Monthan Memories

• Monthan Memories •

Those memories begin in 1966, and long lines of interesting aircraft spring to mind. "Monthan" is Davis-Monthan Air Force base at Tucson, Arizona. Home of AMARC * or MASDC * as it was known when I first "scouted" it out, travelling there all the way from Scotland. As a schoolboy, I had seen a few photographs of a "Boneyard" in Arizona. They showed stacks of Republic F-84F and F-84G Thunderjets piled four high, that captivated me, it still does. I have made several trips to Tucson and hope to visit a few more times. In this section I will be adding photos and slides taken during these visits, mostly in 1968, when I spent two days walking the base with my good friend Tom Baillie. Now, a quick bus tour is all you can get. Still worth it!!!

*AMARC Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Centre *MASDC Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Centre

53-4256 Boeing JQB-47E-45-BW Stratojet (4501280) USAF, Note numerous SR-71 sillouettes on nose. Bring back Day-Glo!xxxxxxPhoto: Neil Aird © 10 September 1968

A note from my friend Ken Kula:

The missile used in the testing was the Hughes GAR9/AIM-47, an updated Falcon missile that was never used, but whose technology was used in part for the AIM-54 Phoenix (F-14 Tomcat) system. There were 7 test shots from YF-12A interceptors (SR-71 fighters!); one shot downed a sister QB-47E drone over the Pt. Mugu/Pacific Missile test range. The B-47 has a photo nose, and was one of only a few RB-47s built stock for the photo mission… a source also said that there were arresting gear behind the fuselage wheels for drone recovery. The odd under-wing apparatus is part of a target measuring device to tell how close a missile passed by the drone.

143196 Lockheed JC-121K Warning Star (4470) US ARMY "Younger's Mistress", a very rare bird indeed. Used by the US Army at their Kwajalein Missile Range facility/ Stored at MASDC since December 1967. Sold to Kolar scrapyard 23 October 1976, and later and broken up.

141326 Lockheed WV-2/EC-121K Warning Star (4450) US NAVY with some sister ships, including 141316 (4439) and 141299 (4423) . They had been at MASDC since early 1965, all went to Kolar for scrapping in 1974. Some USAF C-121 Connies look on.

53-0276 Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker (17058) USAF - SAC was present with about seventy-five other aircraft of the C-97, KC-97 variety. A wonderful sight. This aircraft returned to service on 05 March 1970, returning to MASDC 03 February 1978.

52-0843 Boeing C-97G-21-BO Stratofreighter (16536) USAF - ANG.

53-0283 Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker (17065) USAF - SAC. To MASDC May 4, 1965. She was returned to USAF service on 23 April 1970. Put on display at NAS JRB Forth Worth, Texas. Purchased by a private party in December 2001 and trucked to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and used as a restaurant.

52-0922 Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter (16616) USAF Georgia Air National Guard.

53-0172 Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker (16985) USAF. Went to Spanish Air Force as TK.1-1 Coded 123-01. Preserved at Sant Cugat as "Discoteque Chic" now "The Music Box".

52-2610 Boeing C-97G-25-BO Stratofreighter (16641) USAF - Tennessee Air National Guard, based at Memphis.

52-2663 Boeing C-97G-25-BO Stratofreighter (16694) USAF - Pennsylvania Air National Guard "County of Montgomery".

52-2611 Boeing C-97G-24-BO Stratofreighter (16642) USAF - Pennsylvania Air National Guard "County of Delaware".

53-3815 Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter (17148) USAF - California Air National Guard.

52-0835 Boeing C-97G-21-BO Stratofreighter (16529) USAF - Missouri Air National Guard. Declared excess 16 January 1969. My pal Tom Baillie in action in the background.

53-0214 Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter (16996) USAF - Oklahoma Air National Guard. "City of Tulsa". Arrived at MASDC on 23 April 1968.

45-0792 Douglas R4D-4/C-47J Dakota (26578) USN. United States Naval Attache - Canberra, Australia. XXXXXXXXXXXXXPhoto: Neil Aird © 10 September 1968

43-49789 Douglas VC-47D Skytrain (15605/27050) United states Air Force - SAC. Became HC-AUS/49789 of TAME -Transportes Aereos Militar Equador in 1971.

124868/209 Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune United States Navy. The third of twenty-three Model 426-42-06 produced. XXXXXXXXPhoto: Neil Aird © 09 September 1968

The Neptune has long been a favourite of mine. Here are varied selection of tailcodes to be noted just in this image, including 6A Anacostia; 6G Alameda ; 6M Memphis; 7B Atlanta; 7D Dallas; 7E Twin Cities; 7K Olanthe; 7L Los Alamitos; 7R New York; 7T Seattle: and 7V Glenview. For the best information, check out the incredible site of Neptune Specialist, Baldur Sveinsson. Here is the main link for you.

131528 Lockheed OP-2E Neptune USN MR/1, one of several machines of VO-67 Squadron present on 10 September 1968.

Twelve P-2Es were modified by Martin Aircraft in Baltimore, Maryland, for the aerial delivery of acoustic and seismic sensors. Modifications included the replacement of the MAD tailboom with chaff dispensers, the installation of a camera pod beneath the rear fuselage and two SUU-II 7-62 mm miniguns beneath each wing. A Norden bombsight was placed in the nose, and provisions for carrying parachute-retarded sensors were also fitted. Assigned to the specially commissioned VO-67 squadron, the OP-2Es were operated from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand between November 1967 and July 1968 seeding sensors along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.XXXXXXX© p2vneptune.com

17150 Douglas LC-117D Skytrooper / Super Dakota (43311) United States Navy JD/150 of VX-6 Air Development Squadron. Park Code 6C004.

1313 Grumman HU-16E Albatross of United States Coast Guard - CGAS Barber's Point, Hawaii. XXXXXXXXXXXXXPhoto: Neil Aird © 10 September 1968

7250 Grumman HU-16E Albatross of United States Coast Guard - CGAS Corpus Christi. Shown here on 10 september 1968, this aircraft later went to CGAS Cape Cod, the former Otis AFB. CGNR 7250, was retired on 10 March 1983, and is on display outside the entrance to the air station. CG 7250/NC 7250 was not only the last Coast Guard Albatross, but the last fixed-wing amphibious aircraft in US inventory.

51-0045 Grumman HU-16B Albatross (G-121) USAF. I have fond memories of these active on Rescue duties at Prestwick in Scotland. You can travel to Davis-Monthan today and still see many in the scrapyards and with the restorers around the airbase. The aircraft pictured above went to Spain under MDAP as AD.1B-9

57-0293 (471) and 57-0381 (559) have been recently treated for storage, while several other McDonnell F-101B Voodoo await the same treatment. 57-0293 went to Canada as 101012. 57-0381 became CF-101B 101044.

57-0354 McDonnell F-101B Voodoo (532) to Canada as 101030; 56-0323 McDonnell F-101B Voodoo (419); 57-0322 McDonnell F-101F Voodoo (500). Preserved at McChord AFB as Canadian "101022".

53-5192 Lockheed DT-33A (58-8531) USAF arrived 14 August 1968 and 53-5106 Lockheed DT-33A (580-8445) USAF arrived 15 August 1968. Here they are together on 10 September 1968, with 53-5106 already wearing the Park Code TC854.

143034 Lockheed T-33B of the MARINES Washington. 147885 Grumman S-2D Tracker US NAVY is parked behind.

134622 Douglas A-1D Skyraider US NAVY NJ/276 of VA-122 Squadron, sits proudly amongst some Lockheed T-33 and a Lockheed T-1A Seastar.

Freshly "spray-latted" Douglas A-1 Skyraider and a collection of lockheed TV-1 Seastar await towing to their appropriate parking areas.

55-0393 Douglas WB-66D-DT Destroyer (45025) USAF, noted on arrivals ramp on 10 September 1968. Note crew access steps under cockpit area.

138964 Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior (115/10825) United States Navy - NJ/305 VAH-123 Squadron. Great to have a close up look at this "Whale". There were even some still at Davis-Monthan/AMARC in storage in 2009!

144204 Lockheed T-1A Seastar (formerly a T2V-1) USN. By the looks of the day-glo, this could be coming out of storage, rather than going into it? Only 150 were built. It was replaced by the North American T-2 Buckeye.

57-1305 Lockheed F-104B-5-LO Starfighter (283-5017) USAF with sister ship, being returned to service. 57-1305 came to MASDC 05 December 1967, was allocated Park Code FB0012. Went back into service at Edwards AFB., with AFSC/AFFTC. She returned to MASDC 14 October 1972 and allocated Park Code FB0042. On 11 March 1982 went to Char Wink, Culver City.

17203 Douglas R4D-5 Dakota (13103) US NAVY - Meridian NAS. Later went to US ARMY in July 1971.

147171 Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse (58-1087) US NAVY 2E/142 HT-8 Squadron. This has been preserved on USS Yorktown coded YL/38.

149389 Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse (58.1491) 141US NAVY 2E/141 HT-8 Squadron.

147884 Grumman S-2D Tracker United States Navy - USS Essex AW/18 VS-39 Squadron.

148733 Grumman S-2D Tracker United States Navy - USS Randolph AW/41 VS-34 Squadron. Oops, a wee oil spill here.

144722 Grumman S-2F Tracker United States Navy 6A/159. 131535 Lockheed S-2E Neptune US NAVY 7R/211 shares the ramp with the Tracker, a C-47, some Cessna Blue Canoes, a Skyraider and a mysterious all yellow Skywarrior parked beside a green Lockheed OP-2E Neptune. Such a great selection.

140948 Beech T-34B Mentor (BG-282) US NAVY.

A fine collection of recently arrived Cessna U-3A/B Blue Canoes. Straight and swept tail varieties. Until that day, I had only seen one before, 60-6048 (310M-0003) belonging to USAF-SAC hiding in a hangar at RAF Booker on 13 July 1963. It frequently was seen around the UK. Here is a link to it visiting Prestwick on 28 August 1963.

A tribe of T-Birds. It's amazing to think that in early 2010 there are still about fifty-eight Lockheed T-33's present. They arrived as follows: 9 in 1980; 1 in 1986; 29 in 1987 and 19 in 1988. I wonder what will happen to those aircraft?

"Rows of Boxcars" Fairchild C-119C/C/G Flying Boxcar USAF and Marines. About 281 passed through MASDC.

It was quite a pleasant shock to find these Curtis C-46 Commando aircraft still on site.

"Scorpions in the Desert" - Several rows of retired Northrop F-89J Scorpion, at least 66 at one point, rest with several other USAF types. Impossible to stop and photograph them all alas. Each with a tale to tell I'm sure. They came from the ANG units of Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota,

Getting towards the end of the line for some of these airframes. Poor old 53-3963 Martin RB-57D canberra USAF 7407th CSW is not long for this world. A nice line of Maine ANG North American F-86H Sabre are fairing a little better. One or more went to the USN at NWC China Lake as QF-86H, to go out in a more dramatic blaze of glory. Douglas C-47D Skytrain 43-16200 (20666) is missing her rudder, engines, and other vital parts. Lockheed T-33 T-birds and Douglas B-66 adorn the scrub land.

Another "end of the line" shot from our "drive by shooting" session. A few Douglas B-26 Invader aircraft remained still in 1968. Here are four, including a US Navy UB-26J.

N1192 Lockheed L-749A Constellation (2612) FAA. A sad sight - being parted out 09 September 1968, Ex WV-1 124437 USN. Gone by 1969.

While driving by a ramp we noticed a lone, forlorn, COIN North American YAT-28E Trojan 51-3788 experimental airframe. Park Code TA134. Grumman F-11A Tiger 141795 USN 3L/608 VT-26, joins a bunch of USN Lockheed P-2 Neptunes and a trio of USAF-SAC Boeing B-47E Stratojets, including 53-2327 of 307BW.

" The Big Thrill "

Driving on base with a coveted Visitor's Pass - we thought we had died and gone to heaven!

Colourful rows of aircraft and helicopters at every turn. Where to start? Here we have US Navy, Marines and Air Force Sikorsky UH-19F/CH-19E/UH-19B.

"Tall Tails" - when we told friends of our adventures at MASDC, they thought we were telling tall tales! Rows of Boeing B-52E and F models, amongst the first to arrive at Davis-Monthan. Here 57-0111 Boeing B-52E-55-BW (464100) which arrived 18 April 1967, and 57-0137 Boeing B-52E-60-BW (464125) which arrived 21 April 1967, are amongst the parked Stratofortress.

The battle is over for this giant Boeing B-52F Stratofortress USAF-SAC. Park Code BC045.

As you eneterd MASDC in 1968, several airframes were used for tests in this area, still holds true for that purpose at AMARG in 2010.

With not enough money for much colour slide film, I had to make do with black and white, hoping to develop and print the negs someday. Well, that day has finally come. I don't even have to go into the darkroom to make the prints.

"Desert Tigers" two rows of the fine beasts. 141818/3L-641 Grumman F-11A Tiger USN VT-26sq.

When NAF Litchfield (now Goodyear Airport) closed, many of these airframe were transferred to MASDC. Here 139531/4B-109 North American AF-1E Fury (209-151) Navy/Marine of VT-86sq is on display by the perimeter fence in an early version of "Celebrity Row".

53-1525 North American F-86H-10-NA Sabre USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

53-0965 North American F-86L Sabre Dog (201-409) USAF ex 354th FIS. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

53-1580 North American F-100D Super Sabre USAF Arizona ANG.

45-8612 Lockheed P-80B Shooting Star USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum. Displayed as 22nd FBS, 36th FG.

52-6563 Republic F-84F-40-RE Thunderstreak USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum. Now painted in Thunderbirds c/s.

53-2674 Northrop F-89J Scorpion USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

51-5623 Lockheed F-94C Starfire (880-8219) USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

53-2135 Boeing B-47E Stratojet (44481) USAF.

49-0372 Boeing KB-50J Superfortress (16148) USAF.

44-77635 Curtis C-46D Commando (33031) USAF.

41-7723 Douglas C-47 Skytrain ( 4201) USAF Minnesota ANG.

42-72488 Douglas C-54D Skymaster ( 10593) USAF - PACAF.

49-0157 Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar (10394) USAF.

144044/01 Beech T-34B Mentor (BG-351) USN, Now resides in NMNA Museum. 49-0236 Douglas C-124 Globemaster (43165) USAF - scrapped.

53-0151 Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter (16933) USAF - SAC. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

51-0022 Grumman SA-16A/HU-16B Albatross (G-96) USAF. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

128362/S Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune USN/NATC.

39213 Beech SNB-5/UC-45J Expeditor (4297) USN 7L/213. MCAS El Toro. To Pima Air Museum.

133220 Grumman TS-2A Tracker USN.

124629 Douglas TF-10B Skyknight (7499) US NAVY NJ/196. To Pima Air & Space Museum, now painted as F3D-2T2 in Marines c/s. Coded LP-12.

134748 Douglas F-6A Skyray USN. To Pima Air & Space Museum, as F4D-1.

144426 Grumman RF-9J Cougar MARINES 7X/45. To Pima Air & Space Museum, as F9F-8P in VFP-61 c/s.

141363 Chance Vought RF-8G Crusader US NAVY GA/909 VFP-62 Squadron. w/o 18 July 1987 when with VFP-63. ??

145445 Chance Vought F-8B Crusader US NAVY/MARINES 6A/11. SOC 29 July 1974.

Ten Chance Vought F-8 Crusader aircraft, including 144614/CY MARINES VMCJ-2sq; 146845 US NAVY; RF-8G 144608 US NAVY Johnsville; 145425/6A; 145473/7W RAW-93sq; 143762/UA; 145488/7W RAW-93sq.

132555 Douglas EA-1F Skyraider US NAVY VR/012 VAW-13 USS Kittyhawk. Recently arrived. was SOC 22 August 1968.

145842 Bell HTL-7/TH-13N US NAVY HT/22 HC-4 Squadron. To Pima Air & Space Museum.

56-2159 Vertol H-21C Shawnee (C.321) US ARMY. To Pima Air & Space Museum now in 93rd Transportation Company, South Vietnam, 1962 markings.