KC-97 & C-97 photo

 These aircraft formed the early backbone of the Air refueling fleet.  A lot of ground breaking ideas on air refueling became a reality because of this aircraft.   The C-97 was over shadow by the C-118 and the lockheed constellation.   Maybe I can inspire modeller is build the KC-97...

Mystery DC-8 used by the Navy

 Found these pictures of  DC-8 used by the Navy.  Let me say I was shocked.  I never knew the Navy had DC-8.  Anyone have an item what these aircraft had been used for?

Painting wood grain on aircraft

Patrick Watson posted this today on face book.  A nice tutorial on his process.

I have always greatly admired the builders in this group who use acrylics and oils to create wood finishes instead of using the ‘easier’ option of wood grain decals (guilty!!). Whilst I absolutely love wood grain decal, I want to make one or two WnW kit using acrylics and oils so I thought it might be a good idea to practice. 2 scrap plastic card patches, some Tamiya flat acrylic colours, an RB Productions wood grain stencil and some Winsor and Newton artists oils. I experimented with several colour combinations, and settled on these. The lighter colour will be used on an Albatros D.V, and the lovely seasoned rich red brown wood will be used on an Albatros BII, and possibly an LVG. I’ve written the colours down under each test patch if anyone is interested. The oils were left on absorbent paper for about an hour prior to using them to remove some of the oil, and were painted on and thinned out with some stiff bristle paint brushes to help with the grain effect. I’m going to really enjoy playing with oils!!

Marine A-4s at Chu Lai

 Most photos of Marine A4's out of Chu Lai.  I remember 50 yrs watching these bad boys take off load with bombs.  I knew they were on the way to support some unit that need air support.

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!

US Naval reserve Squadron VP-93

In the late 70's to the early 80's I was a P-3A flight engineer.   With was the greatest of my life. I got to fly in this aircraft as an FE. The Orion was an amazing aircraft.   From 1962 until up to a few months ago the aircraft was the main ASW for the naval.   A total 757 Orion's have been built.

Here are some picture of the P3-A's I crewed.

I was the FE in the chase plane

F4-C in Ghost grey scheme.

This is the only picture I found of a "C" in the ghost grey scheme. By this time most of the "C' where in the boneyard or battle damage aircraft.   This Oregon ANG aircraft also has the F-15 centerline tank mod.