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

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

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

built as a TC-131E for the US Air Force. Ex N105 with the FAA. To the US Navy as N3UW, in 1997 to the University of Washington before becoming a freighter with Contract Air Cargo, then to Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter - converted to a Convair 5800. In 2007 to Gulf & Caribbean Air - IFL Group operating in the Miami area (photographer not known)

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

This slide was taken at the Blue Angels hangar at Pensacola not long after the Blue Angels mid-air collision at NAS Lakehurst, which was the last time the F-4s were used by the team. In 1974 153084 was transferred to NATC. Later it was converted to a EF-4J and assigned to VAQ-33 from 1976-80. It was then converted to a DF-4J, spending 1983-85 at PMTC. Retired in 1985 and stored at AMARC.

Last Superfreighter built

Photo by Steve Kraus.

Ex-SE-FPF. Later SE-FPF, N404RS. Written off 25-Feb-1985, Sunset Hills, Missouri. Photo by Tuomo T. Mäkinen

slide from Norbert Kröpfl. - This Falcon 20 was the personal aircraft of Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the ruler of the Central African Republic, and was operated out of its base Bangui from 1969 until 1974. Sold via Switzerland as HB-VER, the bizjet found new owners in Saudi Arabia for the following 25 years, registered as HZ-KA3 and HZ-NES. Therafter it was flown to the US as N174BD and was finally noted as such in storage at Fayetteville AR in 2007.

Photographer unknown

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

went to Air North in 1980 - in 1998 registered as N9891A (photographer unknown)

Registered in November 1963. Bob Kerr photo

slide scan from the NK collection. - DAN AIR operated this Comet from 1972 until 1979; the airliner was put on display in the Wroughton Science Museum in November 1979.