Recently returned by museum volunteers to her 1944 'Starduster' scheme when she served in the Mediterranean theatre as the command transport for Gen. Ira Eaker. For a B-17 'Starduster' had a long post-WWII service life with thw USAF before being SOC and placed into storage. She was rescued from the desert by the Bolivian Govt., for which she served a further 25 years before returning to the US for display at the March Field Air Museum.

The F-89 was nicknamed the 'Flying Vacuum' because of its low slung jet intakes, which were rather prone to injesting FOD on the runway/taxyway. This example served with the USAF from Nov. 54 until May 69. She arrived at the March Field Air Museum for display during June 1981.

Whilst serving with the USCG this aircraft was based at Cape Cod and then Corpus Christi, making her last flight on 6th Nov. 1981 to RIV to become part of the super March Field Air Museum.

Just kissing the runway.