Unloading a Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter ...

ffuries · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:12 pm

What is the deal with the unknown to me insignia on the door of the truck?

p51 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:41 pm

ffuries wrote:

What is the deal with the unknown to me insignia on the door of the truck?

9th Service Command insignia.

Stateside trucks attached to the various service commands had those instead of stars, which represented their shoulder patches. Don't ask me why.

ffuries · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:06 pm

p51 wrote:

ffuries wrote:

What is the deal with the unknown to me insignia on the door of the truck?

9th Service Command insignia.

Stateside trucks attached to the various service commands had those instead of stars, which represented their shoulder patches. Don't ask me why.

Thank you very much, I tried to google what it could be, but came up blank. For the life of me I just couldn't figure it out.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7578

Good stuff folks, thx for the education. Here's the rest of the LIFE album.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 069&type=3

b29driver · **Posted:** Fri Jan 29, 2016 5:16 pm

b29driver wrote:

The winch your referring to is on an I-beam that extends the entire length of the cabin. The winch moves fore and aft on that I-beam.

A tail stand was put under the fuselage just forward of the clam shell doors and cargo was lifted in or out with the winch. Cargo could be moved fore and aft in the fuselage and put down or lifted up with the winch.

The production C-97's also had a forward cargo door on the right side just aft of the cockpit. The winch could service that too.

I stand corrected. I spoke from 40 years ago memory. The winch is stationary. The trolley system used the winch to pick things up and move them where ever.

slushbucket · **Joined:** Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:17 am **Posts:** 6

Interesting photos! Anyway, how many Stratofreighters were built during/after the war?

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 736

They built 888 of them.

Ours is a C-97G, delivered in 4/54.

If any of you know where we can get that ramp stowage hanger system, please let me know.

We have the ramps installed, they're just hung on the winch trolley.

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1162

slushbucket wrote:

Interesting photos! Anyway, how many Stratofreighters were built during/after the war?

Airlift48 wrote:

They built 888 of them.

Ours is a C-97G, delivered in 4/54.

According to wiki, of the 888 built, 811 were built as KC versions with the refueling boom.

I note quite a few are missing on the wiki survivors section including those at Greybull, China Lake, etc.

I also note some of the survivors on wiki are listed as C-97s, but were in fact delivered as KC-97's, but at some (like Airlifts48's) point had the refueling equipment taken off in second or third lives hauling trash, as firebombers etc. So at the risk of being very pedantic, should a KC-97 that has been castrated with the boom/tanks being removed be listed as a C, or should it remain a KC? Likely the military would have made the designation change if they were still in active service (like the KC-135s that were converted to other roles), but many of these conversion would have been done after being realsed bu the DoD. A worthless but perhaps interesting discussion..or maybe not.....

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 736

Well, the G models were designed to be converted back and forth. Simply, when it is set up for refueling, it's a KC-97. When its set up for cargo/passengers....Its a C-97. Since ours is a G model, at this moment, it's a C-97G.

As a matter of fact, at one point, it was a KC-97L after having J-47s hung under the wings. That was for a short period of its career.

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1162

Thanks airlift, makes sense. All the best to your team!

-Dave

exhaustgases · **Joined:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:26 pm **Posts:** 238

So is that C97 running and flying yet?

Pooner · **Posted:** Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:35 pm

If any of you know where we can get that ramp stowage hanger system, please let me know.

Kevin, I can't help with the ramp storage system, but should you desire the stationary winch assembly, I have a NOS unit here in a wooden crate that has never been installed in an airplane. Offered as yours free-of-charge as a project donation to support your airplanes. We just need to figure a way to move it from AZ to NJ without breaking the bank. Feel free to PM.

Cheers!

- Robert in PHX

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 736

exhaustgases wrote:

So is that C97 running and flying yet?

Its running and basically ready to go.

We're waiting on the FAA at the moment.

Soon, folks.. soon.

Robert, I will take that into consideration on the winch.

KK

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 736

exhaustgases wrote:

So is that C97 running and flying yet?

Yes.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7578

Reloaded thru Flickr.

M

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Unloading a Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter ...

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