Early KC-97A at Boeing Field

Born a cargo aircraft, C-97A 49-2591 was soon converted to a tanker configuration as seen here. Her air refueling days were short-lived as she was then reconfigured to once again become a trash hauler. Not the very obvious rear cargo doors where the boom operator’s pod has been attached.

124th Fighter Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, 1951

“To minimize risk, only the fewest number of men required should refuel an aircraft” ~ Air Force Technical Order on the Refueling of Aircraft

Men of the 124th Fighter Squadron

Air Policemen defy anyone to touch the squadron’s C-47.

Iowa Air Guard F-51s and a lone AT-6

Working hard for the Guard.

The year 1951 was busy for the Iowa Air National Guard at Des Moines Airport. At the beginning of that year the boys had been flying F-84 Thunderjets, but with the Korean War now in full-swing those F-84s went to active duty units while Iowa reverted to the F-51. Having flown them from 1946-1949, the 124th and the Mustang were old friends. This state of affairs continued until the war ended thus making jets available once again.

The original “Skyblazers”

From 1949-1962, the Skyblazers of US Air Forces Europe (USAFE) thrilled European audiences with feats of aerial precision and showmanship. Here they are in the early days atop one of their F-84 Thunderjets: team founder Major Harry Evans, pilots Lawrence “Dagwood” Damewood, and twin brothers Charles “Bill” & Cuthbert “Buck” Pattillo.

Young pups: K/C-135’s in the early 60’s.

KC-135A 59-1504 “City of Tacoma” on the ramp at McChord AFB in 1961.

Another shot of “City of Tacoma”. Now 60 years old and still flying.

1504 flew with the 22nd Air Refueling Squadron, 1960-1962 – McChord’s brief time as host to tankers.

60-0357 started life as a C-135A but was quickly converted to a tanker configuration. Still flying today.

C-135A 60-0369 never underwent the tanker conversion. This, no doubt, is one reason it had a comparative short life: eventually used as a ground trainer, then scrapped.

C-135B 61-2264 was also not “tankerized” but was converted into an RC-135, “Cobra Ball”, assigned to Eielson AFB, AK.

2664 role as a “Cobra Ball” spy plane ended tragically on March 15, 1981, when it crashed on Shemya Island killing 6 of the crew. Stationed in Alaska at the time, I remember the tragic incident well.

61-2664, 665, 666, and 667 on the Renton ramp in the early 60’s. All were converted to some form of intelligence gathering configuration.

61-0278 was the 500th KC-135. Delivered in 1962, she was dubbed “Miss Ak-Sar-Ben” – “Nebraska” spelled (for whatever reason) backwards. She was converted to an EC-135 and ended her life in the bone yard.

A soggy day for an airshow…

It is a rainy day at McChord AFB, but such weather never deters the die-hard aircraft fans. B-47E 53-6219 – as with all Stratojets – was nearing the end of its days when this photo was taken in 1963, but it could still draw admirers. (Made a good umbrella too) This 9th Strategic Aerospace Wing aircraft was visiting from Mountain Home AFB, a place where rain is less a concern than dust and tumbleweeds.

When this photo was taken, McChord AFB was home to a rather large fleet of rather large aircraft: The C-124 Globemasters, many of which are seen in the background.

Pilots and F-80’s of the 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

With his .50 caliber gun muzzles showing evidence of wear & tear, the pilot of this 26th FIS F-80 (49-0649) drives past the tower at Naha Air Base, Japan. 49- 0453 sits quietly beyond the tower. Note the portability of said tower.Nice day for flying as 49-0635 & co. cruise the Japanese skies in the early 1950’s.

Here’s five feet of the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

Five feet is the length of this photo, and given that I had to scan it in segments then stitch it all together, I would not have minded had the 18th FIS done its job with fewer men. That being said, it is a great shot of the entire squadron at Ladd AFB, Alaska, on July 18 1955, Major John “Buck” Rogers commanding. The following summer they moved to the somewhat less frigid Wurtsmith AFB in Michigan. F-89D Scorpions were the weapons of choice for the 18th in Alaska. One can be identified: 52-1839.