Lockheed EC-121D 'Super Constellation'
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TSgt Charles M Light (Retired) Amarillo, TX | I Was stationed at McClellan AFB from 1966 thru 1972. From 1967 to 1972 I was in the 552nd AEW&C Wing. 67-69 in the 963rd, after that in Flying/Ground Safety at Wing Level. I Was a Flight Engineer and flew virtulally every C, D & T model we had several times. I accumulated over 2000 flying hours during that time. Two trips to College Eye for 66 missions in SEA & Korea. Was medically Grounded in 1969 and still miss the Connie. I mostly miss Old Triple Nickel. Really had dome good times in her. Lots of happy memories working in and around Connies. some of the best folks I met during my career were "Connie Folks" both Ra-techs, Maint Techs & Flt Crews.
God Bless you all,
Chuck Light 11/16/2008 @ 19:56 [ref: 23079] |
Rick England Wittmann, AZ | Anita I am still here. I sure miss uncle Jim. I think that was in 66 When uncle Jim crashed in that c121 H model.
Bulldog 431
crew chief
UH=1H 10/09/2008 @ 04:32 [ref: 22812] |
Steve Murray North Providence, RI | Served at Otis AFB from 1957 to 1960. Was in the FMS electric shop and later transfered to the Auto-Pilot and Compass repair. Remember cold winter nights changing landing gear switches and trying not to get your hand stuck to the landing gear struts. I was there when 123 burned. I liked what I did with the Connie and enjoyed my work. Sorry to see the old bird retired. Glad that 555 is saved for others to see. 04/22/2008 @ 12:50 [ref: 20680] |
Anita Hamman Taylor Seminole, FL | My husband Teck Sgt. Gordon O Hamman lost his life on April 25th 1967.He was station at Otis Airforce base.He came from Calf with the Connies to Otis
He loved the Airforce and The Connies.He was just six month of retirement from the Airforce.
I know he loved them EC-121D and if he had to leave this Earth that is the way he would of wantd to go with any of them Big Flying Birds .
God Bless All . 04/13/2008 @ 10:52 [ref: 20534] |
Jon H Richardson Deer River MN 56636, MN | Arrived at Otis in Apr 56 with wife and 3 month old son on a Sat nite. Stayed in the old guest house on the second floor and early Sun was looking out the window and here come my first look at a Connie taking off. My class at Keesler didn,t have a chance to see a Connie because the familarization trip to Keesler had been canceled. I reported in to EM Sqdn and went to work in the Radar Maintenance and somehow got involved with the Set Control and if you were a Radar Tech you know can remember what it was like working on the 2nd panel of the SET Control, it was A nightmare. After 6 months in the shop I went on Flying status. What a thrill that was. I would have done it without the Flt Pay. On my 3rd Flt, The 1st Tech didn,t show up and they asked me if I could handle 1st Tech. I told them as long I could hear that Maggie singing I would be ok. By the way the 2nd tech had less flying time than
me. All went well and 8 years later I was transfered out with a little less than 3000 hours Flying Time. 03/03/2008 @ 12:11 [ref: 19847] |
Jon H Richardson Deer River MN 56636, MN | Arrived at Otis in Apr 56 with wife and 3 month old son on a Sat nite. Stayed in the old guest house on the second floor and early Sun was looking out the window and here come my first look at a Connie taking off. My class at Keesler didn,t have a chance to see a Connie because the familarization trip to Keesler had been canceled. I reported in to EM Sqdn and went to work in Radar Maintenance and somehow got involved with the Set Control and if you were a Radar Tech you can remember what it was like working on the 2nd panel of the SET Control, it was A nightmare. After 6 months in the shop I went on Flying status. What a thrill that was. I would have done it without the Flt Pay. On my 3rd Flt, The 1st Tech didn,t show up and they asked me if I could handle 1st Tech. I told them as long I could hear that Maggie singing I would be ok. By the way the 2nd tech had less flying time than
me. All went well and 8 years later I was transfered out with a little less than 3000 hours Flying Time. 03/03/2008 @ 12:08 [ref: 19846] |
Paul Lindsey West Melbourne, FL | I was an Airborne Radio Operator with the 965th AEW&C Sq, McClellan AFB.1963/64. Those were the days. A lot of long missions and those zero take offs in that Ca fog. 01/27/2008 @ 14:27 [ref: 19439] |
Charlie Priest Tewksbury, MA | Hi All, I was at Otis in the 551st AEW&C Wing from 1956 thu 1958. Spent most of that time in the 551st EM Squadron as a Radar Tech and then to the 551st Operations Sq. Wor5king on the "T2" training trailers. I have been to the museum at Wright Pat and the RC-121D (Tail # 555) was a lovely sight. They changed the designation to EC-121D after I got out. Brought back a lot of fond memories--
Have a happy and Prosperous New Year.
Kindest Regards,
Charlie 12/15/2007 @ 12:52 [ref: 18928] |
CMSgt Ken Witkin, USAF (Ret.) Fort Washington, MD | I was assigned to the 964th AEW&C Squadron, McClellan AFB California as an EC-121D airborne radio operator from November 1963 to July 1966. Our Squadron Commander was Sam Tidwell and our first sergeant was Art Cole. George Popham was the NCOIC of Radio Operations. Our mission was to fly an active air defense (AAD) orbit off the coast of California & Oregon seven days-a-week. The normal EC-121D mission was 14 hours. There were about 20 airborne radio operators assigned to the 964th Radio Operations Section during the time I was stationed at McClellan---including a certain TSgt by the name of Walter Huddleston who later became the radio operator on Speckled Trout--the USAF Chief of Staff's VC-135. It was a great time to be an airborne communicator. 12/11/2007 @ 07:57 [ref: 18878] |
Lee Solaroli , MA | The EC-121 pictures in Thailand were taken in 1972 on Korat Air Base. The unit was the 552nd. I was an Avionics Maintainence Officer. The unit was commanded by Lt. Col. Elliot Powers. We flew in Northeast Thailand and The Gulf of Tomkin. Support was given for MIG-CAP, Inflight Refuel and Rescue. Also, tail # 425, shown in one of your other pictures, was in the unit. The smaller aircraft to the left of the Connie is a B66 equipped for Electronic Countet Measures(ECM). 11/13/2007 @ 10:15 [ref: 18524] |