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EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 5:01 pm
by quid21
I seem to recall seeing an EC-121 Warning Star at Airfete - however I can't find any photographic evidence other than in 1978 - yet I was two then, and the airfete I attended were in 1984, '86 and '88 (and all the rest from 1990 onwards.
Am I misremembering? Or did one appear in 1984 or 1986?
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 5:31 pm
by Thunder
Pretty sure all were retired by 1982, the USAF retired there’s by 1978.
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:02 pm
by Dave Smith
How does 54-2307 on 16 August - 1978 grab you?
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:08 pm
by iainpeden
I remember going on it but would have to check back as to date.
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:11 pm
by skippyscage
AFAIK 1978 was the last time one was at Air Fete (I took a crappy shot lol)
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:31 pm
by luxto
I went on board it on Friday 25 August'78, the day before the show. It arrived from Keflavik where the AFRES/79thAEWS had an EC-121 detachment until about December'78. Not sure when the 552ndAW&CW E-3's took over the Iceland operation but it was around December'78/January'79.
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:34 pm
by Andyph
I went on it too. It was the first military aircraft I went in - aged 9.
Then sat in a OV-10
lovely memories
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:36 pm
by IanM
I attended all the air fetes since 1978 and only remember one attending, and that was in 1978. From memory I believe it returned to Keflavik after the show and returned home to Homestead AFB the following week before flying into retirement at DM a month later.
Ian
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:14 pm
by Kestrel
It certainly was 54-2307. I too went on board on the Saturday. The crew said it was its last visit to Europe and was soon to be retired and replaced by the new Boeing E-3!
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:16 pm
by fisherman
Photos from the start of my 1978 visit and report on the Air Fete, not only a fabulous visitor for the show but the fashion of the time is quite interesting.
Regards, Mike Fisher.
https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2 ... -1978.html
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:47 am
by iainpeden
Mike, those photos bring back some great memories; and yes, I would have been wearing flared Levi’s!
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:33 am
by Yorker
Great photos and fashion content!
As I recall Keflavik Connies always used the same callsign when coming to the UK - 'Adola 01'.
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 11:48 am
by luxto
Yorker wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:33 am
Great photos and fashion content!
As I recall Keflavik Connies always used the same callsign when coming to the UK - 'Adola 01'.
I certainly remember the "Adola" part.
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:09 pm
by Alanm28
I trolled reports from Scrambles old show reports and can’t see anything after 78
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:15 pm
by Bilvo
Dave Smith wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:02 pm
How does 54-2307 on 16 August - 1978 grab you?
Correct! A black and white photo of which is published in "Mildenhall Air Shows 1956 - 87" by the Norfolk Aviation Society credited to A. Annis
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:13 pm
by quid21
Thanks for the replies! It must have been something else I remember. Who knows what!!
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:58 am
by Cobraball
Remember it well and this should keep those memories alive.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266278539906
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:26 am
by MikeH
I took a couple of photos of 54-2307 at the 'Air Fete '78' after everyone had left. It seems that evening light wasn't the best for Kodachrome.
EC-121-Mildenhall-54-2307-26AU78 by
Michael Hall, on Flickr
EC-121-Mildenhall-54-2307-2-26AU78 by
Michael Hall, on Flickr
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:42 am
by Vulture 01
There was a Constellation that turned up at Flying Legends in the '80's. I think it came from South Africa, but, memory fades.....!
Re: EC-121 at Airfete
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:56 am
by teeonefixer
I always had an old pals reunion when I lived in Cambridge which as timed for the Air Fete. One of them was a pilot who had joined the FAA and, on entering the EC121 and asking pertinent questions, we were soon ushered off !!