steveno
Member
some airplanes and flight crews you don't hear much about
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVJwUTdtvps[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVJwUTdtvps[/ame]
RC-135
- Thread starter steveno
- Start date
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Great airplane and an important mission. Worked with them for many years.
Those guys in the back are indeed unsung heroes. So are the guys upfront. I got to brief all the "bad guy" reaction to them to my general for three years. Scary stuff.
Those guys in the back are indeed unsung heroes. So are the guys upfront. I got to brief all the "bad guy" reaction to them to my general for three years. Scary stuff.
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Looking Glass or J Stars?
THE PILGRIM
Member
One time I ran into a RC crew down in Ft. Worth.
They had just arrived from Shemya and GD was doing some mods to their plane.
They were so glad to be in Cowtown it was just like Christmas.
Sara once said she could see Russia from her house.
From Shemya you can see it!
Boeing RC-135 - Wikipedia
They had just arrived from Shemya and GD was doing some mods to their plane.
They were so glad to be in Cowtown it was just like Christmas.
Sara once said she could see Russia from her house.
From Shemya you can see it!
Boeing RC-135 - Wikipedia
I remember one morning about 3 AM I got a call into work. I ran the SATCOM terminal at HQ SAC back then. seems a couple of Lybian Migs were chasing an RC out into the Med and kept locking onto it. luckily for them the USS Kennedy was nearby and launched a couple of F-14s. they tried to warn off the Migs, but had to shoot them down. my nephew was a weapons loader on the Kennedy at the time. the messages coming from the RC had all sorts of misspelled words and I could tell the pucker factor was about 99 at the time. those guys flew for 24 or more hours at a time on some missions out of Offutt, NE. lee
onebadvet
US Veteran
Hickham AFB Hawaii, 15th, Blue Eagle Squadron.
We flew EC135P, Airborne Command Post. We certainly flew the hell out of the airframes, I was Crew Chief on 58-0022, and we had 46,000 flying hours in 1974. Those were the days.
We flew EC135P, Airborne Command Post. We certainly flew the hell out of the airframes, I was Crew Chief on 58-0022, and we had 46,000 flying hours in 1974. Those were the days.
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Thank You All!
steveno - here's another similar rare bird I saw pull into the hanger where I was working in South Africa in either 1971 or 72. It was all grey, no two tone gray/white.
EC-135N ARIA (Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft)
One of the crew told me the white patterns on the black panel were for calibrating cameras. The smallest pattern wasn't much bigger than my hand. Some cameras in 1972! Makes you wonder what they can do now.
EC-135N ARIA (Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft)
One of the crew told me the white patterns on the black panel were for calibrating cameras. The smallest pattern wasn't much bigger than my hand. Some cameras in 1972! Makes you wonder what they can do now.
Attachments
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onebadvet
US Veteran
I worked on them at Patrick AFB Fl. from 1970-1972, they would go down range so we talk with Apollo Astronauts in space, yes the marking on the side was used to set up our orbit. Those planes at the time were so I high tech, and if you listen closely when they were the astronauts were in space would here Apollo Ariel to Houston control, Ariel was the plane, we go different locations all over the world to communicate with them in space.
Today there in Boneyard and one on display at the Air Force Museum in Ohio.
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onebadvet
US Veteran
Here is tribute to the men and women flight crews and maintenance personnel who kept these airplanes flying.
There is a replica of the National Security Agency's Wall of Honor at
the National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland. It lists 148
cryptologists killed in the line of duty. Many of them during aerial
reconnaissance missions. U.S. Air Force Security Service was established
in 1948. The National Security Agency (NSA) in 1952. U.S. Air Force
Security Service was re-designated Electronic Security Command in
1979.
In the 1950s the RB-29, and the RB-50 (an upgraded B-29)
was used for aerial reconnaissance missions. The Navy also
flew Reconnaissance missions flying PBYs and Neptunes.
Between 1950 and 1956 7 (2 Navy & 5 Air Force) reconnaissance
planes were shot down. All the crews MIA.
I know this is ancient history. But I am ancient, so forgive me.
I think of them often, and all of our heroes, especially at this
Memorial Day weekend. All gave some. Some gave all.
the National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland. It lists 148
cryptologists killed in the line of duty. Many of them during aerial
reconnaissance missions. U.S. Air Force Security Service was established
in 1948. The National Security Agency (NSA) in 1952. U.S. Air Force
Security Service was re-designated Electronic Security Command in
1979.
In the 1950s the RB-29, and the RB-50 (an upgraded B-29)
was used for aerial reconnaissance missions. The Navy also
flew Reconnaissance missions flying PBYs and Neptunes.
Between 1950 and 1956 7 (2 Navy & 5 Air Force) reconnaissance
planes were shot down. All the crews MIA.
I know this is ancient history. But I am ancient, so forgive me.
I think of them often, and all of our heroes, especially at this
Memorial Day weekend. All gave some. Some gave all.
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Where were they lost, and who shot them down? Korea?
midkansmithfan
Member
steveno,
Your three recent posts bring back wonderful memories.
6985thSS 1964-1966
I wasn't an Aircrewman but I processed a lot of the
material they brought back.
Back then I didn't think much about it but over the years
I have realized the risks they took and have developed
great respect for the men who flew those missions.
I am glad to know there are USAFSS veterans on this forum.
Warm Regards,
Don
Your three recent posts bring back wonderful memories.
6985thSS 1964-1966
I wasn't an Aircrewman but I processed a lot of the
material they brought back.
Back then I didn't think much about it but over the years
I have realized the risks they took and have developed
great respect for the men who flew those missions.
I am glad to know there are USAFSS veterans on this forum.
Warm Regards,
Don
PPS1980
Member
Lots of folks like that in the service. Missilemen (I'm old -sue me), submariners, Bears, EWOs, etc. They all serve.
CATI1835
US Veteran
One of many unappreciated, because they are little known, platforms in our Air Force.
Kind of an interesting, ironic side note - the opening music in the video in the OP is actually performed by the Red Army Choir.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiGj9llVKY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiGj9llVKY[/ame]
Kind of an interesting, ironic side note - the opening music in the video in the OP is actually performed by the Red Army Choir.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiGj9llVKY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiGj9llVKY[/ame]
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April 1950 Navy PB4Y shot down over Baltic Sea. 10
crewmen MIA.
November 1951 Navy P2V Neptune shot down over Sea of Japan. All 10 crewmen MIA.
June 1952 USAF RB-29 shot down over Sea of Japan
12 crewmen MIA.
October 1952 USAF RB-29 shot down north of island of
Hokkaido, Japan. 8 crewmen. 7 MIA and one KIA.
July 1953 USAF RB-50 shot down over Sea of Japan.
17 crewmen. Capt. John Roche survived. 13 MIA. 3 KIA.
April 1955 USAF RB-47 shot down over coast of Kamchatka
(over Pacific Ocean) 3 crew all MIA.
September 1956 USAF RB-50 disappeared over Sea of Japan
during typhoon. 16 crewmen all MIA.
War in Korea was from 1950-1953 so some of the above
would have been shot down by China and some by Russia.
North Korea had MIGs but mostly piloted by Russians.
Those in 1955 and 1956 were probably shot down by Russians.
I was in USAFSS and NSA 1952 - 1956 but, fortunately,
I wasn't on any of those missions.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Yes PILGRAM, I think there were others before and after
the one's I mentioned. Then of course there was Francis
Gary Powers (?) shot down with ground to air missile over
the Soviet Union. That was in 1960. He was flying a U2
spy plane. Long before we had the SR71 "Blackbird".
By the way the Blackbird would do Mach 3. I read that
they are working on an SR72 that is supposed to appear
in 2018 that will go twice the speed of the SR71. It
will go across the Atlantic in 45 minutes.
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Shemya is way out almost at the end of the Aleutian Island
Chain. Only a couple thousand more miles to Tokyo. USAF
had has(?) a 10,000 foot runway there. USAFSS did business
out of there. Maybe they still do.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Yes indeed. USAFSS was also on St. Lawrence Island.
I've had folks who were stationed there tell me they saw USSR fighters on a gunnery range.
I don't think they could see Sara's house, but they could see Russia, at least a little of it.
Speaking of St. Lawrence Island-
On June 22, 1955, during the Cold War, a US Navy P2V Neptune with a crew of 11 was attacked by two Soviet Air Forces fighter aircraft along the International Date Line in international waters over the Bering Straits, between Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Alaska. The P2V crashed on St. Lawrence Island's northwest cape, near the village of Gambell. Villagers rescued the crew, 3 of which were wounded by Soviet fire and 4 of which were injured in the crash.
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Another story about St. Lawrence from around 1953 or 1954
a Russian submarine came up and sat in the bay for several
hours. As a result, the story was that a General made an
inspection of our preparedness, in the event the Russians
had landed. He reported that each of the military personnel
had a weapon, but they could only find one round of ammo on
the island. (Don't know if it's true, but a good story).
My final assignment in the Air Force was with the 97th Intel Sqdn at Offutt AFB. Our folks crewed the back end of RIVET JOINT, COBRA BALL, and COMBAT SENT RC-135s.
RC-135S COBRA BALL
(official AF picture)
RC-135S COBRA BALL
(official AF picture)
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Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
One of the primary missions and aircraft is known by the code name "Rivet Joint".
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Just like those of us reading and posting on this site, the RC-135 is getting older and older and they ain't making any more. An article in the current AVIATION WEEK discussed them and that the Air Force is looking for a replacement.
Two competing schools of thought. One is to build the next R- on a large(r) business jet, the other is to build it on the Boeing 737. The Navy's observation/submarine hunter, the P-8, is built on the 737.
Two competing schools of thought. One is to build the next R- on a large(r) business jet, the other is to build it on the Boeing 737. The Navy's observation/submarine hunter, the P-8, is built on the 737.
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I really want to keep this thread alive, so if you don't mind I will bore
you with another story. It's not about the R-135 but it's kinda related.
I think it was 1953, we had a cook at our Elmendorf AFB headquarters.
He was enroute to or from one of our detatchments when the plane
exploded. He somehow made it to terra firma attached to a parachute.
He was serving in the chow line one day so I asked him how he managed
to make it out. (I think he was unconscious) He said "I must be awful
smart or awful dumb." He was a real big guy. They sent him back to
the states to be fitted with shoes and things.
you with another story. It's not about the R-135 but it's kinda related.
I think it was 1953, we had a cook at our Elmendorf AFB headquarters.
He was enroute to or from one of our detatchments when the plane
exploded. He somehow made it to terra firma attached to a parachute.
He was serving in the chow line one day so I asked him how he managed
to make it out. (I think he was unconscious) He said "I must be awful
smart or awful dumb." He was a real big guy. They sent him back to
the states to be fitted with shoes and things.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Somebody mentioned Rivet Joint.
One day I was the assigned Base Host at Takhli RTAB, Thailand.
The command woke me up and said we got a 135 arriving.
What kind of 135?
Its a Rivet Joint, crew 25-30 or so.
I don't need a bigger boat, I need a school Bus!
Command Post - I already called the motor pool.
One is on the way.
One day I was the assigned Base Host at Takhli RTAB, Thailand.
The command woke me up and said we got a 135 arriving.
What kind of 135?
Its a Rivet Joint, crew 25-30 or so.
I don't need a bigger boat, I need a school Bus!
Command Post - I already called the motor pool.
One is on the way.
41
Member
The refueling 135's have lights across the belly of the aircraft so the pilot of the aircraft being refueled can see when he is in the right position. The lights are shielded so you can only see them when you are in the correct position.
Looks like they call them Pilot Director Lights:
http://www.cormusa.org/uploads/Visu...ts__Improvement_for_Pilot_s_Visual_Acuity.pdf
I use to work as an observer on Polo Hat Exercises from 1981 to 1986. I flew on a B-52 for 17 hours on one exercise.
I also worked at Bendix in 1966 on the ARIA program. There was a shortage of engineers at the time and we were working 60 hour weeks. Bendix was also hiring engineers from England and paying their moving expenses.
Looks like they call them Pilot Director Lights:
http://www.cormusa.org/uploads/Visu...ts__Improvement_for_Pilot_s_Visual_Acuity.pdf
I use to work as an observer on Polo Hat Exercises from 1981 to 1986. I flew on a B-52 for 17 hours on one exercise.
I also worked at Bendix in 1966 on the ARIA program. There was a shortage of engineers at the time and we were working 60 hour weeks. Bendix was also hiring engineers from England and paying their moving expenses.
41
Member
I was checking on some Bendix information today and ran across this link on the ARIA program:
Bendix Radio Corporation
Bendix Radio Corporation
