Category Archives: Technology

TaCaMO: E-6B Mercury

Video March 28, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“This plane was built for the Cold War. It serves as the link between the national decision makers and the nuclear triad.”-Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Penington, Task Force 124, July 2007

U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.

U.S. Navy E-6B from Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, flies over Colorado, 23AUG2019.

U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.

The E-6B has a greatly strengthened airframe/wings/landing gear compared to its E-6A incarnation, due to greater weight caused by lots of electronic gear and extra fuel capacity. By 2003, the entire E-6A fleet was converted to B standard.

U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 23AUG2019.

E-6B Mercury refuels from a KC-135. The KC-135 and E-6B are not the same type of aircraft. The E-6B is based on the Boeing 707, the KC-135 is not. While the KC-135 is based on the same prototype-predecessor it was developed independently from the 707, and airframe parts are not interchangeable.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.

E-6B Mercury, assigned to Strategic Communications Wing 1 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, taxis on the flightline of Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 15JUL2019.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.

Notice what looks like a drogue type refueling system at the tail-end of the plane, it is reportedly a type of VLF antenna that’s five miles (8km) long when fully reeled out!

U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger, 03OCT2017.

Panel removal from E-6B Mercury engine nacelle, 03OCT2017, Offutt AFB. The U.S. Navy (USN) has its own maintenance unit on Offutt AFB, for the purpose of maintaining aircraft used in Airborne Command Post (AbnCP, aka Looking Glass), and Take Charge and Move Out (TaCaMO) missions.

U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger, 02OCT2017.

A worn out E-6B Mercury training aircraft on Offutt AFB, under USN guard, while waiting for turn-around inspection, 02OCT2017.

USAF photo by Josh Plueger.

USN E-6B Mercury takes flight from the USAF base of Offutt, Nebraska, 28AUG2015.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.

In 2007, E-6Bs with Task Force 124 were also serving as airborne radio relay stations over Iraq: “Our role here is basically as a convoy relay. When the convoys are moving and they can’t get a hold of someone to report something or even perform a radio check, they can contact us. Because we’re so high in the air we have a greater line of sight and therefore can communicate with all convoys and reporting authorities.”-Lieutenant Junior Grade Amy Simek, TF-124 battle staff mission commander

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob Skovo.

USN photo, November 1984.

Take Charge and Move Out (TaCaMO) operations began in early 1960s, using EC-130s, for the purpose of directing nuclear ballistic missile launches from submarines.

E-6A, Boeing photo, June 1987.

E-6As took over from EC-130s starting at the end of 1989. The USN E-6B is capable of launching U.S. land based intercontinental ballistic missiles, and was actually developed to replace the USAF’s EC-135 Airborne Command Post (AbnCP, aka Looking Glass) aircraft.

E-6Bs launched into their new job, replacing EC-135s, in Autumn 1998.

Official video explainer, E-6B crew controls missile launch from Vandenberg AFB, April 2017:

E-6B cockpit simulator.

EC-135E: 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN!

KC-135: The Last ISO for the 916TH

BATS & BEARS, OH MY!

Technology

Technology Fail? USAF uses WW2 aircraft to develop modern Drone tech!

Image March 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

USAF photo.

In reality ‘drone’ technology is not new, it can be traced back to before the Second World War. So it’s not really a surprise to learn that the U.S. Air Force used a WW2 C-47/DC-3 Skytrain/Dakota to test the latest stuff for its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle.

U.S. Air Force photo by David Dixon.

It is known as the Mini-AgilePod, the Air Force Research Laboratory began aerial testing using a DC-3 (silly-vilian version of the C-47), in Ohio, in 2017.

USAF photo by David Dixon.

USAF photo by David Dixon.

USAF photo.

The AgilePod is an Air Force-trademarked, multi-intelligence reconfigurable pod that enables flight-line operators to customize sensor packages based on specific mission needs.

USAF photo by David Dixon.

It was also tested on the Textron Aviation Defense’s Scorpion Light Attack/ISR jet, at the end of 2017.

USAF photo by David Dixon.

USAF photo by David Dixon.

USAF photo.

This is the larger prototype AgilePod, seen in 2016. In 2018, a report stated that testing for the Mini AgilePod would be done over two years. By the end of 2020, reports indicated that the AgilePod was being used to test electronic systems for other countries. So far there is nothing indicating that it has been accepted for regular use with the U.S. military.

The Airborne Imaging DC-3 used in the AgilePod testing is based out of Mid-Way Regional Airport in Midlothian, Texas. The contractor operates several DC-3s, used in USAF testing of things like sensor pods and new styles of bomb racks. An Airborne Imaging DC-3 is scheduled to make an appearance at the July 2021 Dayton Air show in Ohio.

Hurricane Harvey, 2017: WW2 C-47 used to deliver food aid to Texans

Technology

Vehicle I-D: C-54 Skymaster, an airborne Willy Wonka?

Video March 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

The C-54 was the militarized version of the DC-4 airliner, developed during the Second World War.

Photo via Tinker Air Force Base History Office.

C-54s at the Douglas factory in Oklahoma, sometime in the 1940s.

Notice, three and four bladed propellers. Photo via Tinker Air Force Base History Office.

U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox.

C-54E flying museum on Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 08JUN2012.

USAF photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox, 08JUN2012.

C-54 Flight Chief Timothy Chopp, poses with children from a local school. The flying museum reminds people of one of the first incidents of the undeclared Cold War; The Berlin Airlift. It was probably the first time military air transports were used in a massive humanitarian relief effort.

Video, C-54 over air show in Michigan, 2014:

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Chad Thompson, 09SEP2016.

Spirit of Freedom sits on the tarmac at the Great Falls International Airport, Montana, 09SEP2016.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Chad Thompson, 09SEP2016.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Joe McFadden, 22NOV2016.

The man responsible for the Berlin Airlift’s unofficial ‘Candy Bomber’ operation (which became part of the larger official Operation Vittles food supply mission); retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Gail Halvorsen at the Berlin Airlift Memorial outside Frankfurt International Airport, Germany, 22NOV2016. It started innocently enough, simply handing out candy to German children watching USAF aircraft landing on the Western side (split in half due to political divisions between the victors of the Second World War) of the war ravaged city of Berlin. So many children started showing up for sugar food that Halvorsen started tossing the candy out his C-54 before he landed. Soon, fellow transport pilots began following his lead, and candy donation drives were held in the U.S. to help bomb the children of the West Berlin area with candy.

Official USAF video report:

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Hope Geiger.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster ‘Spirit of Freedom’ museum plane during the Toledo Air Show in Swanton, Ohio, 14JUL2019.

In 2020, the C-54E Spirit of Freedom (44-9144) was hit by a tornado: Spirit of Freedom suffers storm-related damage in South Carolina.

The C-54E Spirit of Freedom was replaced by a rebuilt C-54D (43-17228), which is currently operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation.

Vehicle I-D: (also used in the Berlin Airlift) C-47 DAKOTA/SKYTRAIN, DOUGLAS COMMERCIAL-3, R4D GOONIES!

Hurricane Harvey, 2017: WW2 C-47 used to deliver food aid to Texans

Technology

Vehicle I-D: The Spartan that refuses to die!

Video March 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Carolyn Herrick.

Two short lived C-27J Spartans sit mummified on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, 02JUN2016. Spartans were being interned at Davis-Monthan in 2013.

Video by Airman First Class Kelly Greenwell, Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMaRG) personnel mummifying an Ohio Air National Guard (ANG) C-27J with ‘spraylat’, 24OCT2013:

The Lockheed Martin-Leonardo Alenia Aermacchi (aka Leonardo Company) C-27J Spartan is a modernized version of the Aeritalia-Alenia Aeronautica G.222 (aka C-27A). The ‘J’ denotes that it uses the same engines and similar avionics as the C-130J Super Hercules. The concept for the C-27J was apparently suggested in 1997, the first flight of a C-27J was in September 1999. In June 2007, the U.S. Army (USA) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) decided to try the C-27J for their ‘Joint Cargo Aircraft’ operations. By 2009, the USA/Army National Guard Bureau decided they didn’t like the C-27J and gave their Spartans to the USAF/Air National Guard Bureau. The USA said their Chinook, and other utility helicopters, were much more cost effective at tactical transport, than the C-27J.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Jeffery Allen.

Ohio ANG C-27J loads-up in Qalat, Afghanistan, 15AUG2011.

By 2012, the USAF decided they didn’t like their Spartans either, because of operational costs. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) then decided to sell the C-27J to other countries, but Leonardo Company stated it would not provide maintenance support for those second-hand DoD aircraft because it conflicted with its own efforts to sell new-build C-27Js to new customers. In 2013, former USA/USAF C-27Js were being divided between U.S. Special Operations Command (AC-27J), U.S. Coast Guard (HC-27J), U.S. Forest Service (although the National Defense Acts of 2012 & 2013 approved the transfer of C-27Js to the USFS, apparently the USCG decided to swap some of its C-130s for the C-27Js meant for the USFS), and the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB. The decision to transfer or mothball C-27Js came the same year the DoD’s scandalously failed efforts to provide Afghanistan with former Italian air force (Aeronautica Militare) C-27As (G.222) were made public. In 2014, the USAF’s official Air Force Magazine blamed the whole Spartan affair on Congress: “The case serves, however, as an object lesson in the wasteful effects of sequestration and, broadly, America’s inability to create a long-term defense spending plan.”

Despite the publicity over the mishandling of the U.S. Spartan program, and mothballing of ANG aircraft, the C-27J is very much alive, in use with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOC).

U.S. Army video report about Operation Toy Drop, December 2015:

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant First Class Sean A. Foley.

Paratroopers jump from a perfectly good USSOC Spartan, over Fort Bragg in North Carolina, 26OCT2015.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Third Class Taylor Bacon.

USCG HC-27J delivering pandemic vaccines to San Diego, California, 09MAR2021.

The C-27J is also being used by at least a dozen countries.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Christopher Quail.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-27J leaves tiny Tinian, U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, during Cope North wargame, 19FEB2014.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Dana J. Butler.

Lietuvos Karinės oro pajėgos (Lithuanian Air Force) C-27J on Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, 01APR2014.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Damon Kasberg.

Bulgarian Air Force (Voennovazdushni sili, Военновъздушни сили) C-27J Spartan during NATO’s Steadfast Javelin-2 wargame, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 02SEP2014.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Joe W. McFadden.

Hellenic (Greek, Πολεμική Αεροπορία, Polemikí Aeroporía) War Aviation Spartan takes off from Souda Bay, Greece, 29JAN2015.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Nicole Sikorski.

Bulgar C-27J Spartan over Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 16JUL2015.

Photo via Leonardo Company.

C-27J of the Fuerza Aérea del Perú.

RAAF video of dirt strip landing, May 2018:

USA photo by Sergeant First Class John Etheridge.

RAAF C-27J during Talisman Saber wargame, 17JUL2019.

USA photo by Private First Class Andrew Webbbuffington.

U.S. paratroopers jumping from a perfectly good Italian Aeronautica Militare C-27J, 25JUL2019.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield.

Forțele Aeriene Române (Romanian Air Force) Spartan during Carpathian Summer wargame, 31JUL2019.

Mexican Army & Air forces (ejército y FAM) video of C-27J (as well as C-295) loading-up with aid for flooded cities in the state of Tabasco, November 2020:

November 2020 promotional video by Leonardo Company:

October 2020: HOW TO MUMMIFY YOUR KC-10, OR, LAST FLIGHT OF 86-0036

Vehicle I-D: HOW THE HIND RETURNED TO AFGHANISTAN, AND WHY IT WON’T DIE

Technology

Vehicle I-D: C2 MEXAS Armor (I mean, Armour?) Afghanistan

Image March 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

The C2 reportedly combines a C1 (Leopard 1A3) hull with Leopard 1A5 turret, then up-armouring with German designed Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS, by IBD Deisenroth Engineering, which was taken over by Rheinmetall in 2019. IBD Deisenroth ceased MEXAS production in 2006 in favor of AMAP.).

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lance Wade.

This is a Leo C2 sans MEXAS during a wargame called Maple Guardian, on the U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin in California, January 2010.

Apparently some C2s operate without the MEXAS, and some C1s operate with MEXAS, to confuse things more the C1 and C2 Leopards look almost identical with or without the MEXAS.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Simon Duchesne.

25OCT2007, Zharey, Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Kevin Paul.

28JUN2007, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ma’Sum Ghar (MSG), Afghanistan. C2 MEXAS is equipped with heat shield blankets, in an attempt to keep the crew compartments cooler.

Canadian Forces photo by Lieutenant Commander Kent Penney.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 (Leopard Mark 1 C2) MEXAS crossing a stream somewhere in Afghanistan, during the 2nd Operation Athena (2005-2011), 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 pile-on, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan, 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

28DEC2006, mine plow C2 MEXAS patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA, 28DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Canadian Forces photo by Captain Edward Stewart.

Leopard C2 ‘blade tank’, FOB MSG in Afghanistan, 17DEC2006.

Canada Forces photo by Master Corporal Yves Gemus.

A pride of Canadian Leopard C2 tanks on FOB MSG near the town of Bazaar-e-Panjwayi, Afghanistan, 10DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Roxanne Clowe.

C2 MEXAS, Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, 06NOV2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

German built, Canadian modified, Leopard C2 MEXAS tank from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), Afghanistan, 24OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Mitch Gettle.

Canadian C2 MEXAS being loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, for deployment to Afghanistan, 07OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal David Cribb.

The beginning of the end for the Leo Mark-1 C2 MEXAS as ‘loaned’ German 2A6 Leos, newly modified to Canada’s ‘M’ standard, began arriving in 2008. Canadian Forces were in the middle of their 2nd Operation Athena deployment (2005-2011) to Afghanistan. It should be noted that the ‘loaned’ German 2A6s were ‘at no cost’, and were eventually returned to Germany with their M upgrades (some reports say Canada kept the German 2A6Ms and returned to Germany 2A6s purchased second-hand from Netherlands).

After only a couple of years of operations in Afghanistan, the C2 was deemed to be not only inadequate in dealing with the type of low-intensity ambush style of warfare, but also hot/dry climates. In 2007, Canadian Forces decided to replace their C2 MEXAS with Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 modified to M standards (‘M’ primarily for ‘mine resistant’, but many other modifications were made, Canadian Army does not use the CAN designation as seen on model kits or non-Canadian sources of information, it’s simply 2A4M or 2A6M).

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal James Nightingale.

Leo 2A6M, Zharey District, Afghanistan, November 2008. The SAAB designed camo netting is primarily a thermal blanket, and the Leo 2A6M has air conditioning (not initially, but reports say that finally air conditioners were installed).

Canada also purchased second hand Leo 2A4s and 2A6s from Netherlands and Switzerland, to be modified to M standards or converted to recovery vehicles.

Vehicle I-D: IRAQI GREYHOUND السلوقي العراقي

Vehicle I-D: SHIELD OF THE UAE درع الامارات العربية المتحدة

M777: PROOF THE UNITED STATES IS THE TOOL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE! (It’s also used by Canada)

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Canuck’s Colorful Cormorant

Video March 23, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Photo by Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region.

In the land of the Canucks, a colorful Cormorant with rotary wings has refused to fly south for the Winter, and was recently seen flying the skies over Newfoundland and Labrador.

Photo by Can-NorAD-R.

The Canuck’s have ‘kawai’ Unimogs.

The CH-149 Cormorant is Canada’s nomenclature for the AgustaWestland AW101 (formerly EH101), it is the Search and Rescue (SaR) version of Canada’s CH-148. In the United Kingdom the AW101 is known as the Merlin. Canada is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is lead by Queen Elizabeth the Second of United Kingdom, but apparently tried to show some independence by calling its AW101 ‘CH-149 Cormorant’.

Photo by Can-NorAD-R.

The photos you see were taken on Canadian Force Base (CFB) Goose Bay, 18MAR2021, prepping for NorAD’s (North American Aerospace Defense Command) wargame called Amalgam Dart.

Don’t you know smoking is bad for you?

Photo by Can-NorAD-R.

On way to Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, first stop Iqaluit.

Photo by Can-NorAD-R.

A stop-over in Iqaluit (Place of many Fish), while enroute to CFS Alert.

Photo by Can-NorAD-R.

Back on way to CFS Alert.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Gary Clavé.

Thule Air Base, Greenland, 20MAR2021.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Levi Read.

Patient transfer between U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force, Neah Bay, Washington, 28APR2019.

USCG photo.

Rescue training in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington, 03OCT2018.

June 2017: Don’t ‘crosstell’ but a Red Coat Canadian is in charge of U.S. air defense (or should I spell it defence?)!

May 2017: MARYLAND MILITIA SPENDS MEMORIAL WEEKEND RESCUING PILOTS IN CANADA!

Canadian Forces video by Corporal Mathieu Gaudreault, CH-149 Exercise Vigilant Shield, October 2015:

U.S. Air Force photo.

U.S. Air Force pararescue personnel train with Royal Canadian Cormorant on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 24AUG2015.

Canadian Forces video by Master Corporal Chelsey Hutson, CH-149 Operation Nunalivut, April 2015:

USCG photo by Petty Officer Third Class Nate Littlejohn.

Taking part in U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Helicopter Rescue School training near Cape Disappointment, Washington, 26JAN2012.

USCG photo by Petty Officer Third Class James Rhodes.

Rescue training with U.S. Coast Guard off Boston, Massachusetts, 11SEP2009.

Technology

Final Flight: OH-58D Kiowa Warriors

Video March 23, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Video by Sergeant Chloe Barns, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division’s OH-58D final flight, Afghanistan, 22NOV2014:

Video report of last flight of OH-58D over Hawaii, January 2015:

By the end of November 2015, the Tennessee Army National Guard became the last state militia to operate the OH-58D, sending 30 Kiowa Warriors to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona: “We don’t have to do anything when we drop them off. It’s their helicopter. They shake our hand, say thank you, and we walk away from it. It’s a different feeling, kind of painful, knowing we have flown all of these aircraft in different countries and now see them being torn down for storage. It hurts a little bit.”-Chief Warrant Officer 3 Peter Neveu

U.S. Army photo by Captain Joe Bush. Over Fort Polk, Louisiana, 2015.

2016 was a bad year for the U.S. Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, it was retired en masse. Kiowa Warriors based across the United States were ordered decommissioned by December 2016.

By January 2016, already more than 140 Kiowas had been interned at Davis-Monthan AFB.

The ‘D’ version of the Kiowa was being replaced with a recon version of the AH-64 Apache: “Reconnaissance is a mission, not an airframe. Making the transition with the Kiowa pilots will cross-pollinate the recon mindset to Apache.”-Major Adam Camarano, November 2015

Department of Defense photo by Kenneth Kassens.

In April 2016, the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division made a dramatic en masse last flight over Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher Freeman.

32 OH-58D Kiowa Warriors took part in the massive final flight.

USA photo by Sergeant Daniel Schroeder.

Video by Staff Sergeant David Birchfield, of what is claimed to be a Guinness world record for the largest formation of helicopters:

DoD photo by Kenneth Kassens.

Video, by Staff Sergeant David Birchfield, of what a Guinness world record for the largest formation of helicopters sounds like from the ground:

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher Freeman.

This is what happens when a helicopter passes through the ceremonial water salute by air base fire trucks.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher Freeman.

A true rotor wash.

USA photo by Sergeant Neil A. Stanfield.

USA photo by Captain Adan Cazarez.

Two autographed final flight T-shirts were given to staff a Fork Polk’s elementary school, Kimberly Hampton Primary School.

USA photo by Sergeant Jesse Smith. Rodriguez Live Fire Range in Korea (South), June 2015.

2017 was the year OH-58Ds were retired from U.S. Army operations in Republic of Korea (South), when the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry(cav-all-ry) Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division completed its rotation and was ‘re-deployed’ elsewhere.

July 2020: FINAL FLIGHT OF THE FORT POLK OH-58C KIOWAS

Final Flight: ANOTHER B-1B ‘BONE’ SENT TO THE BONEYARD! IS THE END NEAR?

Technology

Vehicle I-D: CH-53K King Stallion update

Video March 20, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Yuritzy Gomez.

Video by Lance Corporal Elias E. Pimentel the Third, CH-53K crew shows off for some Commandant of the Marine Corps guy during his visit to Camp Davis, North Carolina, 17MAR2021:

USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.

Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, flies a CH-53K simulator aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in North Carolina, 17MAR2021, prior to taking a ride in the real thing over Marine Corps Outlying Field (MCOF) Camp Davis.

USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.

USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.

The 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, and 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Troy E. Black, ride in a CH-53K with VMX-1 Commanding Officer Col Byron D. Sullivan, flying over MCAS New River-MCOF Camp Davis, 17MAR2021.

USMC photo by Corporal Damaris Arias.

Heavy lift testing at MCOF Camp Davis, 03FEB2021. In the photo the King Stallion is lifting a 4-thousand pound (1814 Kg) block of concrete.

USMC photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher O’Quin.

On 15JAN2021, King Stallion made its first flight from MCAS New River after having been solely maintained and brought to readiness by U.S. Marine personnel.

Video by Lance Corporal Chelsi Woodman, 100% USMC personnel CH-53K flight prep and hover over MCAS New River, 15JAN2021:

U.S. Navy photo.

KC-130J refuels the CH-53K during ‘refueling wake testing’, 06APR2020.

Silent U.S. Navy video of refueling tests over the Chesapeake Bay, 06APR2020:

USN photo.

CH-53K ‘justification’ video from 2019:

Vehicle I-D, 2018: THE NEW CH-53K KING STALLION

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Iraqi Greyhound السلوقي العراقي

Image March 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Photo by Captain Bill Hinman.

The above photo was reportedly taken in April 2005, at a former Iraqi Republican Guard base called Taji.

U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

However, in 2008 personnel with the Combat Repair Team, Bravo Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, claimed they ‘found’ the old M8 Greyhound armored car in the Camp Taji ‘boneyard’.

USA photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

There were reports that ‘higher-ups’ of the 225th Brigade Support Battalion were trying to find a way to justify bringing the old World War Two survivor back to Schofield Barracks, in Hawaii. There were even local newspaper articles about it.

USA photo by Private First Class Lyndsey Prax.

So far, I have found nothing indicating that the Iraqi M8 ever got to Hawaii. I’ve read an armor registry forum which stated there was an M8 on display in Hawaii, but nobody has posted any photos of it. Schofield Barracks has the Tropic Lighting Museum, but among all the photos of the museum displays there is no M8.

I have found a website called Paratrooper Research Team, which has photos, via Christopher Carney, of a black painted M8 Greyhound on Camp Taji, and going by the dented stowage rack in between the front and rear fenders, I think its the same M8 in the above photos.

USA photo by Pierre-Etienne Courtejoie.

There were so many M8 Greyhounds produced that you can find many working examples taking part in World War Two reenactments.

USA photo by Pascal Demeuldre.

This M8 was taking part in the 2014 reenactment of the Battle of the Bulge, in Belgium.

In the 1980s, Brazil built a new version of the M8, called the EE-9 Cascavel, and yes Iraq bought it.

This is an Iraqi EE-9 Cascavel, destroyed during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm.

The above photo purports to show 35 operational Iraqi EE-9s, as of 2008.

Vehicle I-D:

IRAQI HUEY

IRAQI ARMOR, AFTER THE INVASION

My grandfather, O.G. Hutchins, on his newly arrived USMC Sherman, sometime before shipping out against the Japanese.

M4 SHERMAN

Kit Bashing, Technology

Bare Metal Bombers: Wise Guy Resurrection

Video March 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Kelly White.

Isn’t it interesting that as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) retires its B-1B bombers (in favor of the new B-21) that the USAF also keeps resurrecting its old B-52s?

U.S. Air Force photo by Kelly White.

In 2020, Wise Guy #6-0034 got resurrected by maintainers on Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma. It’s the second B-52H, that had been mummified on Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, to be resurrected.

USAF photo by Kelly White.

Wise Guy arrived on Tinker AFB on 01APR2020. The work done at Tinker is actually the final phase of a three phase regeneration process to bring Wise Guy back to life: “From Tinker, we had representatives from Air Force Life Cycle Management Logistics and Engineering, American Federation of Government Employees Local 916, Quality and the 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The team integrated the additional Time Compliance Technical Orders and modifications with PDM [Programed Depot Maintenance] to optimize the schedule. The additional work is approximately 10-thousand man hours.”-Jeff Base, 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

USAF photo by Kelly White.

Wise Guy was retired after more than 17-thousand flight hours. The decision to resurrect Wise Guy came in 2016, after a fire destroyed an active duty B-52 (from Minot AFB, North Dakota) on Anderson AFB, Guam.

USAF photo by Kelly White.

Due to a Congressional mandate to maintain a specific number of active B-52s, the USAF decided to replace the B-52 destroyed in a fire, with the mummified Wise Guy.

Music video by Senior Airman Kayla Palmer:

Inspections of Wise Guy began on Davis-Monthan AFB, in December 2018, with the official phase one regeneration process beginning in January 2019: “We brought in aircraft structural specialists and crew chiefs who performed the initial aircraft structural integrity inspections and then transitioned into providing structural support.“-David Strawderman, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Ted Daigle.

Amazingly, Wise Guy was worthy enough to fly, low & slow, to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, for phase two in May 2019: “It is a true testament to everyone who worked on the aircraft. To be able to pull it from storage and get it air-worthy in this short time is nothing short of amazing. True professionals from across the B-52 enterprise made this effort a success.”-David Strawderman, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Ted Daigle.

Video by Airman Maxwell Daigle, zombified Wise Guy arrives on Barksdale AFB:

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Ted Daigle.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Ted Daigle.

A note found inside the cockpit of Wise Guy, after arrival at Barksdale AFB.

USAF photo by Ron Mullan.

Back on Tinker AFB, phase three was rolling along in November 2020.

USAF photo by Ron Mullan.

Wise Guy had sat, exposed to the elements of the Arizona desert, for ten years.

USAF photo by Ron Mullan.

While the resurrection work was plodding along on Wise Guy, right next door another resurrected B-52H known as Ghost Rider 6-1007 just happened to be undergoing a regular PDM. Coincidence? Ghost Rider was fully resurrected by September 2016.