| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 53-555 |
| Alternate Serial: | 0-30555 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Lockheed 49 Constellation |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Lockheed Constellation / Starliner (C-69/C-121) |
| Aircraft Version: | Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star |
| C/n (msn): | 1049A-4370 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Aircraft Name: | City of Sacramento |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 15 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 820520 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Rather less suitable for photography than when I last saw it in 1973 (photo here), "Triple Nickel" was one of the unarmed radar EC-121s that aided direction towards enemy aircraft, to aerial refuelling tankers and guided rescue planes to downed pilots. In October 1967 while stationed airborne over Gulf of Tonkin, this Connie guided a US fighter by radar into position to destroy a MiG-21, marking the first time an airborne radar weapons controller had directed a successful attack on an enemy aircraft. The 72 EC-121s had entered service with ADC from 1953, flying coastal patrols This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 26 June 2025, and has since been viewed 53 times. |