The United Air Lines shield and 'The Mainliner' script on a parked DC-3, circa 1939.
1939 · California, United States
Still image · $49
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4K archival still image
The pan ends on registration NC 18103 on the DC-3's rudder — California, 1939
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- Catalog year
- 1939
- Location
- California, United States
- Image
- Still 4 · 7.14s into the source clip
- License
- Editorial only
Editorial use only: documentary, news, educational, internal and organic social use. Not permitted in advertising, sponsored or branded content, broadcast promotion or any paid commercial placement.
One full-resolution still image is included. The source video is licensed separately.
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Registration NC 18103 on the rudder of a United Air Lines Mainliner DC-3, likely California, circa 1939.
The source is catalogued as 8mm home movie. This frame appears 7.14 seconds into the clip. Watch the source footage below to see the surrounding action.
Browsing preview376 × 256pixels · shown above
Licensed 4K image3840 × 2160pixels · JPEG download
About 86× as many pixels as the web preview. The master retains the original film’s grain, texture and condition.
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Other frames from this clip
The camera starts its pan along the DC-3 toward the tail.
1939 · California, United States
Still image · $49
'U.S. Mail' and 'Air Express' lettering on the DC-3's tail fin, circa 1939.
1939 · California, United States
Still image · $49
Source footage and archive context
California-1939: Pan Along a United Air Lines Mainliner DC-3 to Its Tail Number
Watch the movement and surrounding scene in the source clip, or license the video separately.
Source format: 8mm home movie.
Browse the collection: 1939 California.
Date documentation · estimated
Catalog estimate based on source metadata and visual or technical evidence; no reel-level note is linked.
Location documentation · estimated
Catalog estimate based on source metadata and visual evidence such as signage, landmarks, or terrain; no reel-level note is linked.
Period detail
The United Air Lines shield, 'The Mainliner' script, the NC-prefix registration and the U.S. Mail and Air Express lettering are all markings of a pre-war American airliner.
Film character
Grainy, low-contrast black-and-white home movie film with a pale washed-out sky, soft focus and a slightly unsteady handheld pan.
Historical context
United began DC-3 service in 1937 and marketed the planes as Mainliners, and the mail and express lettering shows passenger airliners also carrying post and freight.
Research note
The film is a home movie, but the United Air Lines name, shield and Mainliner script are trademarks, and the one person seen is unidentified, so commercial uses should be reviewed for trademark and likeness.
Image licensing questions
What resolution will I download?
Your license includes the 3840 × 2160-pixel JPEG in full 4K resolution. The 376 × 256-pixel image on this page is a browsing preview. The licensed image is extracted from the scan master, not enlarged from the preview.
What does the $49 still-image license include?
It covers this one still image. This image is editorial only; commercial advertising and paid placements are not permitted. Choose the usage, territory and term at checkout. The source video is licensed separately.
Can I see the footage this image came from?
Yes. The source clip is “California-1939: Pan Along a United Air Lines Mainliner DC-3 to Its Tail Number”. Its page includes the video preview and the archive’s source and licensing information.