N-number  : N500EJ
Aircraft Serial Number  : 27370
Aircraft Manufacturer : DOUGLAS
         Model  : C54E-DC
Engine   Manufacturer : P&W
         Model  : R2000 SERIES
Aircraft Year  : 1945
Owner Name  : BERLIN AIRLIFT HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Owner Address : PO BOX 782  FARMINGDALE, NJ, 07727    
Type of Owner  : Corporation
Registration Date : 15-Dec-1994
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Transport
 

Manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company   S/N 27370 and delivered to the Army Air Corps in March of 1945 as 44-9144.  She was then part of a transfer of 25 C-54E's to the United States Navy and received a BuNo of 90414 on May 30, 1945. She then took on the designation of R-5D-4.

                  BuNo 90414 served with various units of the US Navy, one being VR-3 and United States Marines in roles such as cargo transports, personnel transport, and finally VIP Transport.  At one time she was based in Los Alamitos before being transferred to Washington DC.

              In 1975 she was reported as being with the USMC HQ Flight Section at Tucson Ryan Field. 

            Following her retirement, she was registered N48163 for A.A.A.P. Co Inc.  For what purpose, we don't know.  After that she was registered  N904DS. 

                In April 1978, she went to Canada to work for Carl Millard of Millardair, where she was registered C-GQIB.  She was used to ferry auto parts between Toronto and Detroit for the next 12 years.  After being sold in the early 1990's to serve in the same capacity for 2 years or so.

The Foundation purchased Douglas C-54E #27370 on Dec. 22, 1992 and began the restoration to her current state, including the creation of a Flying Museum and Memorial dedicated to the Berlin Airlift on her inside.

In May 1998, "Spirit of Freedom" undertook a 70 day European Tour to mark the 50th Anniversary of "Operation Vittles", the Berlin Airlift.  This tour included stops at Westover AFB, Mass., Goose Bay  Labrado, Prestwick Scotland Biggin Hill England, Berlin -Templehof Germany, Berlin-Schonefeld Germany, Rhein-Main AB, Frankfurt Germany, Wiesbaden Army Air Base, Wiesbaden Germany, Duxford England, Kemble England, Coventry England, Luxembourg City- Luxembourg, and Nancy, France.  During this trip, "Spirit of Freedom" was honored by visits from  German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and U.S. President Bill Clinton.

 During the spring and summer months, "Spirit of Freedom" can be found at air shows and events throughout the US.  

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