Remember when... the C-124 Globemaster II Published June 17, 2008 By John M. Lacomia 60th Air Mobility Wing historian TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In March 1953, the 9th Bombardment Wing assigned to the Strategic Air Command was transferred from Travis to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. With the departure of the 9th, three squadrons from the Military Air Transport Service were then assigned to Travis. Though these MATS squadrons originally flew the C-54M "Samaritans," at Travis they would begin flying the C-97 "Stratoliner" and the C-124 "Globemaster II." Within a year, a total of six squadrons would be flying these two aircraft at the base. The Globemaster II was a redesign of the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and was modified from the lessons that were learned in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949. It had a crew of five and could carry up to 200 troops of 74,000 pounds of cargo. This long-range airlifter was in service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was affectionately nicknamed, "Old Shakey." The aircraft received its colorful nickname because of the strong wing and fuselage vibrations cause by its four piston-driven propellers. The C-124 would become a fixture at the base from September 1953 until its departure in July 1967. While at Travis, the Globemaster II would be flown by the five different squadrons and were to the assigned to the 1501st Air Transport Wing and its successor the 60th Military Airlift Wing.