N88881 was a DC-4A C/N DC236 built in 1944 as a C-54E-10-DO, bought by PanAm on 23 December 1945 and converted to DC-4A standards. It was operated with the N88881 registration as Clipper Raven from 1946 until 1953. It would have been filmed during this time and the film used as B-Roll by Ozu in the “Green Tea” film. It was renamed Clipper Lighting in September 1963, sold to California Eastern Airways in September 1953, leased to World Airways July 1960, leased to Resort Airways from October 1954 to May 1962 (sub-leased to World Airways July 1960 to June 1961), owned by Slick Airways May 1962 to September 1965. Privately owned thereafter and registration cancelled 27 April 1977.
Source: RZJETS database, available at
Douglas DC-4 (C-54) production list (Aircraft are listed by C/N. DC236 is on page 8.)
I realize this no longer has anything to do with B-17s, but I wanted to close the loop.
Don