USAF History
51-16533 was made available on 14-Jul-1952 and accepted on 16-Jul-1952 by the 6600th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was delivered to the Tactical Air Command at Donaldson AFB, SC where it was assigned to the 64th Troop Carrier (Medium) Group on 21-Jul-1952 until re allocated on 22-Jul-1952 to the 4th Liaison Squadron.
In preparation for transportation to Europe it was assigned to the Air Material Command and the 2847th Transportation Control Depot (TPC) Wing at Newark NJ from 13-Dec-1952. It arrived in Germany at Neubiberg and was assigned to Air Force Europe from 23-Jan 1953 being initially allocated to the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing at Neubiberg remaining until 18-Feb-1953. It was then allocated to the 85th Air Depot Wing at Erding remaining until 16-Mar-1952 after which it passed to the 4th Liaison Squadron at Furstenfeldbeck until 04-Feb-1954. Next it was allocated to the 7030th Headquarters Squadron at Lanstuhl remaining until 12-Apr-1954.
It was then sent to Spangdahlem and the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. There was a brief active allocation to the 21st Fighter Bomber Wing at Chambley, near Metz, between 01-Mar-1955 and 15-Jun-1955 before moving back to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. It went to Northern Italy for maintenance with the Air Material Europe facility at Vergiate operated by the Macchi company (MACVI) between 05-Sep-1955 and 17-May-1956 and returned to Spangdahlem. It stayed with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing until 01-Dec-1956. Under a re organisation the unit moved to Bitburg on 01 Aug-1957.
Emblem of 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The aircraft’s record card then shows it at Spangdahlem and the annotation “Reclaimed” on 08-Jul-1959 but there is no indication for the reason.
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