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C-124 Supply Missions in Support of Operation PBSuccess 1954

Wed Sep 04, 2013 11:18 pm

Operation PBSuccess was the 1954 CIA-backed 'invasion' of Guatemala. Available records indicate that MATS units, flying C-124s only recently absorbed into the inventory, flew vital supply missions to a location in the Panama Canal Zone - possibly Howard Air Force Base. I'd like to contact anyone who might have any knowledge of these operations

Re: C-124 Supply Missions in Support of Operation PBSuccess

Thu Sep 05, 2013 12:31 am

To the best of my knowledge, Howard was the only USAF base in the Canal Zone and possibly the only military field capable of handling a 124.
It depends on how secret the mission was to the extent on where the Globemasters landed. C-124s were only operated by the USAF, whereas smaller aircraft (C-46s/C-47s) of course had a variety of operators and could be a lot more discreet.

Re: C-124 Supply Missions in Support of Operation PBSuccess

Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:36 am

Many thanks for the input. Actually, Albrook was still open at that time (I have a photo showing a large number of C-133s on the field!) and New France Field was long enough to take C-124s. Howard seems like the logical site, but we would sure like to know for certain. It is known that New France Field was used for a number of semi-clandestine operations, as it was more-or-less 'out of sight'
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