Convair's magnificent but demanding B-58 equipped two of SAC's Bomb Wings between 1960 and 1970, the 43rd at Carswell AFB, TX and the 305th at Bunker Hill/Grissom AFB, IN. The example which has been preserved by the USAFM since December 1969 served the former and won trophies in 1962 for the fastest transcontinental crossing of the US

In 1965 this became the last WB-50D to be retired, but it flew on for another couple years as a JB-50D test vehicle here at Wright Patterson (further details with my December 2024 photo)

Delivered as an RC-121D and redesignated EC-121D in 1962. Operating from Korat RTAFB, Thailand by 1967 with 553rd and later 552nd AEW&CW. Ferried to museum in August 1971, a much better photo being possible back when it was parked outside

13 Sep '57: TOS USAF as a C-123B as 56-4362. 1962 to 1972: Deployed to South Vietnam as sprayer. Jan '72: 377th Air Base Wing,Tan Son Nhut. By this time the aircraft had received nearly 600 hits in combat and was nicknamed "Patches" for all the metal patches covering the holes.  The crew earned seven Purple Hearts.  1972: Became the first and only C-123 to fly completely around the world when it returned to the USA by way of Afghanistan and Iran, where it assisted in the fight against a plague of locusts. Jan 73: Redesignated C-123K and decontaminated of Agent Orange. 1980: Flew to the Air Force Museum.

This 363rd TRW Vietnam veteran was one of the many fabulous exhibits lined up on the old Wright Field runway before the second and subsequent indoor galleries were built, affording never-to-be repeated photographic opportunities. This link shows how she looked during my next visit, a mere 51 years later

10 Sep '54: TOS USAF and assigned to the 1298th Air Transport (Heavy) Squadron (MATS), Washington National Airport, Washington, DC. 24 Nov '54: Christened "Columbine III" by Mamie Eisenhower. 20Jan '61: Removed from Presidential duties but continued with Special Air Missions fleet at Andrews AFB, MD. 20 Apr '66: Finally retiring, the plane was ferried to Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, for the Air Force Museum. Jul '66: Ferried over to Wright Field and parked near the site of the future museum. By 1990: Restored.

Ca.1955: TOS USAF as RC-121D. 1962: Redesignated as EC-121D. By 1967: 553rd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, Korat RTAFB, Thailand. 24 Oct '67: While stationed airborne over Gulf of Tonkin, this aircraft guided a US fighter by radar into position to destroy a MiG-21. It was the first time a weapons controller on airborne radar aircraft had directed a successful attack on an enemy plane. By Mar '69: 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, also on deployment to Korat. 9 Aug '71: Ferried to the Air Force Museum, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.

This Mustang, redsignated as an F-51D in 1948, had the honour of being the last prop-driven fighter operational with a USAF tactical unit when retired by the 167th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (ANG), Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, WV in January 1957. It was ferried in these colours from Charleston, WV to Patterson Field, OH for preservation at the USAF Museum, being met over Ohio by an F-100 Super Sabre. It seems rather surprising in view of its significance as the last P-51 in service that by 1982 it had been repainted to represent a different aircraft (see my 2024 photo)

It was very difficult shooting in the dark corners of the USAF Museum on Kodachrome, but modern processing of the scan has produced this result. A Black Widow that was used for thunderstorm research from Clinton County AFB, OH and radar testing from Wright Field post-war, going to the Boy Scouts of America for display in Urbana, OH in 1949. Donated to USAFM in 1958 and painted as P-61B 42-39468 of the 55th Night Fighter Sqdn, scrapped at Clark in the Philippines in 1949. A few years after this shot, that serial was applied at the museum but it later reverted to the true identity for this frame

By Apr '47: Completed; modifications for presidential use included extra fuel tanks for range of 4400 miles, three closely-spaced windows on starboard side for stateroom; it could carry 25 passengers. Jul '47: TOS USAF. Oct'50: Most historic flight when President Truman flew to Wake Island to discuss the Korean situation with Gen. MacArthur. May'53: Retired as the President's plane and assigned to Special Air Mission flights. 1965: Retired and flown to Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH for display at the Air Force Museum.

23 Dec '53: TOS USAF as KC-97G, assigned to 93rd Bombardment (Medium) Wing (SAC), Castle AFB, CA. From Jul '57 to 1976: Assigned to seven more units. Mar'65: Converted to KC-97L. Aug 1976: Flown to the Air Force Museum.

23 Dec '53: TOS USAF as KC-97G, assigned to 93rd Bombardment (Medium) Wing (SAC), Castle AFB, CA. From Jul '57 to 1976: Assigned to seven more units. Mar'65: Converted to KC-97L. Aug 1976: Flown to the Air Force Museum.

Ca.1943: TOS USAAF. Originally ordered under the AT-17 contract. It was later registered N4403N and then N43BB. Acquired by the United States Air Forms Museum, Wright Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH in 1982.

Ca.1943: TOS USAAF. Originally ordered under the AT-17 contract. It was later registered N4403N and then N43BB. Acquired by the United States Air Forms Museum, Wright Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH in 1982.

TOS USAAF July 1944 with s/n 44-70296. Assigned to several units being sold in 1946. Passed through many owners in Canada and USA, including airlines. Last owner was Robert E. Purcell of Ft. Worth, TX, who acquired the plane in January 1980 and registered it N57WS. He donated it to the Air Force Museum in March 1981. It was restored by November 1984, marked as 44-70534 as it appeared in 1946 with Air Transport Command in Alaska.

Ca.1943: TOS USAAF. Ca.1944: Free French Air Force. 16 Jun 45: State Ministry of Air/Air Transport Department, Paris and registered F-BAMA. 22 Jan 48: South African Tropical Transportation, Algeria. Sometime over the next few years this plane ended up in the hands of G.L. Waggoner and registered N94540. 15 Sep 66: Unknown owner with c/r N51605. Ca.1979: Unknown owner in Mexico with c/r XA-SEX. 1981: Ferried to the Air Force Museum where it was restored as a USAAF aircraft.

29 Jan '42: TOS USAAF as C-53 41-20095 and assigned to Bolling Field, Washington, DC. Mar '42: Ferry Command, Presque Isle Army Air Field, ME. Jul '42: North Atlantic Wing of Air Transport Command. There is some information which says this plane was in the Pacific Theatre for a short time and that for two months it was used as General MacArthur's personal transport. Ca.Nov '42 to ca. May '43: Participated in Operation Torch. Sep 45: Begin life in civilian world. Oct '64: Ohio State Became primarily a transport for Ohio's governor, using the calls sign "Ohio One." Sep 1977: Air Force Museum.

Loaned by the Smithsonian Institution, NASM. Restored at Patterson Field, 1965-71. Exhibited in the USAF Museum from 1971-1975.

Photographer unknown - real serial 49-389