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NAS Kwajalein Flight Ramp (Part 2): 1963-64
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:26 pm
by jdvoss
SAR HU-16
USCG C-130 from NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii
DC-4M Instrumented Range Aircraft operated by the AVCO Corporation
RA-3 Sywarriors visiting from VAP-61 NAS Agana
EC-121K touches down after flight from NAS Point Mugu
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:36 pm
by jdvoss
Kwajalein based HU-16 at Ponape, E. Caroline Islands. Aircraft is sitting on a WWII seaplane ramp built by the Japanese Navy. The hill behind hadbeen dug out to form a hanger to house seaplanes.
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:44 pm
by retroaviation
Looks like that DC-4 has a similar QEC as the Shackleton (without the contra-rotating props, of course).
Why did the Navy fold the wings on the Skywarriors when parked on a very open ramp? Just curious.
Gary
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:49 pm
by Sully
Isn't that a Northstar?
Sully
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:25 pm
by jdvoss
The DC-4M is indeed a Northstar constructed for Trans Canada Airlines and registered as CF-TFL. The aircraft was apparently scrapped in 1964 in Middleton, Ohio (?). It was replaced by a US Army EC-121K Constellation refitted for optical tracking.
Why did the RA-3's fold their wings? Good question as there was certainly ample parking space. Probably a procedural issue. The three Skywarriors would show up every six months or so and remain for several days to photograph each and every island on every atoll. There was fear that the Russians (or others) may have set up a tracking base for US ICBM re-entry tests.
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:06 pm
by jdvoss
Here'd another lost photo added to the 'ramp collection'.
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:22 am
by RareBear
Almost went to Kwajalein in 1974, with Martin-Marietta on the Sprint project. A broken leg gotten at the Sprint site in Nekoma, ND, kept me in the states. That would have been a neat tour.
Walt