WPAFB gate guards

[Karpis]

Forgive me if this is a repeat.....I thought I saw it addressed in here a while back but can't seem to find it now.
Anyway....was it ever determined why W-P removed the two ex-906th Phantoms from the pylons at the maain gate and replaced them with an F-15 and F-16 that were never assigned to the base? Reason I ask is because I drove by the VFW on the south side of Enon (close to W-P) yesterday and saw that the ex-906th Phantom they used to have sitting in their front yard is gone, too. No idea how long it's been missing. Just seemed kinda strange.

[PhantomAce08]

I don't know about the gate guards, but as for the one in Enon...

Go here and click on the part about "Save Phantom 550"
http://www.f4phantom.com/

[Shay]

The reason I was given when I went over to take pictures of the news gate guards. Was that the F-16 and F-15 portrayed a more modern image of the Air Force and regardless of the Phantom's successful career a 1950's 60's design didn't epitomize that.

I hope that 66-7626 and 66-7554 both find good homes. They are both pretty birds. Nice paint and well taken care of. Really amazing considering that they sat outside for so many years.













Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Shay]

Here are the pictures of the new gate guards. They are nice but my opinion is that the Front Gate Gate Guards should be representatives of the base's history which these are not.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[PhantomAce08]

The reason I was given when I went over to take pictures of the news gate guards. Was that the F-16 and F-15 portrayed a more modern image of the Air Force and regardless of the Phantom's successful career a 1950's 60's design didn't epitomize that.

I completely agree. It would have been even better if perhaps they added the F-15 and F-16 to the two F-4s. That way, it would display the history and the "modern image" of the Air Force.

[Dave Hackett]

Either of you guys know the serial numbers on the C-54 and B-47 parked next to those F-4s? Also the serial on the tan camo F-4 a little behind them? I visited the museum this weekend, and did the tour to the annex hangers. Lots of XC-99 parts there too. The Beaufighter is in the museum, although still several parts not attached to the airframe. They have really opened up the museum with the addition of the new hanger. I hope they get another one built so that more airplanes are quickly and easily viewable.

dave

[Shay]

Dave

The B-47E is serial 53-2280







The F-4C you are talking about is 64-0763







What you thought was a C-54 is actually a C-131D Samaritan serial 55-301.





Of interest though I did discover that the 2nd Gate Guard F-4D 66-7554 is a two time MIG Killer.

-6 November 1967 - 2 Mig-17s - Simmonds/McKinney - 435 TFS/8 TFW





Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Dave Hackett]

Thanks Shay. I should have relied on my notes and not my memory from the weekend when calling the C-131 a C-54. Where was the F-4D Mig Killer you are talking about?

dave

[Shay]

Dave

66-7554 All the way on the right



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis