The Forgotten WWII Twin-Engine Transport Aircraft Lockheed Model

Sudden War Use in the Philippines

On December 8, 1941, three Lockheed Lodestar aircraft meant for Philippine Airlines were flying toward Manila. That same day, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, and the situation changed quickly. The planes, under retired U.S. Army pilot Captain Paul I. Gunn, were rerouted mid-ocean and landed at Nichols Field in the Philippines. They were immediately put into military service by the Far East Air Force.

Within hours, these planes began missions flying key personnel out of Manila to the Bataan Peninsula. They also delivered supplies under enemy fire to American and Filipino troops. What began as a civilian airliner quickly became a military transport caught in one of the war’s earliest battles in the Pacific.

Competing with the DC-3

In the 1930s, the Douglas DC-3 had become the top commercial airliner. It was reliable, cost-effective, and carried more passengers than its competitors. Lockheed, trying to stay in the race, introduced the Model 14 Super Electra in 1937. Designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, it had better speed and range than the DC-3 but could only carry 10 to 14 passengers. That, along with higher operating costs, limited its success to just 112 aircraft sold by 1939.

As war tensions grew, military officials around the world began searching for fast, mid-range aircraft. They needed transports for troops, supplies, and paratrooper training. The U.S. Army Air Corps was expanding quickly and needed a plane that fit between small liaison aircraft and larger cargo types. Allied nations like Britain, Australia, and the Netherlands also looked for aircraft that could handle jungle or desert operations. Lockheed responded by redesigning the Super Electra.

Development of the Lodestar

In 1938, Lockheed’s facility in Burbank, California began developing the Model 18 Lodestar. Chief engineer Hall Hibbard and designers like Johnson and Robert E. Gross worked to improve passenger capacity and reduce cost per mile. They stretched the Super Electra’s fuselage by five feet and six inches, allowing 18 seats, closer to the DC-3’s range.

The prototype, converted from the fourth Super Electra airframe, flew for the first time on September 21, 1939, piloted by Milo B. Campbell. Testing showed better handling and range, though its empty weight of over 11,000 pounds meant crews had to carefully manage how it was loaded. On March 30, 1940, the aircraft received approval for commercial use and began service with Mid-Continent Airlines.

Refinements and Early Features

The Lodestar kept the twin-engine, low-wing setup from the earlier model but included improvements. Its aluminum semi-monocoque fuselage had a round shape for strength without adding too much weight. The wings, spanning over 65 feet, were designed with rivets set below the surface for smoother airflow. A twin-tail setup helped with balance at high speeds.

It had retractable landing gear that folded into the engine nacelles, reducing drag. Two pilots operated from a cockpit with dual controls, and the cabin could carry 18 passengers or 14 troops. The civilian version used Wright Cyclone engines producing 1,200 horsepower. Military types like the C-60A used Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines, also rated at 1,200 horsepower, to improve performance under combat conditions.

Military Adjustments and Specifications

Designers took feedback from Super Electra pilots to make changes. These included better ventilation for the cabin and covered windows for military models. The aircraft was just over 50 feet long and nearly 12 feet tall. Early models had a maximum takeoff weight of 17,500 pounds, though later versions reached 21,000 pounds.

It had a top speed of 266 mph and cruised at around 225 mph. It could fly up to 25,500 feet and had a range of about 1,650 miles with a 4,000-pound payload. Fuel tanks held 644 gallons. The plane usually had no weapons, though some were later fitted with light machine guns. A crew of two or three handled flight duties, depending on the mission.

Combat Service and Training Roles

In the U.S., the Army Air Forces took over 51 civilian Lodestars in 1941, giving them designations like C-56, C-57, and C-59 based on their engines. The main military model, the C-60A, had 325 aircraft built at Lockheed’s Burbank plant. These were used at training bases like South Plains Army Airfield in Texas for paratrooper practice, glider towing, and transport work.

On March 15, 1943, a C-60A from the 466th Bomb Group towed a Waco CG-4 glider during training. Crews praised its speed and said it could outrun some fighters when lightly loaded. However, they also said it was hard to control in turbulence, often needing steady rudder use. The Lodestar served in various theaters, especially where short takeoffs and high-altitude flying were needed, such as the mountains of western Canada. Its performance made it a helpful, if often forgotten, part of the Allied air transport fleet.