Page Updated 10/04/10

Aircraft of VW-1 The Constellations
BuNo's 124438-135758

CREDITS:
VW-1 data from George E Stewart & Dan Ragan VW-1 1952-55 resp. 1954-56.
Special thanks to John Moehlenkamp VW-1 1966-68 for researching, updating, and editing.
Earles L. McCaul, USN Webmaster: The Willy Victor Roster, site taken down in 2009:
    ATWAN, ATW3, VW-13, NS Argentia, Nfld 1964-65:
    ATW3, VW-11, NS Argentia, Nfld 1965:
    ATR2, AT1, VW-1, NAS Agana, Guam 1966-68"
    AT1 PMR, NAS Pt. Mugu, CA 1968-71

COMPILED BY:
Ernest D. Ruff, USN Ret.:
    LTJG, VX-4 Miramar Detachment 1950 - LTJG,:
    VC-11 Miramar Detachment 1950-52:
    LTJG, LT, Plank Owner, VW-1 Barbers Point 1952-53:
    LT, LCDR, VW-1, Guam 1958-60

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dominique Breffort: Lockheed Constellation (history & collections), 2006
Peter J. Marson: The Lockheed Constellation Series: Air-Britain, 1982
Curtis K. Stringellow and Peter M. Bowers : Motorbooks Intnl, 1992
Kenneth E. Wixey : Lockheed Constellation, lan Alien ltd, 1987
Steve Ginter: Naval Fighters Number Eight, C-121, Steve Ginter, 1983
Willy Victor Page (willyvictor.com)
Joe Baugher's bureau number page (joebaugher.com)
 

The Constellations

Lockheed delivered 207 of the 856 Constellations manufactured to the U.S. Navy. Of these, 2 were PO-1Ws (WV-1s), 51 were R7V-1s, 4 were R7V-2s, 142 were WV-2s, and 8 were WV-3s. (More information about these aircraft can be found at "EC-121_Warning_Star" From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

Thirty-nine of the Constellations served all or part of their military flight hours in VW-1. Three served less than 3 months, a couple served just 1 year, and several served 10 years or more.

Two of the 39 were R7V-1s (C-121Js), 1 was a WV-1, 33 were received as WV-2s/EC-121s, and 3 were received as WC-121Ns. In December 1952 the first Constellation, a WV-1, was received. Between April 1954 and March 1955 the initial group of 12 "direct from the factory" WV-2s arrived, replacing the PB-1W "Plank Owner" aircraft and the lone WV-1.

The "standard" complement was ten WV-2s and one R7V-1, but the actual number of aircraft on board varied somewhat over the squadron's 20-year lifespan. The aircraft were received in, and transferred out, in accordance with the ordaining of the Bureau of Aeronautics (later Bureau of Naval Weapons 1959-1966, and Naval Air Systems Command 1966-present). The total service life of each "Willy Victor" seemed more dependent on the current "needs of the service" at the time, rather than the age and condition of the aircraft itself.

Twenty of the aircraft were received "brand new" from the Lockheed production line. The other 19 had flown with at least one other squadron or duty station prior to service with VW-1.

Seven "Willy Victors" spent their entire service life in VW-1. After their tour they were transferred to a storage depot and eventually scrapped. One was stricken from inventory while in VW-1 service, having been withdrawn from use after a ground accident at NAS Atsugi15, Japan. One performed no additional military service after leaving the squadron. It had however, spent a tour with VW-3 before coming to VW-1. The remaining 30 all served further military duty in other squadrons or stations after leaving VW-1. Two of these aircraft also entered the civil registry.

The following pages list, by BuNo and manufacturers construction number (c/n), the 39 Constellations of VW-1, their period of service in the squadron, service before and after the VW-1 tour, and their final disposition.

LEGEND
The example shown below indicates that a/c buno X8 was manufactured in October 19X2 and assigned to VW-1 until February 19X5 when it was transferred to VW-2.
BuNo. 19X2 19X3 19X4 19X5
   J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
X8                   M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2                    
A To VAQ-33 B To/From AIRBARSRON
C Conversion or Overhaul D Destroyed
L To/From NAF Litchfield Park or Davis-Monthan AFB M Manufactured
P To PMR Q To VQ-1
S Struck off records X To/From VX-4
2 To/From VW-2 3 To/From VW-3
4 To VW-4 7 From VR-7
11 To VW-11 13 To VW-13
15 To VW-15 - Operated by VW-1

 
 

Aircraft BuNo's with the suffix "i" include an image of that aircraft.

  1952 1953 1954 1955
BuNo. J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
124438i                       2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4                    
128323i                                                       M - - - - - - - C C C C C C C C C - - - -
131388i                                                           M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
131390i                                                                   M - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
131392i                                                                     M - - - - - - - - - - - - -
135749                                                                       M - - - - - - - - - - - -
135751                                                                       M - - - - - - - - - - - -
135752                                                                         M - - - - - - - - - - -
135755                                                                       M - - - - - - - - - - - -
135756                                                                         M - - - - - - - - - - -
135758                                                                             M - - - - - - - - -
137887                                                                                 M - - - - - - -
137888i                                                                                 M - - - - - - -

 
 

  1956 1957 1958 1959
BuNo. J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
128323i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P                                              
128437                                 3 B                                                            
131388i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V W 1 5                            
131390i - - - - 2               2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                                          
131392i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V W 1 3                            
131654i                                                     7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
135749 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                                      
135751 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3                                        
135752 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                                      
135755 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3                                            
135756 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ? 3                                  
135758 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ? P                                  
137887 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                    
137888i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                      
143187                                             B - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                      
143196i                                             B - - - - - - - - - - 3                            
143203                                         B - - - - - - B                                        
143225                                                                           3 - - - - - - - - - -
143226                                               M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
143227i                                               M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
143228                                               M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
143230                                                 M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145926i                                                 M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145930i                                                     M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145934i                                                         M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145935i                                                         M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
 


  1960 1961 1962 1963
BuNo. J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
131654i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
143225 - - - - - L                                                                                    
143226 - - - - - L                                                                                    
143227i - - - - - L                                                                                    
143228 - - - - - L                                                                                    
143230 - - - - - L                                                                                    
145924           3 - - - - - - - L                                                                    
145925           3 - - - - - - - L                                                                    
145926i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ? P                                                            
145927         3 - - - - - - - - - - - - L                                                            
145928i           3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145929i           3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                                        
145930i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145931i           3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145932i           3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145933i           3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145934i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145935i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
 


  1964 1965 1966 1967
BuNo. J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
131654i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145928i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145930i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145931i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145932i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145933i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145934i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145935i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145938i                                                       C - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
145939i                                                   C - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
 


  1968 1969 1970 1971
BuNo. J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
131654i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q              
145928i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D                                
145930i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                    
145931i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - S                                  
145932i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q          
145933i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                
145934i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L                
145935i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q          
145938i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q          
145939i - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A                
141331                               C - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q     4          
143205                                     C - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q          
 

BuNo 124438                                     c/n 2613

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as PO-1W-749A-79-43 on 12 August 1949.

  • Assigned to Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA for R&D.
  • 30 June 1950 - transferred to NATC Patuxent River2, MD for R&D, redesignated WV-1 from PO-1W.
  • 16 October 1950 - transferred to VX-4, NAS Patuxent River2, MD as XD-10.
  • 18 June 1952 - VX-4 redesignated as VW-2.
  • 19 December 1952 - transferred to VW-1, NAS Barbers Point3, T.H. as TE-1.
  • November 1953 - transferred to College Point, RI for R&D.
  • 20 April 1954 - returned to VW-1 as TE-1.
  • Late 1954 - recoded TE-11 prior to the arrival of WV-2 135758.
  • 7 February 1955 - transferred to FASRON-110, San Diego, CA.
  • 21 February 1955 - transferred to VW-4, NAS Jacksonville4, FL as PN-8.
  • 23 November 1955 - transferred to NAVCICOFFSCOL, NAS Glynco5, GA.
  • 20 March 1957 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park6, AZ for storage.
  • 20 August 1957 - stricken from Navy inventory (TT: 2,876 hrs).
  • February 1958 - sold to Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), registration number N7624C.
  • 4 June 1958 - transferred to FAA, registration number N120; radomes and radar equipment removed; converted to glide-slope calibration aircraft.
  • 21 July 1966 - reregistered as N1206 with Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).
  • August 1966 - awaiting FAA disposal at Oklahoma City, OK.
  • 29 December 1966 - sold to Kansas Surplus Property Section (of FAA).
  • 1 February 1967 - sold to Schilling Institute, Department of Aeronautical Technology, Salina, KS; used for technical flight and ground training; Schilling Institute renamed Salina VoTech School.
  • 24 August 1978 - sold to Air International Inc, registration number N1206; slow restoration to flying condition begun; engines running early 1980.
  • June 1981 - Impounded by Salina County Sheriff for non-payment of company taxes.
  • 24 November 1981 - bought at auction by Express Airways Inc.
  • December 1981 - advertised for sale: "not flyable, any bid in excess of $16,368."
  • November 1992 - bought by Texas-investor; purportedly was restored to 'flyable' condition. Attempt made to ferry aircraft to Sherman, TX, but returned to Salina Airport, KS with one engine feathered.
  • June 1999 - last sighting: FLY PAST article, June 1999, pp 26-27. Location: Salina Airport; Salina, KS.
TE-1 circa 1954. From the scrap book of Mrs. Carolyn R. Anderson, Wife of the late Capt. Fernald P. Anderson first C.O. of VW-1.
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BuNo 128437                                     c/n 4104

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as R7V-1-1049B-55-75 in December 1952.

  • December 1952 - assigned to VR-1, NAS Patuxent River2, MD.
  • 1955 - transferred to VW-11.
  • December 1956 - transferred to VW-3, NAS Agana7, Guam.
  • May 1957 - transferred to VW-1, NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H., as TE-1.
  • June 1957 - transferred to AIRBARSRON-2, NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H.
  • September 1957 - transferred to VW-11, NS Argentia 8, Nfld.
  • 14 January 1958 - crashed at NAS Patuxent River 2, MD while practicing instrument landings in foggy weather. Sheared off tree tops for a quarter mile before it crashed and exploded, killing all nine crewmembers.
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BuNo 131654                                     c/n 4155

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as R7V-1-1049B-55-75 in April 1954.

  • April 1954 - assigned to VR-7, Hickam AFB 9, T.H.
  • Early 1958 - transferred to VW-1, NAS Agana 7, Guam as TE-00.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated C-121J from R7V-1.
  • May 1971 - transferred to VQ-1, NAS Agana 7, Guam as PR-50 and named "Victory Liner".
  • September 1974 - transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ.
  • 8 April 1981 - sold to Ascher Ward of "Classic Air", civil registration N27189. Configured for tourist flights from the Van Nuys, CA airport to the Grand Canyon and Baja California beginning in 1983. Benny Younesi Connies
  • January 1988 - sold to Darryl G. Greenameyer.
  • April 1988 - sold to Aero Chago SA and registered as HI-532, reregistered as HI-532CT.
  • Approximately June 1990 - withdrawn from use and stored after landing accident at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Note: Later dates from an article in Air Classics Magazine, November 2004 by Ralph M. Pettersen.

TE-00 131654 circa 1970. George Dean 63-66, 70-71 g_boothe_te00_tn.jpg
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BuNo 128323                                     c/n 4303

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-70 on 14 April 1954.

  • 14 April 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-2. No radar equipment and electronics equipment, or tip tanks installed. Aircraft used for flight crew training.
  • 16 December 1954 - returned to Lockheed Aircraft for installation of radar, electronics equipment, and tip tanks.
  • September 1955 - returned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-2.
  • 14 September 1957 - VW-1 transferred to NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • 6 January 1958 - transferred to Naval Air Missile Test Center (NAMTC)11 at NAS Point Mugu, CA.
  • 1 June 1958 - NAMTC redesignated Pacific Missile Range (PMR)11.
  • 20 July 1959 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121K from WV-2.
  • 21 March 1963 - stricken from Navy inventory (TT: 2,682 hrs).
  • Relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ.
  • 18 February 1965 - for sale by DoD and subsequently scrapped.
TE-2 circa 1954. Bill Green
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BuNo 131388                                     c/n 4308

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-91 on 29 June 1954.

  • 29 June 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-3.
  • 14 September 1957 - VW-1 transferred to NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • July 1958 - transferred to VW-15 and then VW-11 at NAS Patuxent River2, MD.
  • May 1961 - transferred to NADU at NAS Patuxent River 2, MD.
  • April 1962 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121K from WV-2.
  • May 1964 - transferred to NADC12 at NAF Johnsville, PA and converted to NC-121K from EC-121K.
  • 22 March 1974 - transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ for storage and stricken from Navy inventory (TT: 6,219 hrs).
  • 16 September 1976 - scrapped by Sun Valley Aviation of Phoenix, AZ.
TE-3 circa 1955. Dan Ragan
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BuNo 131390                                     c/n 4310

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-91 on 16 July 1954.

  • 18 Oct 1954 - assigned to VW-1, NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-4.
  • 24 May 1956 - transferred to VW-2, NAS Patuxent River 2, MD.
  • 4 Jan 1957 - returned to VW-1, NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-4. (George questions the number 4, so does Dan)
  • 15 Aug 1957 - trans-PACs to new duty station NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • 26 Mar 1958 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 23 Jan 1959 - to Lockheed Aircraft Service (LAS) at Ontario, CA for refurbishment.
  • 17 Nov 1959 - to Martin Aircraft13 at Baltimore, MD, for conversion to WV-2Q.
  • 17 Nov 1959 - transferred to NATC Patuxent River 2, MD for R & D.
  • 9 Sep 1960 - transferred to VQ-2, NS Rota 14, Spain as JQ-15. Note: JQ tail code assigned but not used.
  • 17 Feb 1961 - to VW-2, NAS Patuxent River 2, MD.
  • 20 Feb 1961 - returned to VQ-2, NS Rota 14, Spain.
  • 22 May 1962 - crashed near Markt Schwaben, Germany, returning from a mission along Czech border; rear cargo door failure caused in-flight tail separation, resulting in crash, explosion and fire; all 26 aboard were killed.
  • 22 May 1962 - struck from USN inventory by VQ-2 at NS Rota 14, Spain (TT: 2,755 hrs)
TE-4 circa 1956. Source: Naval Aviation News, March-1956, via John Moehlenkamp
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BuNo 131392                                     c/n 4312

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-91 on 26 July 1954.

  • 22 November 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-5.
  • 7 July 1957 - transferred to VW-13, NAS Patuxent River 2, MD.
  • 24 March 1958 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 25 October 1958 - to LAS at Ontario, CA for refurbishment.
  • 11 March 1959 - to Martin Aircraft13 at Baltimore, MD for conversion to WV-2Q.
  • February 1960 - to NADU, NS Rota14, Spain.
  • 23 February 1960 - transferred to VQ-2, NS Rota 14, Spain as JQ-12. Note: JQ tail code assigned but not used.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121M from WV-2Q.
  • 1971 - recoded JQ-11.
  • 1972 - recoded JQ-31, named "Lakeys Loafers".
  • 14 February 1974 - transferred to MASDC Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ for storage.
  • 19 August 1974 - struck from USN inventory by VQ-2 (TT: 12,917 hrs).
  • 11 February 1981 - for sale by DoD at Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ (TT: 12,917 hrs).
  • 5 June 1981 - scrapped by Allied Aircraft Sales, Tucson, AZ, adjacent Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ.
TE-5 circa 1955. George Stewart
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BuNo 135749                                     c/n 4316

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 3 September 1954.

  • 17 December 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-6.
  • 3 May 1958 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 6 November 1958 - withdrawn from storage at NAF Litchfield Park6, AZ and sent to LAS at Ontario, CA, for refurbishment.
  • 31 May 1959 - to Martin Aircraft13 at Baltimore, MD, for conversion to WV-2Q.
  • 11 February 1960 - transferred to VQ-1, NAS Atsugi 15, Japan as PR-21.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121M from WV-2Q.
  • 15 July 1967 - damaged by VC rocket attack at Da Nang, RVN (TT: 9,112 hrs).
  • 12 September 1967 - returned to service.
  • 9 August 1968 - aircraft undergoes major overhaul.
  • September 1968 - aircraft TT: 10,298 hours.
  • 22 October 1968 - returned to VQ-1.
  • 15 April 1969 - while on reconnaissance flight from NAS Atsugi15, Japan, aircraft was shot down by two North Korean MIG-17 fighters at 1350 (local) and crashed into the Sea of Japan approximately 90 miles S.E. of Chongjin, Korea, with loss of all 31 aboard (TT: 10,980 hrs).
Note from Don Lanoue LTjg VW-1 1956 - 1958: The side number of 135749 was TE-6 in 1956     hpw.
wv_outline.jpg
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BuNo 135751                                     c/n 4318

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 13 September 1954.

  • 21 December 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-7.
  • 10 April 1958 - transferred to VW-3, NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • Late 1958 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 27 January 1959 - withdrawn from storage at NAF Litchfield Park6, AZ and sent to LAS at Ontario, CA, for refurbishment.
  • 6 May 1959 - to Martin Aircraft13 at Baltimore, MD, for conversion to WV-2Q.
  • 30 April 1960 - transferred to VQ-1, NAS Atsugi 15, Japan as PR-22.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121M from WV-2Q.
  • 27 January 1966 - fire damaged beyond repair while "curing" lower radome boot with heat lamps; fire started when wind blew heat lamps against radome (TT: 6,555 hrs).
  • 3 March 1966 - struck from USN inventory by VQ-1 at NAS Atsugi15, Japan.
  • November 1968 - hulk in storage at NAS Atsugi 15 and used for parts.
wv_outline.jpg
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BuNo 135752                                     c/n 4319

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 14 January 1955.

  • 14 January 1955 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-9.
  • 7 May 1958 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 16 January 1959 - withdrawn from storage and flown to LAS at Ontario, CA, for refurbishment.
  • 5 May 1959 - to Martin Aircraft13 at Baltimore, MD, for conversion to WV-2Q.
  • 27 May 1960 - transferred to VQ-1, NAS Atsugi 15, Japan as PR-23.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121M from WV-2Q.
  • 15 July 1967 - damaged during VC rocket attack at Da Nang, RVN.
  • 5 August 1967 - returned to service.
  • 19 May 1968 - aircraft undergoes major overhaul.
  • 12 September 1968 - returned to VQ-1, NAS Atsugi 15, Japan.
  • October 1968 - to Kelley AFB, TX, for Kelly "G" Modification (GTPU).
  • 1 June 1969 - TT: 11,544 hrs.
  • 17 August 1969 - aircraft undergoes major overhaul and further transfer.
  • 24 November 1970 - transferred to VQ-2, NS Rota 14, Spain as JQ-752.
  • April 1971 - transferred to MASDC, Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ for storage; inventory #5C061.
  • 25 May 1971 - struck from USN inventory at Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ (TT: 12,185 hrs).
  • 13 September 1976 - scrapped by Sun Valley Aviation of Phoenix, AZ, adjacent Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ.
wv_outline.jpg
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BuNo 135755                                     c/n 4322

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 21 December 1954.

  • 21 December 1954 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-8.
  • 15 February 1958 - transferred to VW-3, NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • 14 February 1959 - transferred to NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ for storage.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121K from WV-2.
  • 21 March 1963 - struck from USN inventory at NAF Litchfield Park6, AZ (TT: 2,301 hrs) and cannibalized for parts.
  • 18 February 1965 - scrapped at NAF Litchfield Park 6, AZ.
wv_outline.jpg
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BuNo 135756                                     c/n 4323

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 15 January 1955.

  • 15 January 1955 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-10.
  • After January 1958 - transferred to VW-3, NAS Agana 7, Guam.
  • 1961 - transferred to PMR11, NAS Point Mugu, CA; equipped with additional ECM consoles and antennas; one of two aircraft (BuNo 135758 was other) assigned to PMR Range operations, Frequency Management Division (FMD, Code 3240) and used to monitor Command, Control & Communication (CCC) launch, telemetry, and "destruct" frequencies for interference during missile launches from PMR and nearby Vandenberg AFB16, CA; communicated with ground FFC vans to detect and triangulate locations of "interference" source(s) as PMR-756.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121K from WV-2.
  • Mid 1968 - USR-1 (one of only four) ECM system installed in location of last APA-56 radar console on starboard side; 1-30 GHz, digital, comb-filter tuned receiver with core memory.
  • June 1970 - transferred to VAQ-33, NAS Norfolk 17, VA as GD-10; no wing tip tanks!
  • 7 Apr-1971 - transferred to MASDC Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ for storage; USN inventory #5C063.
  • 12 July 1972 - struck from USN inventory at Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ (TT: 7,588 hrs).
  • 13 September 1976 - scrapped by Sun Valley Aviation of Phoenix, AZ, adjacent Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ.
wv_outline.jpg
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BuNo 135758                                     c/n 4325

Built by Lockheed Aircraft1 in Burbank, CA and delivered to the US Navy as WV-2-1049A-55-86 on 3 February 1955.

  • 10 March 1955 - assigned to VW-1 at NAS Barbers Point 3, T.H. as TE-1.
  • 1957 - recoded TE-3.
  • November 1961 - transferred to PMR11, NAS Point Mugu, CA; equipped with additional ECM consoles and antennas; one of two aircraft (BuNo 135756 was other aircraft) assigned to PMR Range Operations, Frequency Management Division (FMD, Code 3240); used to monitor Command, Control & Communications (CCC) launch, telemetry and "destruct" frequencies for interference during missile launches from PMR and nearby Vandenberg AFB16, CA; communicated with ground FCC vans to detect and triangulate locations of "interference" source(s) as PMR-758.
  • 18 September 1962 - redesignated EC-121K from WV-2.
  • June 1970 - transferred to MASDC Davis-Monthan AFB 10, AZ for storage.
  • 3 September 1970 - mothballed and inventoried; USN inventory #5C060.
  • 31 December 1970 - struck from USN inventory at Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ (TT: 7,579 hrs).
  • May 1974 - still in open storage.
  • 17 October 1974 - scrapped by Kolar Inc., Tucson, AZ, adjacent Davis-Monthan AFB10, AZ.
Note from Don Lanoue LTjg VW-1 1956 - 1958: The side number of 135758 was TE-3 in 1957     hpw.
wv_outline.jpg
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External Links:

1 [Lockheed Aircraft, from Wikipedia ]
2 [NAS/NATC Patuxent River, from Wikipedia]
3 [NAS Barbers Point, from Wikipedia]
4 [NAS Jacksonville, from Wikipedia]
5 [NAS Glynco, from Wikipedia]
6 [NAF Litchfield, from Wikipedia]
7 [NAS Agana, from Wikipedia]
8 [NS Argentia, from Wikipedia]
9 [Hickam AFB, from Wikipedia]
10 [Davis-Monthan AFB, from Wikipedia]
11 [NAMTC/PMR/NAS Point Mugu, from Wikipedia]
12 [NADC Johnsville, from Wikipedia]
13 [Martin Company, from Wikipedia]
14 [NS Rota, from Wikipedia]
15 [NAS Atsugi, from Wikipedia]
16 [Vandenberg AFB, from Wikipedia]
17 [NAS Norfolk, from Wikipedia]