Jump to content

Info Needed 56-0471


118th AES Retired
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'm looking for information on 56-0471 for my research project on the C-130 'A' fleet formerly assigned to the 118th TAW/105th TAW of the TNANG in Nashville.

What I do have thus far is: this airplane was known as "The Blind Bat". It served with the 463rd TAW/35th TAS at Naha AB, Okinawa (circa 1969) & the 139th TAS NY ANG (circa 1972-75) / 105th TAS (1976) and then with the 147th TAS of the Deleware ANG (circa 1976-77) and then back to the 105th TAS (1977-1981). It was a test aircraft for the Black Crow Truck Ignition Locating System. Upon retirement, she went to AMARC on 23 April 1990 (CF 0087) and was eventually sold to National and broken up.

If anyone has any further information on this a/c or experiences with her, please be so kind as to share that with me if you would like to have the information added in my research project.

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I worked on 471 at Sewart AFB Tenn From 1962 until I departed with the 50th TCS to open CCK Taiwan in January of 1966. 471 was assigned to the 4442nd CCTS at Sewart. I was in the engine shop and I know 471 very well as it was a real dog for the engine shop. We had one engine that would loose electronics everytime it broke ground. It took us forever to find what was doing it.(a wire in the wing) 471 spent most of it's time on I row the run up area. 471 was still with the 4442nd at the time I was assigned to the 50th and departed on 64-0536 for CCK on 10 January 1966. [email protected]

Edited by ronsram
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

It was not with the 463rd at Naha because the 463rd wasn't at Naha, it was in the Philippines. The wing at Naha was originally a group, the 6315th Operations Group, which was elevated to wing status as the 374th Troop Carrier Wing. I believe 471 was assigned to the 35th and I'm sure I flew on it, but we flew on whatever airplane maintenance could get in commission so it's hard to offer specific details that wouldn't be in the aircraft records. It was probably delivered to the 463rd at Ardmore then went to Sewart and probably went to Naha with the 345th TCS, which became the 35th TCS after it arrived at Naha. All Naha airplanes were used on airlift missions in South Vietnam and Thailand and most were assigned to the Blind Bat/Lamplighter mission at one time or another before they started dedicating airplanes to that particular mission. The 35th also flew the Fact Sheet leaflet mission over North Vietnam and the JILLI leaflet mission off of North Korea.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lars O. shows that this airplane served as the test bed for the Black Crow ignition detection system that was used on the AC-130s. If so, then it was one of the eight airplanes that were dedicated to the flare mission and assigned to the 21st TAS. He shows the airplane as being delivered to the 463rd and going to the 314th but makes no mention of it being in the 4442nd. I'm pretty sure it was at Naha when I was there in '66-'67 as the number if very familiar. The 35th transferred from Sewart to Naha in 1963 so it most likely went with the the squadron. There were several reorganizations at Sewart and the squadron which went to Naha had been the 345th, which had previously had C-123s assigned. After the transfer, the 345th designation went to Dyess to a new squadron that was being formed with E-models.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I was at Naha 67-69, 56-0471 was in the 35th TAS. One of my friends was Crew Chief on it!! I do think that it had it's belly painted black later for Blind Bat use, but I don't remember it ever changing squadrons! At least until I left for CCK in Mar. 69.

I think I have seen pics of it in a book somewhere but not sure where! And, the way things are going, I probably won't ever remember!!!!!!!

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We did have 56-0471 along with 56-0477 56-0479, 56-0480, 56-0482, 56-0486, 56-0488 (crashed on Sewart 1962 I see it burn) 56-0490, 56-0499. 56-0505. I know I messed some. We even had some 54's, 2 B's and 17 E's 61-2359 to 61-2366 & 62-1801 to 62-1804 62-1808 to 62-1812 All new from factory. We receive 471 in 1962 in the 4451st CCTS and it very soon after became the 4442nd CCTS. I worked on it out of the engine shop from 62 until I was asigned to the 314TH FMS in Nov of 65. 471 was assigned to us from a Sewart unit and most likely the 463rd. The 4442nd was changing some aircraft out about the time I departed so it could have been one of them

Edited by ronsram
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I was asst. crew chief on 56-0471 from Feb. 1967 to Aug. 1968. This a/c was stationed at Naha AFB, Okinawa. In the 35th Tactical Airlift Squadron (former 35th Troop Carrier Squadron). In the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. Yes, the bottom was painted Black for "Blind Bat' mission out of Thailand. Was also involed heavily in the air supply of Khe Sanh during the TET offensive of 1968. This aircraft body was at Davis-Mothan AFB, AZ. in 2002. I saw it there while traveling on vacation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tom, You and I should know each other. I was 3rd. wiper on 56-0475. My crew-chief was Willard and the assistant C.C. . was Lafferty do you remember them? Just in case you haven't read any of my posts, do you remember 56-0475 getting shot up at Katum Jan. 1st. 1968? Lafferty and I were on it that day. What is your last name, and who was your crew-chief? Did you live in the barracks/ Also one more nagging question, who lived upstairs in our barracks? If you have answers to my questions, I would appreciate reading them!

Did you know me?,

Thanks,

Ken Carlson

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...