Immediately after the United States became engaged in World War II, and particularly as a consequence of that nation's initial involvement against Japanese forces in the Pacific, it was clear that transport aircraft would be of vital importance. Because of the theatre of operations envisaged, such aircraft would require both long range and great load-carrying capability, and in early 1942 Douglas began development of an aircraft to meet this requirement.

Designated Douglas C-74 Globemaster I, the first example of which 50 had been ordered by the US Army Air Force did not fly until 5 September 1945. It was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, with a conventional tail unit, retractable tricycle landing gear with twin wheels on each unit, and power provided by four wing-mounted 2237kW Pratt & Whitney R-4360-27 radial engines. The C-74's large-capacity fuselage provided accommodation for the crew and 125 troops, or 115 stretchers with medical attendants, or up to 21840kg of cargo.

The Globemaster I suffered typical contract cancellations after VJ-Day, and only 14 were completed. One, with 103 passengers and crew, flown from the USA to the UK on 18 November 1949, was the first aircraft to fly across the North Atlantic with more than 100 persons on board.

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