Warbird Information Exchange

Man!!! That's exactly what I'm looking for! Can't thank you enough!!!

OK. This is all neat and all. But, what is the story about the midair with the SR-71?

I was told early on by another crew chief that 58-0054 had survived a midair with a Blackbird......I'm guessing this is it:


http://habu.org/sr-71/17970a.html

Put "em Up man Put 'em Up we'd also like to see 'em

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Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

You might like to know that KC-135A 58-0054 was officially redesignated as a KC-135Q on the 8th of September 1967 while with the 456STA Wing at Beale.

She looks purdy in that paint scheme! I can't even imagine what the days were like when we would have been allowed to climb a ladder into the exit behind the right wing root! Nowadays we would need two spotters, fall protection, elbow pads, a scuba mask and the electronic T.O. in one hand (opened to how to climb a ladder of course).

Here are the pics Paul (skippyscage)sent. Thanks again Paul and everyone!

Well fellas,
Running out of time! I've done a bit of research and the Air Force Museum is even helping me out with this one! In my first post on this thread, I included a picture of 58-0054 refueling an SR-71 and the caption on the website I found it on reads "952 is shown here during the first-ever inflight refuelling of an SR-71, on April 29, 1965" (952 is referring to the Blackbird). The Tanker is 58-0054 best I can tell!
Can anyone tell me if this is all the proof I need to claim that '054 was the first to refuel a SR-71? Can anyone suggest another way to confirm it WAS '054 that was the first?
Thanks everyone! I only have a few days to finish my table topper for the old girl, so I hope to confirm it somehow quick!

Johnny

Can't confirm anything, but the records show KC-135A re-joined 456STA Wing at Beale AFB 4 March 1965 after depot work at Tinker.

I am a retired boom operator that is working on a book that covers the history of every air refueling squadron since activation. I have gone all the way back to 1948. It has been an uphill battle with many trips to the Air Force Historical Research Agency. Anyway, I am currently working on the 903rd Air Refueling Squadron's chapter. They received 58-0054 in 1964. It was originally ferried from Boeing to the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Castle AFB, California on 28 May 1959. It was photographed at Biggs AFB in June 1959 so most people think it belonged to the 917th Air Refueling Squadron. It was just there as a view of things to come for Biggs AFB. The 917th activated in May 1959 and was still working towards getting aircraft. 58-0054 was bare metal with the dark orange painted by Boeing on the nose, tail, and wing tips. The boom ruddervators had “50U” painted in white which was a code for the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron. The 93rd always used a number plus the letter U. This aircraft had its fuel tanks and lines modified in order to carry JP-7 for the A-12 Oxcart program. Castle AFB was 255 miles directly west of Area 51 at Groom Lake, Nevada where the A-12s were secretly flying out of. The first air refueling was accomplished in early 1963. The tail numbers that belonged to the 93rd that were modified were: 58-0054, 58-0112, 58-0117, 58-0125, 58-0129, and 59-1504. All of those birds were transferred to the 903rd in 1964 and dubbed KC-135Qs in 1966. They were full Qs and not partials like those of the 70th and 306th Air Refueling Squadrons. Very few people know that the 93rd was the first to refuel the A-12s. Everyone thinks it was the 903rd.

The photo floating around on the web of a KC-135 with "36U" on the boom refueling an A-12 is from the 93rd.

Anyway, if anyone wants to help with the book, let me know. Also, if you guys need tanker information, give me a shout. My number is 1-910-920-5165. My e-mail address is: boomer9ars@hotmail.com .

Jim Webb

There is a one in five chance that 58-0054 may have been the first to air refuel an A-12.

Mr. Webb - Your post on the KC-135's at Castle AFB has taken me to a slide I had blown up of Tankers park on ramp. As a tower operator at Castle from May 1961 to September 1962, I had a couple of chances to take photos (not a good idea on a SAC Base). I had the slide blown up to see what tail numbers were evident, but none show the six 93rd aircraft you seek. The tail numbers that do show on photo are: 71425, 53142, 63594, 53139, 63603, 53145, 63645, and 71423. The photo isn't the greatest quality, but still interesting. The slide date is February 1962. Please pm me if interested.
Leon

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Jim,

I was a 135 driver in both the 91st and 384th at McConnell from 1984-1990 when we became the first operator of the R models. If I can be of any help, feel free to PM me. Craig

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Craig

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Leon,

You have made my day! Out of the tail numbers that you listed, I only have photos of 57-1425 and 55-3139. I have several of 57-1425 in brilliant color. I got the slides from George King, who was a boom operator in training from the 901st Air Refueling Squadron out of Columbus AFB, Mississippi. His entire crew left the KC-97s of the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron at Hunter AFB, Georgia to upgrade to the KC-135s. He said that they wanted to remain in the south and that was their best option. I have many photos of Castle aircraft and some very detailed history if you want to do some digital trading. I need a high-quality scan for the book.

Can you tell me if you can see the codes on the boom ruddervators? That is very important to me. I have been trying to break the codes for twenty years and I am very close. I know the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron aircraft used a number plus the letter U. Examples are: 25U, 17U, 19U, 36U, 50U, and so on.

Also, do the tails have a diagonal black stripe. This was added sometime around 1958 or early 1959. I don't see them on 1957 photos.

I cannot wait to see what you have. This is very exciting. My e-mail address is: boomer9ars@hotmail.com . My cell phone is 1-910-920-5165. Hopefully we can chat.

Jim Webb




Mr. Webb - Your post on the KC-135's at Castle AFB has taken me to a slide I had blown up of Tankers park on ramp. As a tower operator at Castle from May 1961 to September 1962, I had a couple of chances to take photos (not a good idea on a SAC Base). I had the slide blown up to see what tail numbers were evident, but none show the six 93rd aircraft you seek. The tail numbers that do show on photo are: 71425, 53142, 63594, 53139, 63603, 53145, 63645, and 71423. The photo isn't the greatest quality, but still interesting. The slide date is February 1962. Please pm me if interested.
Leon

Hey Craig,

I can surely use your help. You are the first person that I have spoke to about that period. It's ironic that I have been working on the tail numbers for the 91st Air Refueling Squadron at McConnell. That squadron moved from Lockbourne to McConnell on 30 June 1971. I have been working on a list of tanker that covers their history from the time they were ferried from Boeing. What a task! It has been really interesting though to see how and why Strategic Air Command moved aircraft and people around like they did when they were starting up so many new squadrons. Along with the tail numbers list, I have been working on a giant spread sheet timeline that shows when the squadrons activated and where their aircraft came from. It really helped my research in ways that I never thought was possible. When I started this, I was simple gathering all of the monthly history reports for each squadron and meshing that with photos and patches that I had. But as I interviewed old crewmembers, I began to notice how some guys were split off from a squadron to start a new one or how the old aircraft were transferred in order to get new ones. I saw why some squadrons got KC-97Fs and others got KC-97Gs but then those Fs and Gs were mixed between squadrons. That trend was happening a lot. Then I came across a letter in which the 308th Bombardment Wing commander was complaining that his KC-97Fs had no cargo-carrying capability to deploy to North Africa while his sister wing at Hunter had all KC-97Gs with cargo-carrying capability. A meeting was held in June 1954 to split up half of their KC-97Gs between the two wings. This was happening all over.

Anyway, the transition to the KC-135R models has been an area I have not touched yet. I was trying to get myself up to that point to watch the squadrons grow and see the aircraft movements. Then I could write smartly on the matter. I think it is time to hit it. My aircraft inventory sheets only go from 1948 to 1979. After that, I have been relying on photos and the internet. I need to make another trip to the Air Force Historical Research Agency, but I want to be prepared before I go.

Did you take any photos while at McConnell? Can you do an interview over the phone? My number is 1-910-920-5165. My e-mail address is: boomer9ars@hotmail.com . Welcome aboard if you want to help.

Jim Webb



Jim,

I was a 135 driver in both the 91st and 384th at McConnell from 1984-1990 when we became the first operator of the R models. If I can be of any help, feel free to PM me. Craig


_________________
Cheers,

Craig