Status of F-4D 66-7554 at NMUSAF

[Steve Nelson]

I think it was in the late '70s that Air Classics had an article entitled "the last flight of the B-47" about a ferry flight to a museum. I'm not sure which museum, but back in the mid-80s the museum in Pueblo, CO had a B-47 with crudely painted N-number on it, so it may have been that bird.

And you're right..it would be fantastic to see one of those sexy beasts in the air!

SN

[N3Njeff]

I think it was in the late '70s that Air Classics had an article entitled "the last flight of the B-47" about a ferry flight to a museum. I'm not sure which museum, but back in the mid-80s the museum in Pueblo, CO had a B-47 with crudely painted N-number on it, so it may have been that bird.

And you're right..it would be fantastic to see one of those sexy beasts in the air!

SN

I believe they went to Castle AFB.
Story goes with this......when I was working for CommutAir. I was talking to one of our SR pilots during the company summer party. Dale was retired USAF and I was talking to him and I asked him what he flew during his career. He mentioned B-47s and so we were chatting about it and I brought up that EXACT article I remember as a kid. He replies back, "yea I know about that.......I was in the back seat" So he got to chatting about the short flight. He was at that time, one of the last pilots Qualified on the B-47 and still active service. He stated that right after take off they started having problems. One of them being a hydraulic pump failure. He told me that he wondered if they would ever make it as the airplane seemed to be comming apart. They mannaged to complete the flight and get it to the museum.

[Shay]

More of 554. So the 2nd kill was invalidated after the event? How does that happen?



























Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

[AFML]

GREAT pics!
Thanks Shay!

[Steve Nelson]

I believe they went to Castle AFB.

I thought it was either Castle or Pueblo, but wasn't sure which. I remember that the flight was problematic. I think they left the gear down the whole way.

SN

[N3Njeff]

I believe they went to Castle AFB.

I thought it was either Castle or Pueblo, but wasn't sure which. I remember that the flight was problematic. I think they left the gear down the whole way.

SN

Yes gear was pinned.

[Clifford Bossie]

I believe they went to Castle AFB.

I thought it was either Castle or Pueblo, but wasn't sure which. I remember that the flight was problematic. I think they left the gear down the whole way.

SN

The B-47E at Castle (52-0166) was indeed the last B-47 flight. It was flown from China lake to Castle on June 16, 1986 The one at Pueblo (53-2104) was flown from MASDC to Pueblo about 1979. Prior to storage at MASDC it had been operated by the USN for various tests.

[thecolonelsdaughter]

hi. i am kathy howerton magee. i am rex d. howerton's daughter. it has been interesting and wonderful to read about and see photos of my dad. if i can be of any help, please let me know.
thecolonelsdaughter@mac.com

[N3Njeff]

hi. i am kathy howerton magee. i am rex d. howerton's daughter. it has been interesting and wonderful to read about and see photos of my dad. if i can be of any help, please let me know.
thecolonelsdaughter@mac.com

Let me be the first to welcome you to WIX!!

[thecolonelsdaughter]

thank you!

[mustangdriver]

Yes! Welcome to WIX. It is always great to hear from the Veterans and their families.

[warbird1]

Yes, welcome colonel's daughter, we're glad to have you join us. We would love to see some pictures or perhaps stories from your father regarding this aircraft. All of us here on this board thank your father and others for what they did for our nation during the war.

[eallen]

The NMUSAF lists the F-4D 66-7554 as being in storage.
Could this pic perhaps be the aircraft in question??
Taken in the Restoration Hanger last Friday.

wow...things change fast around the air force museum! i was there last friday and sunday...(rock and roll and football hall of fame on sat). there was another F-4 out there by the restoration hangers besides the camo F-4. i ended up getting a last minute spot on the restoration hanger tour...nice bonus! our guide told us that the mig-25 (in this picture) was one that was buried in the desert...where its wings are still...the guide and staff believe. the vertical stabilizers were torched off so that the plane could fit underneath an overpass. i remember hearing about that story and i believe there were others buried too?

the story about the 2 migs is about the museums current mig-21 and the mig-21 in the restoration hanger...per the guide one is an actual vietnamese mig and will eventually be restored and brought inside. then the current mig-21 on display is not a vietnamese aircraft and will be offered out for trade to try and get something else desirable.

saw both P-82s...and a real nice display on the air force PJs...among many many other great things! and of course this tourist from california forgot a camera...so a few cell phone pix...and good memories...as most state here 2-3 days minimum...

[warbird1]

The NMUSAF lists the F-4D 66-7554 as being in storage.
Could this pic perhaps be the aircraft in question??
Taken in the Restoration Hanger last Friday.

wow...things change fast around the air force museum! i was there last friday and sunday...(rock and roll and football hall of fame on sat). there was another F-4 out there by the restoration hangers besides the camo F-4. i ended up getting a last minute spot on the restoration hanger tour...nice bonus! our guide told us that the mig-25 (in this picture) was one that was buried in the desert...where its wings are still...the guide and staff believe. the vertical stabilizers were torched off so that the plane could fit underneath an overpass. i remember hearing about that story and i believe there were others buried too?

That's actually not a Mig-25. Look at the intake and splitter plate. That is either a Mig-23 or Mig-27, I can't tell which. Also, you will notice that it still has the Soviet star on the tail, and the vertical stabilizers are not torched off as well. Close, by no cigar!

Here is a Mig-25. Notice the difference in the intake:


Here is the Mig-25 that was recovered from Iraq. Notice the Mig-25 has two rudders/vertical stabs, whereas the Mig-23/27 referenced above has one:

[eallen]

very sorry! forgive me! i just spent 20 or so minutes looking at pix on the museum restoration site...and have discovered the errors of my ways! you are correct that is not a mig-25 but rather a mig-23.

about 10 feet away is what i refered to in my message...the mig-25 with the missing wings that matches your info/pix. i actually saw the areas where the verticals were torched off...and somewhat repaired/fixed/put back in place by the museum restoration staff. i believe i remember our guide telling us the restoration staff is hoping the wings would show up someday when they were uncovered...presumably in the same area of the desert and they could make a complete restoration. the story made sense to me since i vaguely remember the pics/story from when the plane was found.

i do believe that the info/story on the mig-21 swap is accurate...restoring the actual vietnamese aircraft and then exchanging it with the other that is currently on display that is not a vietnamese aircraft. if this is not true i am fying back to ohio tomorrow and will post up outside in protest of bad info being handed out...

sorry...still no pics....i really blew it! maybe next time...