'BATAAN' by junge1
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Description
The 'BATAAN', Lockheed C-121A Constellation, 48-613, c/n 2605 was one of 10 Model L-749A Constellations ordered by the U.S. Air Force in 1948, and it was initially fitted with 44 seats and delivered to the MATS at Westover AFB, Mass., in early 1949. It was assigned to fly passenger missions to Europe via the North Atlantic route. It was selected in 1950 to be converted to VIP configuration at the Middletown AMA, Pennsylvania. On July 30, 1950, it went to Lockheed Aircraft Corp. at Burbank, Calif., and became the first C-121 to be fitted with AVQ-10 Weather Avoidance Radar. It was also fitted with modified TR3350-75 engines with short 'jet stacks' exhausts. From Burbank it was sent to Tokyo, Japan as a VC-121A. Once there, it served as the personal transport of Gen. MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (S.C.A.P.). Gen. MacArthur named it 'BATAAN,' to honor the American prisoners of war in the Philippines who endured the notorious death march. As his flying command post, 'BATAAN' provided the general with an aerial view of Korean operations, including the Inchon landings. The 'BATAAN' was used to fly Gen. MacArthur to Wake Island in 1950 for his only meeting with President Harry S. Truman. While there, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Later, on April 16, 1951, he would fly to Andrews AFB, Md., on the 'BATAAN', and be relieved of his command by President Truman.
The aircraft continued in VIP service for Gen. Mathew B. Ridgway, the U.S. commander in Korea. Afterwards, it was assigned to HQ Pacific Air Command at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. During its service in the Pacific, it transported such luminaries as Generals Mark W. Clark, Curtiss E. LeMay, John E. Hull, Maxwell D. Taylor, Lyman L. Lemnitzer, I. D. White, James F. Collins, and Edwin A. Walker, and South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Newly elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower also used the 'BATAAN' for a few days during his inspection tour of Korea, as did Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The 'BATAAN' flew mercy missions in the Philippines before being declared surplus near the end of 1965. The modified engines and exhaust stacks were removed and it was now listed as a C-121A again. It arrived at the MACDC, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. on January 18, 1966.
It remained in storage until it was selected for use by the Goddard Space Flight Center in June 1966. It was used in support of the Apollo Moon Program until budget cuts forced Goddard to terminate the 'BATAAN' on January 1, 1970.
To keep from sending it back to MASDC it was on display at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.
It was acquired by Planes of Fame owner Ed Maloney in Chino, Calif in 1992. After being totally overhauled and refurbished with original interior it was flown to Chino, Calif. on December 6, 1994. In 1995 it was flown to its current location at the Grand Canyon/Valle Airport, Ariz.
This picture was taken on 27 August 2011,
Sig...
Comments (37)
God I LOVE CONNIES!
Nice shot of this aircraft Sig.
Shining shot.
Imagem e texto excelentes meu amigo, aplausos (5)
Great capture.
fabulous capture and very interesting info!
By 'eck, that is some life and some passanger list.Great photo and fascinating info, I've always liked the 'Connie' but that enormous nose gear has always bugged me, just never looks right to me.Still that's the way it is and I love it none the less.Thanks for a great share.....
Very beaqutiful aircraft and a rich and interesting history
I remember as a kid hearing and/or reading about commercial 'Connies' having engine fires and crashing and often having a collapsed nose gear. That nose gear looks just a little too long and fragile to me! Personally, I have only flown on an EC-121 (the forerunner of the AWACs) once, a round-trip from Washington State to Dallas, Texas. The flight at 18,000-ft was enjoyable!
c'es avions avaient un sacré style !!!
super Bild!!!!
great shot and interesting informatons
Wow, what a history. Thanks for sharing this great photo and the info accompanying it. (I'm glad my eye didn't fail me - I thought when I first looked at your picture that the area was too green to be Davis-Monthan. lol)
Quite a history. Thanks :)
Very cool and interesting plane!
looking really good. big wings for sure
Excellent capture! :)
Very beautiful image, spectacular capture
We had a Lockheed Connie 'parked' at our small Coolangatta Airport, a few years ago, when it was on view for the general public - unbelievable interior, and what a noise, when it finally took off! Some history there, thanks Sig, BB
so much history behind this plane.outstanding shot
LOVE the angle of this shot! Wow!
Awesome shot.
Wonderful photo!!! Thanks for the info!!!
BATAAN Great History and marvelous capture sig...Thanks for sharing this with us..
GREAT CAPTURE
Its wonderful that these old birds of fame get their honor by being placed where they can be viewed by those who remember the vital place role they played in the history of our country. Thanks for the memories boy.
Very cool capture of this awesome old plane!!
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
I've been in a Constellation (Air France) in 1959 between Paris and Alger. My first fly ! Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful perspective ! Great capture and photo !