Naval Fighters 08 - Lockheed C-121 Constellation.pdf - Ginter Books - MiliFan

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Anyone having photos or other information on this aircrafr or

other 50's era naval aircraft, may submit them for possible in-

clusion in future issues. Any material submitted will become the

property of NAVAL FIGHTERS unless prior arrangement is

made. Individuals are responsible for secmity clearance of any

material before submission. ISBN 0-942612-08 ..6

S Ginter, 1754 Warfield Cir., Simi Valley, California 93063.

a ret.rieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanS electronic.

mechanical or' otherwise without the written permission of the publisher,

C-69

The forerunner of the C-121 series, was the Lockheed

Model 49 Constellation. An aircraft designed to a TWA

specification, and taken over by the USAA as the C-69. The

first L-049/C-69 (43-10309) left Burbank on 9 January

1943 on its Maiden flight to Muroc Field (Edwards AFB). This

prototype would go on to become the re-engined XC69E

(P&W R-2800 engines) and in 1950 the prototype

L-I049.

The follOWing is a list of all C-69 aircraft purchased by the

USAA. All of which were Iatersold to various airlines, except

43-10309 and 42-94551 and 42-94552. 42-94551 was

destroyed by an engine fire at Topeka Kansas on 18 Sept.

1945, and 42-94552 which succumbed to structural tests at

Wright Field.

CN 1961-1969

CN 1970-1980

CN 2021-2022

.Although, many readers will take issue with my inclusion of

the C-121 in the Naval Fighter series, here it is. The series was

never meant to include just VF or Fighter types, but all com-

batant types. Somehow I will always find a way to do this. To

qualify the C-121, I can point to its Vietnam usage and to the

international incident of 14 April, 1969. On that date a C-

121K (BuNo 135749) of VQ-l was shot down over inter-

national waters in the Sea of Japan by the Korean Air

Force.

SN 43-10309 to 43-10317

SN 42-94549 to 42-94559

SN 42-94560 & 42-94561

C-121A

FRONT COVER: EC-121 K, 137890, from the Pacific Missile Range,

NAS Point Mugu, Calif. USN photo via Stan Wyckoff.

When the Constellation evolved into the Lockheed Model

749, the Air Force placed an order for ten. These ten (48-608

to 48-617) would become C-121 As. The first aircraft was

accepted by the USAF on 12 November1948. The C-121As

differed from the 7 49s by having reinforced floors and a large

rear cargo door. As configured the C-121 A could be quickly

changed into a cargo carrier, passenger carrier or a litter

carrier.

All of the C-121 As were assigned to the Atlantic Division of

MATS at Westover AFB, Mass. From this base they flew to

Rhine Main, Germany, while taking part in the Berlin airlift. In

1960 the 1254th transferred to Andrews AFB and took on

the responsiblities of the Special Air Missions (SAM) or V.J.P.

fleet. Then in January 1966, the 1254th became the 89th

Military Airlift Wing (SM). The C-121As were retired from the

USAF by April 1968. Of the original 10 C-121As, six were

retired from the 89th, two from other USAF commands, one

from NASA in March 1969 and the remaining C121A

crashed in 1957 after being given to Ethiopia.

PHOTOS AT LEFT: Top - Forerunner of the C-121, the C-69, seen

here with 400 cubic foot "Speedpak" external cargo cell in place.

MIDDLE: C-69, 310312, in natural metal scheme. BOTTOM: C-121

Super Constellation family portrait. I. 53-7885, VC-121 E, Presiden-

tial aircraft named "Columbine III'" ex USN R7V-l, 131650. 2. R7V-

1, 131653, USN aircraft assigned to MATS. 3. Lockheed demon-

strator 1049 with one turboprop engine installed. 4. 1049D, cargo

Connie, N6501C. 5. 1049, HK-176X of Avianca, Aerovias,

Nacionales, de Columbia. 6. RC-121 D, 52-3415, of the USAF. 7. WV-

2, of the USN. 8. USN turboprop R7V-2. Lockheed photos.

PHOTO BELOW-VC-121B, 48-608 in November 1948. This the

first C-121 was modified to a VIP transport while in production. The

modification gave this C-121 fewer windows than the other

C-121 As as well as a passenger door instead of the standard cargo

door. It was rumored that this aircraft would have been Thomas E.

Dewey's if he had been elected president. USAF photo.

INTRODUCTION

PHOTOS TOP AND AT LEFT-Two

views ofVC-121H, 48-608, in its natural

metal scheme, Bowers via Roger

Besecker. BELOW-48-608, in late day-

glo white and polished metal scheme.

Clay Jansson.

PHOTOS: ABOVE-Two views of

C-121A, 48-609, in early MATS livery.

Logo is yellow with blue trim. Photos via

Leo Kohn. RIGHT-48-609, in late sil-

ver and white scheme after being

modified to a VC-121A.

PHOTOS ABOVE-Two views ofVC-121 A, 48·61 0, as configured as the second presidential Connie, Columbine II. USAF photos.

PHOTOS: TOP-VC-121A, 48-610, on

8-13-55, after being replaced by the VC-

121E as the Presidential aircraft. W. T.

Larkins photo. LEFT-Last scheme

used on 48-610, with day-glo tail

markings. Berger collection.

Naval Fighters 08 - Lockheed C-121 Constellation.pdf

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