Army And Navy - OPERATIONS: Hangar Queen

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In the Air Forces, "Hangar Queen" is not a proud title. It refers to any grounded plane which is being systematically "cannibalized" (stripped of its parts) so that other planes may fly. Last week airmen told of the career of one of the biggest hangar queens yet—No. 144, a huge, almost new four-engined Douglas C-54.

Few months ago, 144 put in at a Florida base for repairs. Another C-54 rolled up beside her, needing a new landing-gear nosewheel. Repairmen looted 144. Their idea was that a new parts shipment could re-equip 144 later.

But a hangar queen had been made. As parts shipments were delayed, and other planes rolled in, more of 144's equipment was taken. At length 144 lurked in her hangar, bare as a stripteaser. She had been stripped of 400 parts, including an oil system assembly, all four generators, even her propellers.

For nearly seven months 144 sat ungloriously. Then at last parts arrived. Bit by bit 144 was refitted. Finally she took off again on her first mission in over half a year, a queen no longer.