1949: TOS USAF, assigned to 10th Rescue Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK. 4/59: Ft. Leavenworth, KS, Army Flying Club, with c/r N4928E (cancelled 14 September 1962). By 1995 the Air Force Museum had it undergoing restoration.

Arrived from MASDC a year earlier having been retired from service with the 605th Air Commando Squadron, 24th Composite Wing at Howard AFB, Panama in 1968. Now restored as an aircraft operating over the 'Hump" in WWII as per my December 2024 upload

Taken on strength with the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron (TES), West Raynham in June 1964 as XS688, in 1966 this Kestrel was one of six transferred to the USA as XV-6As for further trials. In 1970 it was delivered by air aboard a C-5A from Edwards to Wright-Patterson AFB and is seen here sans nose wheel

Seen outside in the TAC markings in which it finished its service career, before restoration in Presidential colours as "The independence" (as per my upload from December 2024)

Satellite recovery C-119J seen before preparation for display as per my upload from December 2024

Ca.1949: TOS USAF. 1955: Sheppard AFB, TX, for maintenance training. 1956: Registered N2566B, exported to Mexico for Chiapas Aero Services, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapa with c/r XA-LOU. By 1960: Open storage in Mexico City. 1978-1988: Derelict, at a farm. 1990: Returned to USA. 1991-1993: Restored to static condition for USAF Museum using components from YC-125A 48-634 (N3756Q). 1994: United States Air Force Museum, 1995: Restoration completed at the museum. Marked as 48-622, which was stationed at Wright-Patterson for cold weather testing. 2022: NMUSAF solicited for buyers. 2025: Engines removed.

Taken into service in September 1954 as an F-89D and upgraded to F-89J in 1957, this aircraft was the last Scorpion in service with an operational unit and arrived at the museum in July 1969 from the Maine ANG. These days it is painted as an F-89J of the 449th FIS as per my upload from December 2024 here

Built as an A-26C-45-DT by Douglas at Tulsa and delivered to the USAF in May 1945, this Invader served with a Base Unit in Grenada from September that year. Redesignated B-26C in 1948, it went on to operate with the Louisiana, Virginia and New York ANGs before being flown to the museum in September 1957

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.