EC-121R Aircraft used by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Larry Westin - June 7, 1999 Rev E - Updated 10/12/04 The EC-121R aircraft used by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing were all refurbished ex U.S. Navy aircraft previously retired to the "boneyard" at Davis Monthan. A total of 30 aircraft were modified for the specialized Batcat mission. Batcat EC-121R's were modified to one of two specifications, depending on the equipment installed. Aircraft were equipped with either passive ECM only (Radar Homing and Warning, or "RHAW"), or active ECM aircraft with RHAW plus expanded receiving and active jamming capability. Twenty EC-121R's were equipped with RHAW only, the other 10 equipped with the more extensive active ECM and were referred to by the 553rd as aircraft with "special equipment installed." Batcat aircraft with special equipment installed included: 67-21473, 67-21478, 67-21479, 67-21480, 67-21481, 67-21483, 67- 21488, 67-21491, 67-21498 and 67-21499. Missions flown to the "Rose" and "Blue" orbits required the use of a "special equipment installed" aircraft. Before becoming U.S. Air Force EC-121R's, most of the Navy aircraft were used in the early warning role. First two conversions were AF serial number 67-21471 and 67-21472, both these aircraft were ex Navy EC-121P/WV-3's, Lockheed construction numbers 4382 and 4385. The next 28 EC-121R's, serial numbers 67-21473 through 67-21500, were all ex EC-121K/WV-2's. Lockheed construction numbers, U.S. Navy Bureau numbers, and U.S. Air Force serial numbers, along with the fate of each airplane, appears at the end of this article. Most obvious modification to the Navy aircraft was the removal of the fuselage top radome (the height finder), and the lower fuselage radome (the search radar antenna). With these gaping items removed, and their holes covered, a number of smaller antennas were added for the Batcat mission. One other unique identification of the Batcat aircraft - they were camouflaged. Previously only the prototype Lockheed Constellation was camouflaged, and then only during the test phase which occurred during World War II. The 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Manual, "553 RWM 55-1," (an unclassified document) lists the aircraft at Korat. Korat based aircraft were serial numbers 67-21473 through 67-21474, 67-21477 through 67-21493, and 67-21495 through 67-21500. Three EC-121R aircraft were based at Otis AFB 67-21475, 67-21476 and 67-21494, and two aircraft, 67-21471, 67-21472, operated at Eglin. Juan Bazan wrote to confirm that the prototype aircraft were flying at Eglin during late 1969, which corrects an earlier error in this article. Originally I listed 3 EC-121R's at Otis, but did not include any at Eglin. In fact there were 5 EC-121R's in the U.S. until early 1969. Juan Bazan goes on to say he has flight time recorded in the EC-121R through May 1971. The 553rd 55-1 manual I got this information from is dated 20 January 1969, before the landing accident loss at Otis. After the landing accident at Otis, and the April 25, 1969 loss at Korat, one aircraft was transferred to Korat. At about the same time some EC-121R aircraft were rotated back to the U.S. for IRAN (Inspect and Repair As Necessary). A C-121G aircraft was added at Otis, used to train pilots and flight engineers, serial number unknown. During operational use three aircraft were lost. First aircraft loss was 67-21476 at Otis AFB, MA on January 24, 1969. All survived, in fact only one injury, a broken leg, was sustained. Second loss was aircraft 67-21493 on April 25, 1969. All 18 crew members from Batcat crew 39 perished with this loss. Third aircraft lost was 67-21495 during September 1969. Four crew members from Batcat crew 40 perished in this loss. Have seen photographs of EC-121R aircraft at Davis Monthan AFB. Below is a list of all the Batcat aircraft and their fate. Three aircraft were lost in during service, all during 1969. The remaining 27 aircraft were all broken up at Davis Monthan AFB between October 1970 and April 1972. The last surviving Batcat aircraft was scrapped at Davis Monthan AFB during 1972. The specific date shown is the date the USAF officially accepted the bid from the civilian company who purchased the aircraft for scrap. In most cases the USAF puts up a block of aircraft for scrap, which is why several aircraft have the same scrap date. The actual date the aircraft was broken for scrap is unknown, but it is normally within a short period of time of bid acceptance. Lockheed USN USAF Fate c/n Bu-No S/n 4382 137895 67-21471 Scrapped DM July 26, 1971 4385 137898 67-21472 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4420 141296 67-21473 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4430 141306 67-21474 Scrapped DM October 21, 1970 4436 141312 67-21475 Scrapped DM July 26, 1971 4441 141317 67-21476 Landing accident Otis 24-Jan-69, Officially removed from USAF inventory on March 20, 1969. Airplane remained at Otis AFB and used as source of spare parts. 4444 141320 67-21477 Scrapped DM March 3, 1971 4452 141328 67-21478 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4454 141330 67-21479 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4459 143185 67-21480 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4462 143188 67-21481 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4465 143191 67-21482 Scrapped DM October 21, 1970 4469 143195 67-21483 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4476 143202 67-21484 Scrapped DM October 21, 1970 4477 143203 67-21485 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4478 143204 67-21486 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4480 143206 67-21487 Experienced an unique situation when all 4 propellers feathered in flight June 21, 1967. Landed safely at Da Nang, reason never determined. Lots of parts replaced, returned to service. Scrapped DM October 21, 1970 4481 143207 67-21488 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4482 143208 67-21489 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4484 143210 67-21490 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4487 143213 67-21491 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4488 143214 67-21492 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4489 143215 67-21493 Crashed Korat April 25, 1969 4490 143216 67-21494 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4491 143217 67-21495 Crashed Korat September 6, 1969 4492 143218 67-21496 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4493 143219 67-21497 Scrapped DM May 18, 1971 4496 143222 67-21498 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4497 143223 67-21499 Scrapped DM April 14, 1972 4498 143224 67-21500 Scrapped DM October 21, 1970 Lockheed C-121G Aircraft These aircraft were built by Lockheed as a Navy model R7V-1's. The Navy transferred 32 R7V-1 aircraft to the USAF, who changed the designation to C-121G and assigned these airplanes, as well as some others, to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. With the April 25, 1969 loss, plus the problems which plagued the "Da Nang Glider" (67-21487) when it experienced all four propellers going to feather in flight, plus the planned departure of EC-121R's back to the U.S. for IRAN, 54-4049 was first loaned by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. It was used for nine months as a trainer, freeing up a combat ready EC-121R for missions. Later a second C-121G arrived, serial number 54-4056, also on load from the Pennsylvania ANG. Lockheed USN USAF Notes - Fate c/n Bu-No S/n 4102 128435 54-4049 On loan from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on April 25, 1969. Returned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on February 2, 1970 4127 131626 54-4056 On loan from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Inspection revealed extensive wing corrosion, on June 17, 1970 the aircraft was grounded by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. Later history states the aircraft departed Korat for DM on October 30, 1970. Pave Eagle I - YQU-22A Assigned to Detachment 1, 553rd Reconnaissance Wing based at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB The YQU-22A is a modified Beech E-33 Debonair, Beech model 1074 Beech USAF Fate c/n S/n CED-1 68-10531 Engine failure, crashed, combat mission June 11, 1969, pilot Maj. Edward Schroeder bailed out Successfully and was rescued, aircraft destroyed on impact. Later USAF strike aircraft fired on the aircraft to make certain no electronics could be removed for inspection by the enemy. CED-2 68-10532 Crashed on a navigation flight August 21, 1969. The civilian pilot, Mr. Raymond F. Fugit, employed by Univac, was killed. Cause listed as engine failure. CED-3 68-10533 Returning from combat mission, landing gear collapsed April 8, 1969, pilot Capt. Gary Van de Putte, suffered no injuries. Returned to the U.S., sold to private owner as N52242, currently on the U.S. civil register. CED-4 68-10534 Returned to the U.S., sold to private owner as N83475, currently on the U.S. civil register. CED-5 68-10535 Returned to the U.S. sold to private owner as N90524, currently on the U.S. civil register. CED-6 68-10536 Built by Beech, remained in the U.S., was not assigned to Detachment 1, 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. Sold to a private owner as N94499, currently on the U.S. civil register. Pave Eagle II - QU-22B Assigned to Detachment 1 of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing based at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB The QU-22B is a modified Beech A36 Bonanza, Beech model 1079 Note - in some cases the Federal Aviation Administration has listed the type of aircraft as the QU-22B, in others it is a type 1079, and in yet others the airplane is listed as a Beech A36. Beech USAF Fate c/n S/n EB-1 69-7693 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N75210. EB-2 69-7694 Jack Halliet reports this airplane may Have Been Used by the US Border Patrol. EB-3 69-7695 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N90638, no longer on the U.S. civil register. EB-4 69-7696 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N40CA. EB-5 69-7697 Combat Loss 8 Jun 72, Engine Failure, pilot survived EB-6 69-7698 Not used in SEA, currently on the U.S. civil register at N74TA. EB-7 69-7699 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N90637, now displayed at the USAF Air Museum as 69-7699. EB-8 69-7700 Combat Loss April 4, 1972, Engine Failure, pilot survived. EB-9 69-7701 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N73TA, no longer on the U.S. civil register. EB-10 69-7702 Not used in SEA, currently on the U.S. civil register as N49893. EB-11 69-7703 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N64285. EB-12 69-7704 Not used in SEA, currently on the U.S. civil register as N75208. EB-13 69-7706 Combat Loss 8 Feb 71, Engine Failure, pilot, Maj Lenox Lee Ratcliff, killed. EB-14 70-1535 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N22QU. EB-15 70-1536 Not used in SEA, at one time it was on the U.S. civil register as N49248. EB-16 70-1537 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N64883, no longer on the U.S. civil register. EB-17 70-1538 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N64884, no longer on the U.S. civil register, believed the aircraft was destroyed. EB-18 70-1539 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N64885. EB-19 70-1540 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N267HT (A36). EB-20 70-1541 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N62247 (1079). EB-21 70-1542 At one point on the U.S. civil register as N75209, no longer on the U.S. civil register. EB-22 70-1543 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N57939 (QU-22B). EB-23 70-1544 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N18834 (1079). EB-24 70-1545 Currently on the U.S. civil register as N57895 (QU-22B). EB-25 70-1546 70-1546 / EB-25 / Combat Loss 25 Aug 72, Engine Failure, pilot 1Lt Lanny Allen York, killed. EB-26 70-1547 Combat Loss August 19, 1972, Turbulence, pilot survived EB-27 70-1548 Combat Loss April 22, 1972, Control Failure, pilot survived. Last QU-22B built