Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

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Fred Martin
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Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Fred Martin »

I'm currently working my way through a mass of real Golden Oldie prop powered beauties that once graced our skies and could not resist posting these , and yes I know they are jet augmented ! All were photographed between 1970 & 1975 at Greenham Common , Bentwaters and Upper Heyfords airshows and a few over the fence at Mildenhall , with a Praktica Nova 1b camera .

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Thunder City Veteran
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Thunder City Veteran »

WOW...Thanks for posting!! These are great! :yahoo:
They look so prestine. I never got to see one of these fly as I only started visiting the american bases from 78 onwards, but I remember seeing one on static display on the base at Offut AFB when I was part of a 216 Tristar crew tanking 111 Sqn Phantoms to Red Flag in 1988.
Thanks again...

Keefy041
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Keefy041 »

This is more like it, excellent stuff, keep it coming please.

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Mad Dan
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Mad Dan »

Oh Fred... One of my all-time favourites - and how well I remember Zeppelinheim... But did you ever have a Brattwurst and Beer next to the railway station there, I wonder?

Thanks for these. They are delightful.
I am not a loony... I used to be, but I think I am better now...

3Greens
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by 3Greens »

Truly excellent selection and quality Fred (as usual) - remember camping out on that scrubby area under the approach at Greenham in '76 when the Texas bird 0-30327 caught us out with a very early arrival - I think even before the field and tower had officially opened up.
Thanks again for posting
Keith (3Greens)

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Kenny
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Kenny »

What a machine!!

Here's one from the inside
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IMG_3541 by Kenster79, on Flickr

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Daz
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Daz »

What a great thread as always Fred. Have you any more?
Proud Grandson of an Avro Shackleton "boy"

foxfour
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by foxfour »

Superb collection of photographs from what really was the golden era of military aviation. :clap:

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RobS
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by RobS »

Superb photos of an amazing machine. I never saw them in the air, wish I was born 10 years earlier.
Thanks for taking the time to scan and show them.

graham luxton
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by graham luxton »

What a great post Fred - enjoyed that!

Made a note of 0-30327 arriving at the Greenham IAT on Fri 30 July'76 before ATC had opened!

I also recall these from the various UK shows and of their visits to Mildenhall, including a memorable Sept'71, when I saw 11 operating from there at various times while temporarily displaced from Rhein Main.
Also saw/logged some of the KC-97L Operation`Creek Party`rotations which overflew Woodley on Airway Green1 from 1967 to 1977. Usually these were Eastbound to Rhein Main from Lajes but every now and then some would go Westbound. Normally Westbounds returning to the `States would take a Northerly route via Keflavik. Unlike the C-97, which used to cruise at Flight Level 100 and below the KC-97L regularly overflew at FL's in the band 190 to 230.

Don't believe I caught every one but the following snapshot from my 1968 log over Woodley may be of interest.
May
Wed 8 Angle07 (2007)
Sat 11 Admen04 (1935), 03 (1946), 02 (2002)
Wed 15 Admen01 (2001)
Sun 19 Flash10 (1951) - 2 a/c in formation
Sun 26 Exit12 (2039), 11 (2042)
Mon27 Exit13 (2023)

June
Sun 2 Foxy08 (2215)
Fri 7 Pixy32 (1007), 33 (1030), 34 (1054), 36 (1600)
Sun 9 Wipe10 (1455), 12 (1502), 11 (1515), 13 (1536)
Sun 16 Wipe03 (1736)

all times GMT and all Eastbound on Green1 except those on Fri 7th which flew Clacton - Brookmans Park - Woodley - Brecon

When KC-97L's air refueled in UK airspace this was conducted over the North Sea normally with the callsign `Burma11`

- a type greatly missed!

Maisie
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Maisie »

Bloody brilliant! 2nd photo you can see black trails from the out-rig jets, imagine the noise!!
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Jetnoise
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Jetnoise »

Bloomin' marvellous!
Thanks for posting these and making my day!

Cheers,
Ralph
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www.jetnoise.co.uk
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Westy
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Westy »

Just superb

MKR
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by MKR »

Great post Fred :clap: :clap:
Mike

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capercaillie
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by capercaillie »

Fantastic :drool:

Love the shot on the ground next to the Wessex. :clap:
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st24
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by st24 »

It's a bold call saying it's Boeing's finest but what a fabulous beast, beautifully captured as always. A proper machine. :rock:
You caaan't trust the system... Maaan!

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buccs2b
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by buccs2b »

Great set Fred. It must have been pretty hairy refuelling an F-4 from these things
I hear gliders

BuryPensioner
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by BuryPensioner »

Hi Fred.. a wonderful selection of the most iconic aircraft ever to grace the skies... Apart from being a fabulous sound from those wonderful recips... the addition of the little jets just added to the thrill and magical sound of a real "man's aeroplane"... A new journal is about to be publised entitled "The Aviation Historian" and I have had the pleasure of writing an article on the subject of "Operation Creek Party" which saw the KC-97L in Europe for almost 11 years.

Was great fun researching this wonderful aircraft, and interesting to note that it was the Texas ANG who began the operation in May 1967 and the same unit closed the operation down 11 years later. How many spotters in the south east of the UK "willed" strong head winds every fortnight when the swap over at Rhein Main took place. With fuel being critical, some occasionally diverted to Mildenhall which was always a most welcomed sight.

Somehow the new, all-singing, all-dancing Airbus and larger Boeing projects conducting AAR duties cannot hold a candle to the fabulous "Strat".... Time for the Globie maybe ??????????????

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AMB
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by AMB »

Superb shots as always Fred - you never disappoint. I have shot most of those myself and remember flying to Rhein-Main AB/Frankfurt in a RAF Britannia as an ATC cadet. On landing I was staggered by the huge line-up of these on the ramp.....and I had just one roll of slide film in my camera!
Adrian

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Mad Dan
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by Mad Dan »

AMB remarked:
I have shot most of those myself and remember flying to Rhein-Main AB/Frankfurt in a RAF Britannia as an ATC cadet. On landing I was staggered by the huge line-up of these on the ramp.....and I had just one roll of slide film in my camera!

You must have been quite an old cadet then, Adrian - Creek Party didn't start until May 1967... And there weren't usually more than five KC-97Ls present at any time for the next decade (unless one broke of course - which probably happened quite often).
I am not a loony... I used to be, but I think I am better now...

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swingy
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Re: Boeing's finest-the KC-97L

Post by swingy »

Great post. Thanks. :clap:

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