Back when orange flight suits were the thing…
Category: US Air Force
Oddball Aircraft
The Westland-Hill Pterodactyl was one of a number of tailless aircraft designed by that firm in the 1920s. A revolutionary idea, but I have to say that in looking at this photo one would be excused for thinking it was the result of some dire mishap.
Due to its flying characteristics (to say nothing of its appearance), the Vickers Vulcan carried the nickname “Flying Pig”.
The YC-123 was fitted with skis, wing floats, and a host of other devices with the idea of having an aircraft that could fly (and land) just about anywhere.
VB-17G (44-83259) was a VIP transport for General Carl Spaatz during the time he was the Air Force’s first Chief of Staff. The aircraft was nicknamed “Boops” after his daughter.
Boeing’s XAT-15 was a promising trainer but was elbowed aside in favor of other designs. Somewhat of a throwback in construction (it used a lot of wood), the aircraft is seen here at Boeing’s Wichita plant (note the Stearmans in the background).
The XB-24N (44-48753) was another one-off Liberator, but not too bad an idea. It did illustrate that a B-24 was doable with only a single horizontal stabilizer.
The Vultee Vulture in its original configuration. With the snug-fitting engine cowl and nacelle, one could easily mistake the aircraft for having a liquid-cooled engine. It did not, but the engine didn’t like it so Vultee eventually opted for a more conventional open cowl.
The XB-24J (42-73130) was a one of a kind aircraft that incorporated the nose of a B-17G. (Translation: Okay, maybe that wasn’t such a hot idea after all.) Due to the numerous “Frankenstein” versions of highly modified B-24s, there must have been something about its design that caused engineers to have fantasies about modifying the aircraft into something it was never intended to be.
Hahn Air Base, 1956
T-33 16817 of the 50th Fighter Bomber Wing and F-86H 53-1429 of the 417th Fighter Bomber Squadron. The photo was taken April 28, 1956. Both aircraft would crash in the coming weeks.
417th FBS pilot explains the workings of the F-86 (53-1472) to an interested German civilian.
T-33A 51-6834 attracts a crowd of locals at the Hahn open house. When I was stationed in Germany, the annual “Flugtag” brought in huge crowds. Some came for the aircraft, others for the ice cream.
Air Policeman makes sure no one walks out the gate with a brand-new F-86.
T-33A 51-4502 assigned to Hahn’s 69th Tactical Missile Squadron. This aircraft was later sold to the Singapore Air Force and is now on display in that country.
T-33A hurries past the Hahn tower.
F-86H 53-1430 of the 417th FBS. This aircraft was the personal mount of Chuck Yeager when he commanded the 417th during this time.
417th FBS boss Chuck Yeager and pals with Yeager’s bird, 1430.
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.
Sabre Dog in New Mexico
F-86D (52-3774) of the 93rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron in front of the alert barn at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico around about 1957. What was there to make it worth a man’s while to go up and intercept things you ask? Answer: New Mexico was home to all things atomic bomb.
Hot “Dog”
The “D” model of the famed F-86 Sabre was, of course, labeled the “Dog” model. However, this was not just for the phonetically proper D-for-Dog but for what that model’s radome did to alter the aircraft’s appearance. Compared to the previous Sabre models whose front end was an intake (comparisons were made between it and a fish with its mouth open), the addition of the black radome did indeed give the D model the look of some sort of canine.
The 15th Fighter Interceptor Squadron flew the F-86D from 1954-1957. The latter date coincides with that of this photo. Well, photo yes, but it is actually a postcard used by “Tex and Paky”.
PS. Get it?: Hot “Dog”…D Model…”Sunny Tucson”…(?) Yeah…
The 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of Goose Bay Air Base in the less than tropic land of Labrador, Canada, in 1957
Who doesn’t look forward to a little refresher in the fine art of arctic survival? You can see the enthusiasm written all over their faces.
Classy VW Bug in front of 59th squadron ops. The alert barn is to the right with an F-89 Scorpion getting some sunshine.
Goose Bay Air Base alert facility. T-33’s are lined up in the distance.
Although the C-118 and C-124 are hidden by snowbanks, the melting ice tells us that summer cannot be too far off. It will be warm, just not for very long.
SA-16’s of the 54th Air Rescue Squadron are dwarfed by the SAC hangars at Goose Bay. These hangars, along with many of the other such buildings in these photos, are still in use today. When one looks at these photos, it is sometimes hard to believe they were taken over six decades ago. The aircraft are long scrapped or, if lucky, in a museum. The young men are now old – most around 90 years of age – but they will remain, for a least a few moments here, forever young.
USAF Firepower Demonstration
It’s the early 1960’s and the USAF is providing the taxpayers with a sample of the hardware they have available to deter anti-social behavior. We have B-52’s, the C-130, KC-135, B-58, and for the grand finale, the F-100’s of the USAF Thunderbirds. Oh, there is also a nifty two-tone 1958 Ford station wagon, and redheaded and blonde dames baking in the Nevada sun.
F-86 meets its fate in Fresno
Although there was an F-86 squadron at Fresno, Ca. during the 1950’s, this is not one of theirs. The date is July 19, 1958, and this F-86E (51-12994) of the Van Nuys Airport based 195th Fighter Interceptor Squadron has met its fate away from home. Mechanical difficulties brought about this mishap which was sufficient enough to write-off the aircraft.
115th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
F-86 Sabre pilots of the 115th at their home base of Van Nuys Airport in the mid-1950’s.
Colonel Joseph A. Barrett
An F-86 pilot, Barrett was commander of the 49th Fighter Bomber Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan, in 1957. His next stop was commander of the 329th Fighter Group (Air Defense) at Stewart AFB, NY, 1958-59.
March AFB, 1960 Open House
Looks like it didn’t take much convincing from dad for these two happy boys to pose next to a Strategic Air Command T-33. A B-47 is in the background. March operated two wings of these aircraft during this time.
325th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Pt.II)
The 325th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Maintenance men and pilots say “cheese” on the ramp of Truax AFB, Wisconsin in the late 1950’s. Of the F-102’s in the background, 56-1413 is now displayed at the Castle Air Museum in California. Beyond sits 1421 and she is no more.
These photos are from the estate of the 325th commander, Lt Col John Beck. Seen here briefing his men, Beck had served as boss of the 87th Fighter Squadron in WWII and was a highly decorated pilot with both the US and British DFC’s.
Beck in the cockpit of an F-102. Aircraft had changed a bit in the 15 years since he had flown the P-47.
56-1390 on roll-out at Truax AFB, 1958.
56-1412 speeding past what is now the ramp for the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
Beck and his fellow pilots enjoy a squadron “dining in” at the Truax “O” club. Note the F-102 model mounted above the red bull mascot of the 325th.
F-106 at McGuire AFB, 1960s
Basking in the warm (and humid) New Jersey sunshine, F-106A 57-2459 of the 539th Fighter Interceptor Squadron shares the ramp with an MC-131A and an F-105B. All of these aircraft were based at McGuire. Our F-106 had a long life, but she ultimately came to her end after being picked to pieces to keep other 106’s flying. Our MC-131 (52-5785) too had a long life but with a happier ending: After her USAF days she went to the Coast Guard, but is now on display at the Castle Air Museum in California. The F-105 (57-5784) spent most of her long career with the New Jersey Air National Guard (as seen here), but was saved and is now on display down Mexico way.
Kunsan Air Base Korea, 1951-52
The crew chief and pilot of F-84E 50-1125, 474th Fighter Bomber Wing, standby for another trip “Up North.” Judging by the markings below the canopy, this will be its 24th mission.
T-33A 51-4113 gets a going over. Note the painted over “buzz number” on the nose.
F-84E 50-1157 of the 27th Fighter-Escort Group.
Another Kunsan-based unit was the 3rd Bomb Wing with its B-26 Invaders.
“The Fighter School”
The Jive Bomber 