westernairexpress

This is a Douglas M-4A (c/n 338) belonging to Western Air Express (WAE). This aircraft is still extant and is on exhibit (albeit as a "Douglas M-2") at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum's (NASM) Udvar-Hazy Center, adjacent to Dulles Airport (IAD / KIAD) in Chantilly, Virginia. Here is a more recent photo by Flickr user NTG's photos: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/52287882@N05/22890391713/] See also: airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A...

Douglas DC-3B-202 NC17312 c/n 1922 was commandeered from TWA by the USAAF as C-84 42-57157, and delivered July 9, 1942. It was returned to TWA on December 3, 1943 where it again served as NC17312, fleet number '350'. It later flew with Wisconsin Central Airlines from October 27, 1950, with North Central Airlines as 'Land-o-Lakes - 11' from March 1, 1951, then with various other owners/operators. Reportedly its last operator was Central Cargo Inc, of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aircraft was reported derelict at San Juan, PR. in October 1976, and scrapped by 1980. Also visible is Boeing 247 (247D) NC13339 c/n 1721 of United Airlines.

The caption is incorrect. This is not a Sikorsky, but a Boeing 204L flying boat, N874E (c/n 1076). Here is another photo of the same aircraft from theSDASM's Richard Mitchell Photo Collection: