Tennessee Air National Guard

[B757flyer]

Pardon me if this isn't an appropriate post for the forum... I am working on artwork for decals for the various aircraft of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Thus far, I have completed the current AMC markings for the C-130s of the 118th AW out of Nashville, and the C-5As of the 164th AW out of Memphis:

http://www.drawdecal.com/c130/44s_C130_3tnang.jpg
http://www.drawdecal.com/c5/44sC53.jpg

I would like to turn my focus to the older aircraft (and more appropriate ones for this forum). Does anyone have, or know where I might find good color photo references for any of the following aircraft operated by the Tennessee ANG?

F-47D/N, (R)F-51D, F-82, RB-26C (A-26), RF-80C, RF-84F, F-86D/L, F-102A, and C-97A/G (transport version)

I have found at least a few photos of most, but haven't been able to turn up anything for the F-82s or F-102As. I have both Francillon Air Guard books (Aerofax and Airtime), and the Ginter F-86 book. Any help or guidance anyone can provide would be most appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Mike

[JBoyle]

There is just one 1964 photo of a Knoxville 102 in the book "Convair F-102 Delta Dagger" by Wayne Mutza...Schiffer, 1999.

It just shows a gray 102 (57-0775) in standard markings, with the Minuteman ball logo on the tail. The only unit markings is "Tenessee" in small letters above it.

[B757flyer]

Thanks for the heads up on the photo in the Mutza book. Will have to see about getting a copy....

Mike

[viking73]

Didn't they also fly the F-104A? I'm sure I've seen a b&w photo of the Starfighter in Tennessee ANG service, not sure about any color photos though...

-Derek

[hercules130]

Mike if you are doing current Tenn ANG, 118 lost its H2s, which those decals were tail #s for.

[B757flyer]

Derek,

Yes, the 151st/134th did operate F-104As. In fact, they deployed with them to Ramstein in 1961 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the Starfighters, they transitioned to the F-102A in early 1963. They achieved combat readiness in a then-record 6 months. The -102s lasted only about a year before they switched to KC-97s in 1964...

Hercules130,

The 105th/118th did lose some of the H2s, but the last info and photos I have seen show them still operating at least 4 of them alongside the WC-130s they inherited for the Foreign Aircrew Training mission they now have. The decal art was done over a year and a half ago, but should include enough extra numbers to do the "new" WC- aircraft, along with the H2s. I will eventually rework the set to show a WC- illustration when I have the time...

Regards,
Mike

[hercules130]

Forgot about TennANG picking up FAT. So they operate Super E's (former WCs) and the remaining H2, fun! Can you say which tails and how many H2s are still left. I was under the impression that 105Xs all went to 1/16 SOW CLR and the remainders went to coop at Pope/Wyoming. Do you have the real scoop on this, would love to read it?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[DaveG]

I have no idea how accurate this paint scheme is, but I took this picture about 10 years ago on base at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base during an open house/air show. This F-86 had been on display in a park in Knoxville for many years and then was moved, given a cosmetic restoration, and is currently displayed in a non-public part of the base.



it's also shown here: http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... Serial=869

Here's a shot of the -104:



and shown here: http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... Serial=870

I have a buddy who's grandfather was a -104 pilot here and recently passed away. I hope to someday scan some of the pictures from his unit that he had.

[B757flyer]

Thanks for posting the photos of the aircraft displayed at McGhee-Tyson. Unfortunately, those are not the markings the aircraft wore during their service lives with the unit.

The F-86D/Ls wore this scheme:

http://www.134arw.ang.af.mil/shared/med ... 24-013.jpg

The F-104As were bare metal:

http://www.134arw.ang.af.mil/shared/med ... 24-012.JPG

Mike

[B757flyer]

Gary,

I don't have any real inside scoop on the disposition of the C-130s. What I have been able to piece together has come from researching online photos and the HerkyBirds forum. As of late last year (After the WC-130s showed up), it appears that the 105th is operating 5 of their original C-130H2s: 89-1181, 1182, 1183, 1184, and 1185. I have only been able to find 6 WC-130s: 64-14861, 65-0963, 0966, 0968, 0980, and 0984. That makes 11 airplanes, and I am pretty sure they are authorized for 12, so I am not sure where the missing one is, or whether it is a WC- or one of the H2s.

Hope this helps,
Mike