Douglas DC-4E

Douglas DC-4E			Photo Gallery
Developed from a design requirement from United Airlines in 1935 to replace the DC-3, the Douglas DC-4E was an experimental airliner that never entered production due to the complexity and cost. The first flight 7 June 1938 and only 1 example was built.

After Douglas was unable to find a customer for its the DC-4E, it was sold to Japan Air Lines (on behalf of the IJN) in 1939. When it arrived, it was briefly tested as the 'Navy Experimental Type D Transport' before being disassembled by Nakajima and studied in detail for its engineering to help Japan with its own Large Bomber project. To cover its disappearance from public view, the Japanese Press released a story that it had crashed in Tokyo Bay, and nothing was recovered. The Nakajima G5N1 project, flown in 1942, had the same wings, engines, landing gear as the DC-4E, and a new fuselage and tail. Three more prototype G5N1s and two (marginally improved) G5N2's were built and flown before the project was cancelled. After the Project was cancelled, two G5N1s and both G5N2s were converted into large transports as were designated as 'Shenzan-Kai Model 12 Transport' (G5N2-L). When Allied Intelligence became aware of their existence, all the extant models were given the Code Name 'Liz'.