Aircraft Photo of 53-555 / 0-30555 | Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star | USA - Air Force | AirHistory.net #820520
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 54 times.


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