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Boeing EC-135K 'Stratolifter'

Description
Notes: KC-135A modified for deployment control.
  Manufacturer:Boeing
  Base model:C-135
  Designation:EC-135
  Version:K
  Nickname:Stratolifter
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1925-1962
  Basic role:Transport
  Modified Mission:Special electronic installation

Specifications
Not Yet Available


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Peter Dooley
 East Falmouth, MA
Hello to all my former crew members on this magnificent machine...
Peter Dooley. Dooleypster@gmail.com
05/29/2014 @ 08:06 [ref: 68488]
 Ted Buck
 Opdyke, IL
Was assigned to 55-3118 from Jan,1962 until Feb 1966 and again from July 1967 until Aug 1972 upon retirement. The Aircraft was a beautiful air machine ,but the most gratifying part of the assignment was the professionalism of the assigned crews. The Individuals were hand-picked and I was not disappointed in any of those assigned. I started as a Co-Pilot for Lt Col Kesterson when we flew General Walter C Sweeney. Kesterson retired in early 65 and I then Flew Gen Sweeney until he retired in Aug 65, and continued to fly him to Cancer center in Houston until his death in Dec 65. I then volunteered for Vietnam and a unit called "Ranchhand", returning to Seymour Johnson in Sept 1967. Lt Col Gray was Commander, and I was Ops Officer until Col Gray was assigned to ABCCC in Thailand. I then served out my time as Commander of the 8TH ACCS. We have had several Reunions and the list of members continues to get smaller. As Chief Witkin said in the above post, any previous member can get on the list at buckt1@gmail.com.
12/26/2012 @ 07:17 [ref: 67439]
 JC Howe
 , IL
Mr Waldman thank you for your note on 55-3118. I am sure you had some grat times as a crew member flying her in the 1970's. I was confused by her current picture becasue the last time i saw her was on Gen Loh's fairwell tour in the AOR in 1994. She was sitting on the ramp in Riyadh and i remembered asking my jet troop if she had the same type TF33's on her as we had on our jets. Do you have any information on the crew/company that refurbished her for display?
10/26/2012 @ 10:07 [ref: 67339]
 Martin Waldman
 , FL
They wanted to make 118 as close to as she was when she was built.Notice the boom was put back on her.
I fly on her in the 70's.
10/24/2012 @ 23:39 [ref: 67334]
 JC Howe
 , IL
I see 55-3118 at McConnell as a gate guard with J57 engines on her. She was originally prodcued as an "A" model; but was modified with TF33's years later. When did she get J57's rehung back on her? Or could this not be the original 55-3118? I can't imangine the USAF going back to put J57's on after we modded her with TF33's.
10/24/2012 @ 17:32 [ref: 67332]
 Martin Waldman
 Ocala, FL
General W. Momeyer died at age 95,i flew many trips with him.
09/13/2012 @ 04:20 [ref: 67214]
 CCM Ken Witkin, USAF (Ret.)
 Fort Washington, MD
This web site DOES NOT publish the e-mail address that you include in the "E-Mail" Box above. If you want to leave your e-mail address, you will have to include it in the "COMMENTS" Box.
01/22/2011 @ 18:55 [ref: 35855]
 CMSgt Ken Witkin
 Fort Washington, MD
The next TAC ABNCP/TDCS/TAC ACP Reunion will be held from April 28 to May 1,2011 in Surf City, NC.

If you are interested in attending this reunion, please contact retired Lt Col Ted Buck, former 8 ACCS Commander, at: buckt1@gmail.com
01/22/2011 @ 18:49 [ref: 35854]
 CMSgt Ken Witkin, USAF (Retired)
 Fort Washington, MD
I was an airborne radio operator/communications team chief on the TAC ABNCP from 1970-1977. I was also the 8 ACCS/8 TDCS NCOIC of Communications and Director of Communications from 1974-1977. There were two TAC ABNCPs at Seymour Johnson AFB during my tour there: 55-3118 (The City of Renton), the first KC-135A to roll off the Boeing assembly line and 62-3536, which was formerly used by NASA as a zero-gravity test bed for astronauts. Aircraft 55-3118 was also used as the COMTAC Command Aircraft for former TAC generals William Momyer and Robert Dixon.

Very few people know that 55-3118 was used to transport Henry Kissinger, our former Secretary of State, to China in early 1971. The mission was so "close-hold" that the White House did not want the 89th MAW to use one of their VC-137 aircraft for the mission so they contacted HQ Air Force and the Vice Chief of Staff chose to send 55-3118 on the mission, together with a Det 2, 4500 Support Squadron (former designation for the 8 ACCS) aircrew on board. The squadron commander, Lt Col Ted Buck, served as the aircraft commander and the NCOIC of Communications, SMSgt Bob Simpson, served as the radio operator.

My years at Seymour Johnson flying on the TAC ABNCP were some of the best years of my 30-year Air Force career.

09/14/2010 @ 19:58 [ref: 30140]
 John Keefer
 , OK
7 live crew was

Pilot WAYNE BRADSHAW
Pilot JOHN KEEFER
Nav TIM VAUGHAN
FE EDDIE GARZA
Stu DAVE WYCKOFF
RO JOHN ZILAVY
CC Can't remember his name but he was a great guy
10/23/2009 @ 17:36 [ref: 25210]

 

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