| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 51-8037 |
| Alternate Serial: | 18037 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Fairchild C-119/R4Q Flying Boxcar |
| Aircraft Version: | Fairchild C-119J Flying Boxcar |
| C/n (msn): | 10915 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| 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: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 829513 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Built as a C-119F-FA by Fairchild at Hagerstown, MD in 1953 and converted to C-119J in 1957 with beaver-type rear cargo doors, this Flying Boxcar initially had a regular transport role, but in 1958/59 was modified for the mid-air retrieval of space capsules re-entering the atmosphere from orbit. In August 1960, it caught the Discoverer XIV satellite using recovery gear lowered from the open rear door and snagging the satellite's parachute, a winch then reeling in the satellite's film capsule. In 1963 it was flown to Wright Field to await display facilities; my 1973 photo here This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 28 July 2025, and has since been viewed 35 times. |