Jump to content

Altus or Altos Lamp?


Jim Caudill
 Share

Recommended Posts

Seems to me there was an auxillary light in the cockpit that could be used to shine on the nacelles or wings, or whatever. This was something like a 5 or 6 inch sealed beam affair, with a handle. I thought it was called an "Altus Light" or maybe "Altos Lamp", you get the idea. I have searched thru my old dash-one and can't find any reference to it. Is my memory that bad? Maybe this was something that was only used up thru the "E" models and I flew "H" models out of Dyess. Can someone "enlighten" me? (pun intended)

Edited by Jim Caudill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No you've got it right.The only thing is I can't remember where it was kept at.It was great for scanning the wings late at night, as long as you for warned the pilots.I remember them on the "B's"&"E's".You could plug them in at any of the electrical outlets in the cargo compartmentThey had about a 25 foot cord on them and they got hot real quick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a little background on the "aldis lamp" from Wikipedia:

Signal lamp, also called Aldis lamp, is a visual signaling device for optical communication (typically using Morse code) – essentially a focused lamp which can produce a pulse of light. It is named after its inventor Authur C W Aldis. This pulse is achieved by opening and closing shutters mounted in front of the lamp, either via a manually-operated pressure switch or, in later versions, automatically. The lamps were usually equipped with some form of optical sight, and were most commonly used on naval vessels and in airport control towers (using color signals for stop or clearance).

hope this helps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We had them on the "A,s" and I think they were hard wired in on the "245".

They had a small round sight on the top to aim it with.

The only time I remember it being used for a reson was when we took off from Tiawan in late 64.

When we would tow a plane across the runway at Sewart the tower

would sometimes use one to give us the green light to proceed.

I think it had a clear lense and a red and green lense we could fit on

if need be.

The ones we had did not have shutters on them.

Edited by donwon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While stationed @ Lockbourne AFB, OH with the 39th TAS, of the 317th TAW. I had one of these that had had the little sight get broken thay were a 780 item and when it was replaced I talked the 780 guy out of the old one. Took it home and put a 150' cord on it and installed a over the wing light bulb in it (same diamater). Boy was it great when doing any and every thing @ night.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Dutch, when where you in the 39th at Lockborne?. I was in the 39th late 65 thru June 66.

RZ Hill

From some time in late 1966 when they broke up OMS and assigned us to different squadrons. While at Lockbourne, I crew 56-0523 for a long time then was a Flight line controler, Assist Flight Chief and Flight Chief. I left there in Oct 1967. Went to the 79 ARRS @ Andersen AFB, Guam.

What did you do while you were @ Lockbourne?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From some time in late 1966 when they broke up OMS and assigned us to different squadrons. While at Lockbourne, I crew 56-0523 for a long time then was a Flight line controler, Assist Flight Chief and Flight Chief. I left there in Oct 1967. Went to the 79 ARRS @ Andersen AFB, Guam.

What did you do while you were @ Lockbourne?

I arrived in mid 62, was in B-47 Recovery. moved to the 317th when the 47's left.

Crewed 56-489 then 56-513, Went to Fe school at Sewart Flew the line in the 39th till June 66.

RZ Hill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From some time in late 1966 when they broke up OMS and assigned us to different squadrons. While at Lockbourne, I crew 56-0523 for a long time then was a Flight line controler, Assist Flight Chief and Flight Chief. I left there in Oct 1967. Went to the 79 ARRS @ Andersen AFB, Guam.

What did you do while you were @ Lockbourne?

56-523 was one of our E-Flight birds at Naha. The crew chief was SSgt. Mike Dittleman (I think the name is correct, time has taken its toll) and it was one of the cleanest and best flying birds at Naha.

Gary Robinson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...