Warplanes of the USA: Alaska, Historic Photos
Historic photos of Alaska Warplanes
(Tech Sgt Keith Brown, USAF Photo)
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (Serial No. 90169), "Spirit of Denali", 517th Airlift Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard.
(USAF Photo)
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
Two USAF Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors fly behind a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during Red Flag-Alaska 13-3 over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex 14 Aug 2013. Red Flag-Alaska is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, providing combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.
(DoD photo by John Pennell, U.S. Army)
A U.S. Army Alaska Aviation Task Force CH-47 Chinook helicopter flies along the Alaska Range on its way to Kahiltna Glacier, Alaska, on 20 May 2013. A team of eight soldiers and one Army civilian from Fort Wainwright are being transported to the National Park Service base camp on the glacier to begin their attempt to climb North America's tallest peak Mount McKinley. The team members are representatives of U.S. Army Alaska's Northern Warfare Training Center and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. The Chinook is attached to B Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment.
(Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton, USAF Photo)
Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter being air-to-air refueled, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard.
(Senior Airman Garrett Hothan, USAF Photo)
Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
(Author Photo)
Yukla 27 Memorial, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
On 22 September 1995, the United States Air Force and the Canadian Forces lost 24 of their finest people with the catastrophic accident of a Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. This aircraft was better known within the Elmendorf and Anchorage communities by its call sign “Yukla 27”. The aircraft crashed soon after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. It was the first crash of an American E-3. The aircraft went down at about 07:45 a.m. in a heavily wooded area about two miles northeast of the runway. The AWACs was headed out on a seven-hour surveillance training mission.
An Air Force investigating officer from Headquarters Pacific Air Forces determined the crash resulted from the aircrafts two left wing engines ingesting several Canada geese. According to the accident investigator, engine number two lost all power and engine number one experienced severe damage after ingesting the geese shortly after takeoff. The resulting loss of thrust rendered the Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft uncontrollable. After a slow, left climbing turn, the aircraft pitched downward and crashed. Human error on the part of the crew was not a factor.
The memorial, partially pictured above, was dedicated in September 1996 to honour the professionalism and dignity of the 24 crew members of Yukla 27, each of whom is remembered here.
Richard G. Leary, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Navigator.
Richard P. Stewart II, Major, USAF, Mission Crew Commander.
Marlon R. Thomas, Major, USAF, Mission Crew Commander.
Steve Tuttle, Major, USAF, Airborne Surveillance Officer.
Glen “Skip” Rogers, Captain, USAF, Pilot.
Robert John Long, Captain, USAF, Senior Director.
Bradley W. Paakola, Captain, USAF, Pilot.
Carlos Alberto Arriaga, First Lieutenant, USAF, Weapons Director.
Stephen C. O’Connel, Master Sergeant, USAF, Advanced Air Surveillance Technician.
Bart L. Holmes, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Flight Engineer.
Ernest R. Parrish, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Area Specialist.
Dave Pitcher, Sergeant, Canadian Forces.
Charles D. Sweet Jr., Technical Sergeant, USAF, Airborne Radar Technician.
Brian K. Vanleer, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Advanced Air Surveillance Technician.
Mark Alan Bramer, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Flight Engineer.
Timothy B. Thomas, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Computer Display Maintenance Technician.
Mark A. Collins, Technical Sergeant, USAF, Communications Systems Operator.
J.P. Legault, Master Corporal, Canadian Forces.
Scott A. Bresson, Staff Sergeant, USAF, Airborne Radar Technician.
Raymond O. Spencer Jr., Staff Sergeant, USAF, Airborne Surveillance Technician.
Joshua N. Weter, Senior Airman, USAF, Computer Display Maintenance Technician.
Lawrence E. DeFrancesco, Senior Airman, USAF, Communications Systems Operator.
Darien F. Watson, Airman, USAF, Airborne Surveillance Technician.
Jeshua C. Smith, Airman, USAF, Airborne Surveillance Technician.
(USAF Photo)
North American P-82H Twin Mustang (Serial No. 46-500), Ladd AFB, Alaska, 1951.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H Mustang (Serial No. 44-64461), "Ah'm Available", 5017th Operations Squadron, Alaskan Air Command, ca 1948.
(US Navy Photo)
Lockheed P2V-5 Neptunes of Patrol Squadron VP-6 "Blue Sharks" at Naval Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, 1954.
(USN, NMNA Photo)
A U.S. Navy Martin P5M-2 Marlin (BuNo. 135534) from Patrol Squadron VP-47 being hoisted aboard the seaplane tender USS Currituck (AV-7). VP-31 was deployed to Kodiak, Alaska, from 27 May to 30 September 1962.
(USAF Photo)
Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1281), 31st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Alaska, 1965.
(Norman Taylor, USAF Photo)
McDonnell RF-101H Voodoo from the 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Kentucky Air National Guard, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 26 August 1968. The 165th TRS was one of eleven Air Guard units called to active duty in January 1968 following the "Pueblo-Crisis". Combined with the 154th (AR) and 192nd (NV) TRS to form the 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, each squadron worked on a rotation basis spending three months each at Itazuke Air Base (Japan), at Elmendorf Air Force Base, and patrolling around the entrance of the Panama Canal while stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama. At the end of a 90-day tour they rotated to their new assignment. All three squadrons were released from active duty by June 1969.
(USAF Photo)
Piasecki H-21B Workhorse helicopter (Serial No. 34334), 5017th Operations Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, early 1960s.
(Piergiuliano Chesi Photo)
Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter (Serial No. 69-5806), 5040th Helicopter Squadron, 21st Composite Wing, USAF, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 1972.
(USAF Photo)
Martin EB-57B Canberra, 5041st Tactical Operations Squadron, 21st Composite Wing, flown for radar calibration and electronic warfare, ca 1972.
(NMUSAF Photo)
Martin EB-57E Canberra (Serial No. 55-4254) of the 5041st Tactical Operations Squadron, 21st Composite Wing, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 29 July 1972.
(James Emery Photo)
de Havilland U-1A Otter (Serial No. 76135), on display in the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama. The DHC-3 aircraft designed and built by de Havilland of Canada was introduced to the US Army in 1953 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was designed as a big brother to the de Havilland of Canada L-20A Beaver and named the Otter. It was also the first aircraft in the USA to be designated with a U- prefix for Utility, the U-1. The U-1A Otter was an all purpose transport aircraft that was acquired for the US Army from 1955 to 1957 and was used to equip the Army Aviation Transport companies. Its primary usage was for troop and cargo shuttle. The Otter could transport either 9 fully equipped combat troops, 6 medical litters, or a total of 3,000 lbs of cargo. In 1956 a U-1A was used as a tanker to accomplish the first in-flight refueling of a helicopter. It was responsible for refueling the Piasecki CH-21 Workhorse that was used to make the first non-stop transcontinental helicopter flight. The red and white paint scheme shown here was typical of aircraft used in Alaska and in Artic service performing topographical survey studies.
(USAF Photo)
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf AFB, unloading a de Havilland U-1A Otter, ca 1972.
(TSgt Michael Holzworth, USCG Photo)
U.S. Coast Guardsmen conduct preflight checks on an HC-130H Hercules aircraft at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, 28 June 2012. Coast Guardsmen from Air Station Kodiak flew daily missions to Barrow in preparation for a Coast Guard deployment to Arctic Shield, a temporary air station operating in the Arctic Ocean during the summer to increase search and rescue response times in the region.
(Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton, USAF Photo)
Lockheed C-130 Hercules, from Alaska Air National Guard’s 144th Airlift Squadron, flies over Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2017.
(USAF Photo)
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II formation, 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron over Mount McKinley, Alaska, ca 1972.
(USAF Photo)
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle from the 12th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, flies next to a Russian Tu-95 Bear Bomber, 28 Sep 2006 during a Russian exercise near the west coast of Alaska.
(SGT Greg Suhay, USAF Photo)
MiG-29A Fulcrum fighter being serviced by a Soviet technician as it receives fuel from an IL-76MD Candid-B aircraft at Elmendorf AFB. These aircraft had stopped at the base while en route to an air show in Canada.
(USAF Photo)
McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle fighters (Serial No. 74-0105) and (Serial No. 74-0099) of the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, ca 1987.
Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear H, escorted by a McDonnell Douglas F-15A-11-MC Eagle (Serial No. 74-0105) from the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, in 1987. The 21st TFW was based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (US Defense Imagery Photo)
(USAF Photos)
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor, 90th Fighter Squadron, escorting a Russian TU-95 Bear flying near the Alaskan NORAD Region airspace 22 Nov 2007. This marked the first time a Raptor was called upon to support the ANR mission.
(Tech. Sgt. David W. Richards, USAF Photo)
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
(SSgt Jim Araos, USAF Photo)
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft attached to the 18th Aggressor Squadron takes off during Red Flag-Alaska 13-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 13 Aug 2013.
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons in Aggressor colurs, 354th Operations Group, Elelson AFB, Alaska. (USAF Photo)
(Tech. Sgt. David W. Richards, USAF Photo)
Fairchild Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II, 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska.
(USAF Photo)
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (Serial No. 63-8975), 168th Air Refueling Squadron, refueling a pair of Fairchild Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs, 355th Fighter Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard.
(USAF Photo)
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (Serial No. 63-8876), 168th Air Refueling Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide aviation enthusiasts with a simple checklist on where to find the surviving retired military aircraft that are preserved in the state of Alaska. The majority of the Alaska Warbird Survivors can be viewed at Elmendorf AFB; Eielson AFB; Kulis ANG Base; in the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum in Anchorage; in the Alaskaland Pioneer Air Museum in Fairbanks; Healy, Denali Wings; and at Palmer, in the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry. Various gate guardians are also listed.The museum staffs and volunteer organizations in Alaska have done a particularly good job of preserving the great variety of American combat veteran aircraft, illustrated here. Hopefully, as more aircraft are recovered from their crash sites in the bush and restored, traded or brought back from private owners, that they too will be added to the record. The book lists the aircraft alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type. This list is also appended with a brief summary of the aircraft presently on display within the state and a bit of its history in the US military.
iUniverse.com: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000012830/Alaska-Warbird-Survivors-2002.aspx
Chapters - Indigo - Coles: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Alaska-Warbird-Survivors-Handbook-Where-Harold-A-A-Skaarup/9780595209187-item.html?ikwid=harold+skaarup&ikwsec=Books
Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Alaska-Warbird-Survivors-2002-Handbook/dp/0595209181
Update
For those of you who are familiar with Alaska and its environs, the conditions can be harsh for an Aviator. During my four-year tour of duty with the Canadian Forces NORAD detachment based in Colorado Springs, I had the privilege of working at Elmendorf AFB with a good number of the highly professional men and women who serve NORAD there. The work also gave me the opportunity to examine a number of Alaska’s warplane survivors up close, and to visit many of the sites where Alaska’s aviation history has been made. These opportunities were a privilege and honour I had because of my military service. It is my hope that this book will show you where to find some of Alaska’s military aviation history, and where to view some of Alaska’s veteran warplanes. This book is intended to provide a “where are they” guide for residents and visitors to Alaska who are interested in its rich resources of historical military aircraft.
I have had a serious interest in military aircraft for most of my life. My father served 20 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and later the Canadian Forces (CF), and retired as a Warrant Officer in 1973. During his tour of duty, he also worked for NORAD while based at Canadian Forces Base North Bay, Ontario.
As a Canadian Forces Army Officer, I have had the opportunity to tour a number of aviation museums in North America and Europe. I have been lucky to have participated in a great number of airshows as a skydiver, and I have therefore also had the opportunity to hear the sound of a North American P-51D Mustang and watch one tearing down a runway at full throttle (it still gets my blood pumping!).
Later, the Army provided me with the opportunity to serve as a member of the Canadian Forces Parachute Team (CFPT) the “Skyhawks.” I had the fantastic experiences of participating in airshows across Canada and in some parts of the United States for a number of years. During these airshows, I never missed an opportunity to ask various owners of old Second World War warplanes such as the Mustang and Corsair for permission to climb into the cockpit. Based on my flight experiences and observations to date, however, I have come to conclude that you should never land in an airplane if you do not want to die in one. (I have two parachutes and you have only one airplane, and there is no such thing as a “perfectly serviceable airplane” as any mechanic will tell you).
Until I retired on 8 August 2011, I served as Army Intelligence officer with the Canadian Forces, and it was my great good fortune to have been posted to Colorado Springs, where I worked for Headquarters North American Air Defence Command (HQ NORAD) and United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) up on the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station (CMAFS). Although I was an Army Officer, I never lost my fascination for old warplanes. Because of this, I have continued to identify and research the locations of as many of them as possible. I have then attempted to verify their serial numbers through the United States Air Force Museum and the National Museum of Naval Aviation, and to photograph them, wherever they may be on display. The main reason that I have put this book together, however, is to provide other interested aviation enthusiasts with the kind of guide-book that I would have liked to have had before arriving in Alaska to work with the servicemen and women serving United States Pacific Command USPACOM. This guide-book should tell the aircraft hunter where he or she may still find these warplanes and gate guardians, and, where possible, a way to contact the museums that have them on display in order to obtain more information about these aircraft. If you have a further interest in this kind of information, I have put together other Warplane survivor books, which are also available through the iUniverse.com bookstore.
I believe tht the volunteers who put so much time, effort and energy into maintaining and preserving the numerous retired military and historic aircraft found in Alaska deserve an enormous amount of praise and credit for their work. It is my hope that this handbook, “Alaska Warplanes,” provides the information and perhaps an incentive that will bring you to visit their museums and to appreciate the rich resources of aviation heritage they are preserving on your behalf. The displays and exhibits are bound to change. Aircraft that have already been recovered from crash sites in Alaska include a Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, a Lockheed P-38J Lightning, a Martin B-26 Marauder and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. A few of these aircraft have gone to aviation museums in the lower 48 states. Hopefully, many more examples of USAAC, USAAF, USAF, USN, USMC and USCG aircraft will be added as they are retired, and equally important, perhaps many more will be recovered, refurbished and preserved in Alaska. Ann update to the list of surviving Alaskan warplanes is included here.
Former Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Harold A. Skaarup
(USAF Photo)
The pioneering 1920 Alaska Flight was an incredible feat of airmanship. Air Service aircrews flew four DH.4Bs a total of 9,000 miles without loss of personnel or aircraft. Here General Pershing congratulates Capt St. Clair Streett, the flight commander, upon his safe return.
(San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives Photo)
Loening OL (BuNo. 8077), "Unalaska" in flight over San Diego, California, after taking part in the 1932 Alaskan Survey Expedition, whose purpose was the mapping of parts of Alaska.
(San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives Photos)
Loening OL-8As which part in the US Navy Alaska Aerial Survey Expedition, ca 1929.
(San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives Photo)
Loening OL-8A behind representatives taking part in the US Navy Alaska Aerial Survey Expedition, ca 1929.
(San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives Photo)
Felixstowe F.2A Flying Boat taking part in the US Navy Alaska Aerial Survey Expedition, ca 1929.
