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The single Douglas C-41A was the second transport aircraft based on the DC-3 to be built for the US Army Air Corps, and was a VIP transport purchased for use as a staff and VIP transport. The C-41A was a standard DC-3A, but with military instruments, a military version of the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine (the 1,200hp R-1830-21), and swivel seating instead of the comfortable fixed seats of the civil airliner (to allow for in-flight meetings). The C-41A was ordered in August 1939 and delivered in the following month. It was operated by the 1st Staff Squadron, based at Bolling Field, Washington DC. The C-41A should not be confused with the earlier C-41, a single transport aircraft said to be based on the C-39, with the narrow fuselage of the DC-2/ C-33 with the tail and wing centre section of the DC-3, but which also had the DC-3 fuselage.