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Description
| Manufacturer: | Boeing | |
| Base model: | C-97 | |
| Designation: | KC-97 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Stratofreighter | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Modified Mission: | Tanker | |
Specifications
| Length: | 110' 4" | 33.6 m | |
| Height: | 33' 3" | 10.1 m | |
| Wingspan: | 141' 3" | 43.0 m | |
| Wingarea: | 1,438.0 sq ft | 133.5 sq m | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35A | ||
Performance
Recent comments by our visitors
| Ron Steffen Virginia Beach, VA | I enlisted in 1956 and went through Sheppard AFB and trained as an aircraft mechanic (four engines or more) was originally trained for work on the B-36. My next duty assignment was at Torbay Newfoundland. Worked on c-54's. I believe it was the only air transport squadron in SAC. We did resupply for the DEW line and remote radar stations in Greenland. Was then transfered to Harmon AFB in Newfoundland when they closed the base at Torbay. Then I was stationed at March AFB and worked on KC97's. Was tdy while at March to Anderson AFB, Guam and Yokota AB outside of Tokoyo. Was discharged from Air Force at March in October 1960. Enjoyed the travel and working on Planes. Biggest thrill: participating in the Lebanon crisis in 1958. Was assigned to de-ice during a snow storm. We turned 100 planes in 48 hours. Real dicey. 12/15/2009 @ 09:41 [ref: 25429] |
| Jerry Young Bear Lake, MI | Hello to all,
A friend (Ex CG radioman) found this site and gave it to me and thought I would check in. I enlisted in the AF in June of 50, after basic at Lackland AFB, I went to radio operator school at Keesler AFB. The Korean war had broken out by then and I was sent to Scott AFB for B-29 crew training and then was assigned to the 305th Bomb Wing at McDill AFB. I believe that it was sometime in 52 that the B-29s where phased out and we received B-47s and KC-97 tankers. Sometime in early 54 my crew was sent to Barksdale AFB as an instructor crew with the 301st Bomb Wing upon them receiving their KC-97 tankers. After all the crews, including the B47 crews, we went send in mass to Casablanca on a 90 day TDY. This was the first time that an entire wing went non stop across the Atlantic. The KC97s refueled the B-47s over Burmuda and then landed, following the B-47s the next day. The other flight I remember the most is when we where on a routine refuelling mission off of Florida. We where to meet up with some marine fighters, we where in a wide area of overcast and the fighters could not find us and where running out of fuel. My pilot instructed me to send out a homing beacon on a radio compuss frequency. The fighters found my signal and a few minutes later they broke through the overcast. We refueled them, a bunch of happy campers. I was discharged in June of 54. It was a great run, enjoy all of it. (I was not getting shot at) I pay tribute to all of those B-29 crews that where lost during the war while we held down the eastern front. Jerry Young (Ssgt USAF) Amateur Radio call K8GWW 11/22/2008 @ 07:26 [ref: 23123] |
| Joe Kosh , MA |
Hi. Ater allthese years my son was right the computer has alot of info.I was stationed at Otis AFB 63thru65. I worked on a few tankers 53-816,186,187,179.the last with a great crew cheif Sgt.Furchess. I then went to Goose Bay and finished my tour as assitant crew chief on 53-30197 a fine aircraft.I spent 760 hrs in the air and still communicate to a few flight engineers.I still love the old plane and wonder what happened to her,It's been a long time since those days Sincerley Joe Kosh 02/20/2008 @ 06:26 [ref: 19731] |
| Smokey Beucus Bastrop, TX | I was a Radio Operator in the 307th ARS from 1955 to 1959.
I went TDY to England in 56, Greenland in 57 and New Foundland in 58. I flew with several different crews but my most notable was Major Nuttys crew T-24 when we were at Thule we gave our reserve fuel to a B-47H and landed at Sonderstrom Greenland with less than 500 ponds of fuel. We were flying a F model with tail number 376. I did not know all of the crew chiefs but know they were the best and made their planes safe to fly. They were the backbone of the organization. I loved what I did, so many friends and so many grand memories as a young kid. Heck I grew up in the 307th. I would not change it for anything, we helped win the cold war. I left the 307th in late 59 and went to Spain where I continued flying as a RO & later a FE. God Bless you all. Harold Beucus 02/18/2008 @ 10:11 [ref: 19706] |
| Dave Zambron Sandusky, MI | My dad was in a "field maintainence" squadron on KC-97s back in the 1950's and early 1960's. He was stationed at Lockbourne in Columbus Ohio, as well as Dow in Bangor Maine. He also was t.d.y. at Thule, Goose, and at a base in the Azore Islands (I'am not sure of the name of the base). I love to get him talking about that airplane, as he does it with fondness. He and his partner, Jim Kennedy got quite proficient at changing the carburators on those "monster" engines, and could do it in a matter of a few hours. At times they would volunteer to stay late to change a carburator and would get the next day off as a reward. If anybody is "out there" who may have worked on those planes, send along an e-mail note to Chet Zambron. His e-mail address zsnover@yahoo.com.
02/10/2008 @ 13:10 [ref: 19634] |
| James T. Whalen Lakewood, CO | I was a Crew Chief on a KC97G AC803 at Lincoln AFB with the 307th ARS from Nov 1954 to Sept 1955 and actually had the privilege of flying for a short time as we came back from Goose Bay in 1955 sitting in the co-pilots seat of course. A great experience of serving with the 307th. I took my experience along with my A&P out of Aviation School and worked another 38 years with Continental. Would enjoy hearing from those of the 307th in those years. 01/14/2008 @ 14:59 [ref: 19294] |
| James T. Whalen Lakewood, CO | I was a Crew Chief on a KC97G AC803 at Lincoln AFB with the 307th ARS from Nov 1954 to Sept 1955 and actually had the privilege of flying for a short time as we came back from Goose Bay in 1955 sitting in the co-pilots seat of course. A great experience of serving with the 307th. I took my experience along with my A&P out of Aviation School and worked another 38 years with Continental. Would enjoy hearing from those of the 307th in those years. 01/14/2008 @ 14:58 [ref: 19293] |
| Britton LABombard midland, TX | Don is my grandfather and let me tell you it is an honor to have him as my grandad he allways tells me storys HE IS GREAT 10/20/2007 @ 17:06 [ref: 18255] |
| Donald F. Bradley York, PA | Asst. Crew Chief on KC-97 53-230G and 53-238G at Westover Air Force Base Jan. 1959 to July 1962. Much alert duty in Greenland during that period. Anyone from the 384th AREFS or 4050th OMS that served there at that time period please contact me. 07/09/2007 @ 17:49 [ref: 17052] |
| Jack Bentley Pound,, VA | I was crew chief on a KC-97G, tail number 7522 (522752). I was at March Field from mid 1952 until my discharge in January 1957. I loved old 752. Before my discharge we had been to Japan, Okinawa, Hiwaii, Aleution Islands, Alaska, Newfoundland, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, England, Puerto Rico, and North Africa. What a blast. We stayed on the go. General LeMay said do it, and we did. I would love to hear from someone from this period. 11/21/2006 @ 20:39 [ref: 14809] |
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