Fairchild Aircraft Company began the design of a multi-purpose cargo and troop transport in 1941. The first flight of the prototype was made on September 1944.Approximately 1100 planes have been produced until the 1955. Besides the U.S. Air Force, Italy, Belgium,India, Republic of China and many others countries usedthe C-119 Flying Boxcar. Gradually it has been replaced by the C-130 Hecules.