Designed as a trasnoceanic transport during World War II, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a giant four engined aircraft which offered longer range and greater load-carrying capability than any other similar type available at the time. Built as a cantilever low-wing all-metal transport, the Globemaster could carry up to 125 fully armed troops as well as nearly double the payload of the C-54 thanks to a self-contained loading elevator at the rear of the cargo compartment. Most noticeably though, it had separate bubble canopies for both pilots which allowed them an unobstructed 360 degree view. Unfortunately, the first C-74 did not fly until a few days after the war ended and as a result suffered major cancellations so that barely over a dozen were built but they served during the Berlin Airlift and became the basis for the C-124 after being phased out in 1956.

The Globemaster had its maiden flight on 5 September 1945 and was originally based on a scaled up DC-4 after which it was produced in small quantities. Other than the basic C-74, no other variants were built although some were given more powerful R-4360-49 engines later in their service lives.