US Naval reserve Squadron VR-52

VR-52 has a small detachment of C-118 at Selfridge ANG.  The squadron provided support for VP-93.   These transport would pickup reserve members that where assigned to  VP93, VR-52 and the Naval detachment support group.   Some of the C-118 at time belong to the USAF.  The Air force declared C-118 as no longer needed for MAC.   Any of the C-118 had very low airframe time. So the Navy acquired the surplus transport.

   I remember flying on them.  The flights were smooth but slow.   One of my shipmate Johnny Hoag hated flying on them.  Johnny and I both worked in the VP-93 electric shop.   His fear was based on a return trip from the Azores in a C-118.  According to Johnny is was the flight from hell.  About have way across the Atlantic on a return flight.  The C-118 aircrew had to shut down an engine.   That was too bad as the aircraft could keep going.  But when the Flight engineer came back to the forward compartment to open a hatch for adding engine oil this perk Johnny's interest.   Hey Johnny said, "What going on".   The FE replied one of the engines is used to much oil.   About an hour later the FE returned to say that they might have too shut that engine down.    SHortly after Johnny looked out the window.  According to him, " I could see the tops of the waves only a few blow us.   As the aircraft approached the US coast the C-118 started to shake hard.   That is when the engine leak oil was shut down.   Now flying very low and slow the aircraft declared an emergency.  The C-118 landed without any problems.  Needless to say Johnny was now permanently terrified of flight a C-118.  This was his story.

VR-52 C-118 tail code JT

NAF Detroit at Selfridge.  The dark spots in the photo is from the C-118 engines.

VR 52 had a Det at Selfridge from 1974 to around 1980. The VR squadron was base in Willow Grove. The other VR52 Dets where in Washington D.C. Dallas TX, and Minnesota. I believe the Selfridge Det was the one that lost C-118 in a crash in South America on the Embassy run.

John Kelly  The 1st time I went to sigonella. I was an E3 and sat by the wing and was told half joking to look outside from time to time. If you don't see an oil spray we need to stop and fill up!