KC-135 query

[ph87gb]

Curently visiting Mildenhall and on Thursday & Friday last week (31 Jan and 1 Feb) a USAFE KC-135 with the tail number 00113 was parked up. This should mean the serial is 60-0113 but as far as I can see the only USAF aircraft to have ever had that serial was a T37.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Peter

[Mike]

Looks like a misread of 80113, which has the full serial of 58-0113.

The latest based aircraft list that was updated yesterday : https://suffolkmilitaryaviationsociety. ... round.html

[ph87gb]

Nope, have a clear photo, it's 00113 I also knew 58-0113 was on the list of based KC-135s so actually went back to get another shot to check. My immediate thought was to wonder whether someone had messed up the tail number when they switched it to USAFE tail markings from AMC markings but that seems a little fanciful.
Peter

Looks like a misread of 80113, which has the full serial of 58-0113.

[Mike]

Can you post the photo please?

[ph87gb]

[Mike]

They've put the wrong serial on it!

Is it the same on the other side?

EDIT :- Apologies for insinuating that it was a "misread".

[rh226]

I suppose that everything had to be moved down when going over its Altus fin band and AETC markings in order to apply the station badge, then the "square D", then "USAFE" before getting to the serial. They then made a c@*k up of the serial.

[ph87gb]

Don't know, can't get a view of the left side. If I get a chance in the next couple of days may see if I can get a shot from the north side.

Does seem a pretty major error!

[graham luxton]

What a cock up! Its happened to at least 3 other KC-135's in the past, including 80130, which showed up at Mildenhall as 00130 in April'78.

[skidrow]

Hi jumping in on the conversation. Ye it's the same on the otherside pic below.
58-0113 KC-135R Stratotanker 351ARS 100ARW US Air Force RAFM 28 Jan 19C by pablogid, on Flickr

[Tiger 1]

At least all the spotters will make this one :lol :

I'll get my coat

T1

[Knife 04]

What a cock up! Its happened to at least 3 other KC-135's in the past, including 80130, which showed up at Mildenhall as 00130 in April'78.

Ah, but could it be like the RC-135U - 14850 (September 1976) Graham?

[baz1]

surely someone should have noticed the nose serial and tail Number were different??

[Nighthawke]

No, the nose is the last 4.

[Mike]

It's the last 4 digits on the nose of KC-135s, but on C-5s it's usually the 2nd digit followed by the last 3 on the nose, the Americans have always had an incredibly strange serial system!
Have a look at Paul's shot of a C-5M here for example :- https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/ ... 6&t=170611

[rh226]

The B-52H's nose number is also "last digit of FY" followed by "last three of serial", e.g. 61-0002 is represented by 1002 on the nose.

It might be a "failsafe" identification of an aircraft (on the ground) for when the last three of a serial clash with another FY, as happens with the two B-52H serial blocks - and also did with FY69 C-5As and the FY85/FY86/(first few) FY87 C-5Bs.

[Mike]

That's true Bob, I'd forgotten about the B-52s and those C-5s, the whole system is so complicated that even the USAF apparently don't understand it though! - maybe one of the major universities should start a degree course in it.

[gary1701]

Gents,

Here she is coming past Folly last Wednesday when the serial error was pointed out to me as well. It is the same both sides, nose and tail and I also checked and came back with 60-0113 being a T-37.



Reminds me of whoever was applying the codes to 3 Sqn Typhoons back in 2008/9, they went through a phase of getting that wrong as well.

Gary

[Rainton20]

My immediate thought was to wonder whether someone had messed up the tail number when they switched it to USAFE tail markings from AMC markings but that seems a little fanciful.
Peter

Spot on, Peter.

Here's a photo of it landing at Mildenhall on 18th October 2018 a few weeks after its arrival for the 100th ARW but before being repainted into their markings.

58-0113 KC-135R by Ian Tate, on Flickr