Note: All EL AL DC-4s were originally built as military C-54 ‘Skymaster’ transports.

C-54B-15-DO, built Santa Monica, CA. MSN 18395/FN 169.  Delivered to US Army Air Force (USAAF) 21 Nov 44, 43-17195. Sold to U.S. Overseas Airlines and registered NC58021. Acquired by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) Air Transport Command through the Haganah defense arm 15 May 48 with serial 1801. Participated in airlift of arms from Czechoslovakia to Israel, May-Sep 48. Registered as 4X-ACA on 27 Sep 48 in the name of EL AL in the Official Aircraft Registry book of the Ministry of Transportation of the State of Israel — the first entry in such registry after the establishment of the State on 14 May 48. First aircraft to carry ‘EL AL’ titles, Sep 48 (even though EL AL was not incorporated until 15 Nov 48). Utilized for the flight on 29-30 Sep 48 that brought Chaim Weizmann from Geneva to Israel to be the first President of Israel and for a special flight to Paris, Oct 48. Returned to IAF Air Transport Command Oct 48. On 2 Jan 49, enroute from Czechoslovakia to Israel while in military service on Operation Velveta 2, developed engine problems and crashed on the beach at Tel Aviv near Sde Dov while attempting to land. Aircraft severely damaged and later scrapped. Canceled from civil register 26 Jun 49.

C-54A-15-DC, built Chicago, IL. MSN 10348/FN 79.  Delivered to USAAF 15 Jul 44, 42-72243. Sold to American Airlines in 1946 as NC90441, named Flagship Rainbow One. Acquired by the IAF Air Transport Command through the Haganah defense arm 15 May 48, IAF serial 1802. Participated in airlift of arms from Czechoslovakia to Israel. Registered 4X-ACB to Al-Sam (Security Office)L 5 Dec 48. Sold to California Aircraft Corp.; Israeli registration canceled, 22 Feb 49. Re-registered in U.S. as N90441, then to Twentieth Century Aircraft, then to Hemisphere Air Transport. Operated with crew of Near East Air Transport on airlift operations to Israel in 1950. Leased to EL AL for passenger operations on European routes, Feb-Apr 50, then returned to lessor. Sold to REAL, Brazil, as PP-YRO, Oct 56. Then to Lóide Aéreo Nacional Sep 58 as PP-LEW, and to VASP Jan 62. Damaged at Santos Dumont Airport, Rio de Janeiro, 6 Nov 68. Broken up Sep 70.

C-54A-15-DC, built Chicago IL. MSN 10410/FN 141. Delivered to USAAF 26 Sep 44, 42-7230. Sold to American Airlines 1946 as NC90433. Purchased by EL AL via Flying Tiger Line as an intermediary, delivered to EL AL at Tulsa, OK, 15 Mar 49. Named Rechovoth in honor of the city of President Chaim Weizmann’s residence in Israel. Sold to Flying Tiger Line and registered N90433, Jan 52, and Israeli registration canceled 15 Jan 52. Crashed 1,600km (1,000mi) west of Honolulu, HI while operating for Flying Tigerr Line, 24 Sep 55.

C-54A-10-DC, built Chicago IL). MSN 10339/FN 70. Delivered to USAAF 30 Jun 44, 42-72234. Sold to American Airlines in 1946 as NC90439, named Flagship Hartford. Purchased by EL AL via Flying Tiger Line, delivered to EL AL at Tulsa, OK, 26 Feb 49, arrived Tel Aviv 11 Jul 49. Named Herzl. Operated EL AL’s first scheduled flight, 31 Jul 49, Tel Aviv–Rome–Paris. Operated special flight 16-17 Aug 49, Tel Aviv–Vienna–Tel Aviv, to bring remains of Theodor Herzl, founder of Zionism, to Israel. Crashed on takeoff from Tel Aviv, 6 Feb 50, at 0100 local time, under unusual snow and icing conditions; burnt out, but all aboard escaped safely.

C-54B-1-DC, built Chiago IL). MSN 10512/FN 243. Delivered to USAAF 6 Jan 45, 42-72407. Transferred to Reconstruction Finance Corp (RFC, a US government agency that assisted the reconstruction of industries). Returned to Douglas 5 Nov 45 and converted to Ce54B-DC (FN 5) at El Segundo, CA. To Western Air Lines 21 May 46 as NC86581. Sold to United Air Lines in 1947, named Mainliner Grand Canyon. Purchased by Flying Tiger Line on behalf of EL AL 27 Apr 50; arrived Tel Aviv, 28 May 50. Registered in name of EL AL as 4X-ADB 31 May 50. Believed operated under Cuban registration, possibly CU-T-472, on Yemenite airlift. Re-registered as 4X-ADN (see below), 4 Feb 51, but retained 4X-ADB markings. Crashed and burnt out while on a cargo flight, on descent into Zürich, 24 Nov 51. Six crew members, including Capt Ted Gibson, died, and one survived.

C-54B-10-DO, built Santa Monica CA. MSN 18367/FN 141. Delivered to USAAF 25 Sep 44, 43-17167. Returned to Douglas 11 Jan 46 and converted to C54B-DC (FN 47) at Santa Monica, CA. Sold to United Air Lines 31 May 46 as NC30058, named Mainliner Hudson River. Purchased by EL AL 17 May 50. Registered in Israel as 4X-ADC 26 Jun 50. Operated at times with Cuban registration CU-T-465, registered to Intercontinental Aerea de Cubs. Israeli registration canceled 7 Apr 52 and sold to Flying Tiger Line. Re-registered as N30058, 25 Apr 52 (Cuban registration canceled 28 Apr 52). Sold to Pan American Airways 1957 and leased to Ariana Afghan Airlines as YA-BAG, Jun 57. Crashed at Beirut, Lebanon, 21 Nov 59.

C-54A-15-DC, built Chicago IL. MSN 10416/FN 147. Delivered to USAAF 29 Sep 44, 42-72311. Sold to Air Cargo Lines as NC56011. Sold to Trans-Caribbean Airways. Leased to Mercury Aviation Services, Johannesburg, and registered ZS-BYA, 2 Feb 48 for single trip to South Africa. Restored as NC56011 later in Feb 48. Purchased by Israeli government and was in Israel Air Force as no. 1802. Transferred to EL AL and registered as 4X-ADN 11 Jun 50. Leased to Intercontinental Aerea de Cuba 20 Aug 50 as CU-P448, and re-registered CU-T448, Nov 50. Flown in Yemenite airlift under markings of Near East Air Transport. Registration changed to 4X-AMD 4 Feb 51. Sold to Trans-Caribbean Airways Jun 51, Israeli registration canceled 24 Jun 51, and reverted to N56011. Withdrawn from use and U.S. registration canceled 8 Apr 55.