C-46 airplanes (which were still in the planning stages).
Some of the airlines had received new four-engine airplanes called the DC-4 and were pleased
with their operation. The Army, seeing the advantages of carrying heavier loads greater distances,
ordered a cargo version called a C_54 (a modified version of the DC-4).
Plans for foreign airfields were also in the works. A draft to acquire airplanes used
by the civil airlines was made in August 1941. Fifteen planes were split between the Navy and Army.
The army received five Bowen Stratoliners (a civilian version of a B-17) and three Bowen Clippers.
Up to this time the Army Air Force had a division called Air Corps Ferry Service.
It was changed to Air Transport Command.
An inventory after Pearl Harbor showed the Air Transport Command
had forty some-odd twin engine transports and eleven converted Liberator bombers
and eight four-engine airplanes.
In the beginning the Douglas C-47 did most of the transporting.
As the C-54's began arriving they were used for the over-water flights.
The Curtiss C-46 airplanes that were ordered on the drawing board had many problems when they arrived
and took a year to become active.
In time most were used to fly over the hump between India and China. Their increased load capacity
and higher flight ceiling made them more practical to fly over the hump.
The C-46 was called the Flying Coffin because it had problems with fuel tank leaks and fires.
Because of fuel problems C-54's took over when they became available.
The central Africa route was the most important.
There were a number of versions.
One route left Accra and flew the west coastline to Tunis
after the Germans were driven out of Africa.
Another went to Kano and then north over the Sahara to Tunis.
When Italy was cleared of Axis forces the airline extended into Italy.
Another went from Khartoum going east to India, China, and Burma.
A central Atlantic route was established
from USA to the Azores Islands and to England.
Another went to Alaska.
The Air Transport Command started out with less than 100 airplanes
and ended the war with 3090 aircraft.
When it was in operation
it was the world's largest airline and according to numbers,
could still be called the world's largest ever to be in existence.
(please use Arrows to view the additional story)
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