T-33’s (okay ,”T-Birds”) on the ramp at Peterson AFB Colo. 58-0618 had a long life ahead of it, not being retired until 1986.

Northrop’s ground crew with the XB-35. Hard to believe the developments in aviation these guys were part of. Ten years earlier they had been working on open cockpit biplanes. Now, this.

Guys in the Chinook are saying “Yeah, this oughta look good in front of our club.”

The 509th flew the KC-97 from 1954-65. The crew wears the patch of their air refueling squadron’s parent organization, the 509th Bomb Wing.

Departing from Otis AFB in Massachusetts, an intrepid crew in a C-119 flew a cargo of Air Force flight nurses to Key West in 1960.

We’re going to Florida! The uniform on the right was worn by the nurses while performing their inflight duties…

…or you could wear a flightsuit. (Don’t forget the purse)

Driving the C-119

“Looks like Florida to me…”

On final to NAS Key West. Thanks to google earth, I can state that this is Summerland Key…

…and this is Cudjoe Key

Key West at last. Another tough mission hacked.

Now that they’ve made it, fishin’ is the mission. And, anyone who has been to Key West in the last 40 years will stare in amazement at the quiet highway.

“Charcoal Broiled Steaks” – I checked: this joint is long gone. Too bad, it looks good.

Having caught all the fish, and eaten “Charcoal Broiled Steaks“, it’s time to take the gals back north. Passing Little Pine Key.

BTW: I spent an hour on google earth staring at the Keys of Florida to figure out which was where. Using the C-119’s altitude helped narrow it down. This photo is a good example. Climbing in the hot sun in a heavy C-119, they couldn’t be too far from Key West. Bingo: Little Pine Key.

Aircraft proudly wears a “kill” marking for a Firebee drone. The 498th was at Paine AFB during this time.

With that huge vertical stabilizer, whatever was lacking in the yaw department on the B-29 was apparently compensated for when they modified it in to the B-50. Well, the B-50 also had much more powerful engines to deal with.

This aircraft crashed on 21 Dec 1961. The pilot, Major Joe Passantonio, Ops officer of the 498th, ejected and survived. Note the F-89’s of the 116th FIS, WA ANG.

64th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Paine AFB, WA, early 1960’s. 56-1346 flew for many years, but ultimately met its fate as a drone in 1981.

Taken at Ellensburg WA in 1953, two general’s stars adorn the fuselage – the big cheese himself was flying that day.

A close look at the tail numbers in the back row reveals 58-0098, a tanker still flying today with the Maine ANG.

Pictured at Paine AFB, WA in the early 1960’s. the H-43 was designed to provide firefighting and rescue in close proximity to its bases. The Huskie was a real workhorse back in the day when aircraft mishaps were a more routine event. Interestingly, the Huskie had no tail rotor; it’s twin, intermeshing rotors provided the required stability.

 

The Voodoo was one of those aircraft that looked like it was doing 500 knots sitting still. This bird, 57-0264 of the 322nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, is seen on a visit to McChord AFB.

Never mind what the sign says, this is a two-seater of the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. This aircraft, 59-0151 has a long life ahead, but it will end as an aerial target.