Warplanes of the USA: Nebraska, Ashland, Strategic Air and Space Museum

Warplanes preserved in Nebraska

Ashland, Strategic Air and Space Museum (SA&SM), 28210 West Park Highway, Ashland 68003.

The Strategic Air and Space Museum is a museum focusing on aircraft and nuclear missiles of the United States Air Force.  It is located near Ashland, Nebraska, along Interstate 80 southwest of Omaha.  The objective of the museum is to preserve and display historic aircraft, missile, and space vehicles and provide educational resources.  It is regarded as having one of the top collections of strategic aircraft.

The SA&S Museum is dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who proudly served their country as members of the Strategic Air Command.  The first aircraft in the collection of the Strategic Air and Space Museum arrived at Offutt AFB, Nebraska in 1959.  Over the years, the Museum grew in size and popularity, and the name was changed to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum.  In 1998 the Museum moved to a location more accessible to the public at its present location near Ashland.  Aircraft in the museum’s collection:

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Allen Jones Photos)

Avro Vulcan B.2, RAF (Serial No. XM573).  101st example built, delivered to the RAF in March 1963.

Bell UH-13J Sioux Helicopter (Serial No. 57-2729), C/N 1576.  Modified for Presidential use.

(Aeroprints Photos)

Boeing B-17P (DB) Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83559), C/N 32200.  This aircraft was manufactured by Douglas in Long Beach, California, and received by the USAAF on 5 April 1945.   The Fortress was flown to the Museum in May 1959, and has been on continuous display ever since.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Boeing B-29 (TB) Superfortress (Serial No. 44-84076), originally”Man O War”, now painted as “Lucky Lady”.  Last flown in July 1959 by the 3902nd Air Base Wing (SAC), Offutt AFB, Nebraska and dropped from inventory by transfer to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter (Serial No. 53-0198).  This KC-97G was manufactured by Boeing in Seattle, Washington and delivered to the USAF on 3 April 1955. It was dropped from inventory in September 1964 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

Boeing B-47E Stratojet (Serial No.52-1412), C/N 44096.  This B-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Tulsa Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAF on 5 May 1955.  It was dropped from inventory in June 1964 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Ted Quackenbush Photo, 1976)

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

Boeing B-52B (RB) Stratofortress (Serial No. 52-8711), C/N 16839.  The Museum’s B-52 was manufactured by Boeing Aircraft, Seattle, Washington and delivered to the USAF on 28 June 1955.   It was the first operational B-52 to be assigned to the Strategic Air Command. It was dropped from inventory on 29 September 1965 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Allen Jones Photo)

Boeing EC-135C Looking Glass (Serial No. 63-8049), C/N 18666.  Last flown on 24 July 1990, this aircraft was transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum on 2 March 1993.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Cessna T-37B Tweet (Serial No.).

(Allen Jones Photo)

Convair T-29A Flying Classroom (Serial No. 50-0190), C/N 220.  This aircraft was delivered to the Air Force on 26 July 1951.  It was dropped from the inventory and flown to the Strategic Air & Space Museum in July 1973.

(USAF Photo)

The FICON (Fighter Conveyor) program was conducted by the United States Air Force in the 1950s to test the feasibility of a Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber carrying a Republic F-84 Thunderflash parasite fighter in its bomb bay. Earlier wingtip coupling experiments included Tip Tow, which were attempts at carrying fighters connected to the wingtips of bombers. Tom-Tom followed the FICON project afterwards.

(Ted Quackenbush Photos, 2 Aug 1976)

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Leoparmr Photo)

Convair B-36J-111 Peacemaker (Serial No. 52-2217A), C/N 358.  This aircraft was manufactured by the Fort Worth Division of General Dynamics Corporation and delivered to the Strategic Air Command on 22 December 1953.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 54-1405).  The Museum’s F-102 was manufactured by Convair, San Diego CA and delivered to the USAF on 23 August 1956.  It was dropped from inventory in April 1970 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aaron Headly Photo)

(SDASM Archives Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Convair B-58A Hustler (Serial No. 61-2059), C/N 95, “Greased Lightning”.  This aircraft was accepted by the USAF on 16 February 1962.

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Douglas A-26B (VB) Invader (Serial No. 44-34665).  Built in 1945 and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force on 30 August.  It was removed from inventory and delivered to the Museum on 24 November 1969.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

(Aeroprints Photo)

Douglas C-47A Skytrain (Serial No. 43-48098), C/N 13914/25359.  The Museum’s C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on 14 July 1944.  It was dropped from inventory in  October 1969 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Allen Jones Photo)

Douglas C-54D Skymaster (Serial No. 42-72724), C/N 10829.  Built in Chicago, this aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on 16 July 1945, and flew with the 12th Air Force in the Mediterranean Theatre.  It completed its service with the Strategic Air Command's 3902nd Air Base Wing at Offutt AFB in January 1970.

Douglas C-124A Globemaster II (Serial No. 49-0258), C/N 43187.

Douglas C-133B Cargomaster (Serial No. 59-0536), C/N 45587.  This aircraft moved to the AMC Museum, Dover AFB in 2000.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 51-8024L), 024, C/N 10767.  The Museum’s C-119 was manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft, Hagerstown, Maryland, and delivered to the USAF on 5 January 1953.   It was dropped from inventory in March 1970 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark (Serial No. 68-0267).  The Museum’s F-111 was accepted by the USAF in 1970.  It was dropped from inventory on 10 July 1991 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photos)

Grumman HU-16B Albatross (Serial No. 51-0006), C/N G-79.  The Museum’s HU-16B was manufactured as an SA-16A by Grumman, Bethpage New York, and delivered to the USAF on 7 September 1951.  It was dropped from inventory on 21 May 1970 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photo)

Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (Serial No. 58-0548), C/N 580-1517.  This T-33A was manufactured by Lockheed Aircraft and delivered to the Air Force on 8 December 1958.  It was dropped from the inventory and delivered to the Strategic Air & Space Museum on 14 December 1972.

(Robert Dilley Photos)

(Unbekannt Photo)

(Aeroprints Photo)

Lockheed U-2C Dragon Lady (Serial No. 56-6701), C/N 368.  Nicknamed “The Saint” during it’s service with the Air Force thunderstorm research program, this U-2C also served with the Central Intelligence Agency and various Reconnaissance Wings.  The aircraft has been converted from a U-2A to a U-2B, and finally to a U-2C model in 1968.  It was dropped from the inventory and flown to the Strategic Air & Space Museum in 1982.

(SSgt. Bill Thompson, USAF Photo)

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (Serial No. 61-7964) from the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing near Beale Air Force Base, California, 2 Aug 1981.  This aircraft is on display in the atrium of the Strategic Air Command Museum, Ashland, Nebraska.

(Martin McGuire Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

(Kandykornhead Photo)

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (Serial No. 61-7964), C/N 2015.  This SR-71 was delivered to the USAF on 27 May 1966, and has the third highest flight hours of the fleet.  It was delivered to the Strategic Air & Space Museum on 20 March 1990.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Martin B-57E Intruder (Serial No. 55-4244), C/N 346.  The Museum’s B-57 was manufactured by Martin Company, Baltimore, Maryland and delivered to the USAF on 21 September 1956.  It was dropped from inventory and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum in December 1969.

(USAF Photo)

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (Serial No. 46-0524).

(USAF Photo)

Top view of the XF-85, with the hook extended over top of the canopy.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (Serial No. 46-0524), 24.  This is one of two built, and had the most flight time.  The other is on display at United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Paterson AFB, Ohio. 46-0524 is with the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska. It was originally transferred to the Norton Air Force Base (near San Bernardino, California) in 1950, still in a damaged state after its last emergency landing. When the base museum was closed and its collection dispersed, the second XF-85 prototype languished in an unrestored condition as part of the Tallmantz private collection in California, until being acquired by Offutt AFB. It is now refurbished and displayed on its ground-handling trestle, nestled under the wing of a B-36J bomber (Serial No. 52-2217).

(Aeroprints Photo)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

McDonnell F-101B Voodoo (Serial No. 59-0462), C/N 786.  The Museum’s F-101 was accepted by the USAF on 30 November 1960.   It was dropped from inventory and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum in February 1969.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II (Serial No. 65-0903).  This RF-4C was manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft, St Louis, MO and accepted by the US Air Force on 15 August 1966.  It was dropped from inventory in September 1993 and was on static display at Rickenbacker ANG Base in Ohio, before being delivered to the Strategic Air and Space Museum in February 2007.

(Allen Jones - before the marking change)

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F Fishbed C (Serial No. 60-2105).  This Soviet-built aircraft was delivered to the Strategic Air & Space Museum in 1990, and bears the markings of the North Vietnamese Air Force.

(Robert Dilley Photo)

NASA X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV).

(Robert Dilley Photo)

North American B-25N (JTB) Mitchell (Serial No. 44-30363), C/N 108-33638.  Dropped from inventory on 9 November 1959 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(USAF Photo)

North American RB-45C Tornado (Serial No. 48-037).

(USAF Photo)

North American B-45C Tornado.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

(Allen Jones Photos)

North American RB-45C Tornado (Serial No. 48-0017), C/N 153-38493.  This B-45 was manufactured by North American Aviation, Long Beach CA and delivered to the USAF on 15 August 1950.  This was the last RB-45 in service.  It was dropped from inventory in November 1971 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photos)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

North American F-86H Sabre (Serial No. 53-1375), C/N 203-147.  This F-86 was accepted by the USAF on 28 April 1955 from the North American Aviation Factory, Port Columbus, Ohio.  It was dropped from inventory on 11 May 1970 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Allen Jones Photo)

(Aeroprints Photo)

North American T-39A Sabreliner (Serial No. 62-4487), C/N 276-40.  This T-39A was manufactured by North American Aviation and delivered to the Air Force on 16 August 1963.  It was dropped from the inventory and delivered to the Strategic Air & Space Museum on 3 July 1985.

(Robert Dilley Photos)

Piasecki Vertol CH-21B Workhorse Helicopter (Serial No. 52-8676).  This helicopter was accepted by the USAF on 13 June 1955.  It was dropped from inventory in 1970 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Aeroprints Photos)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (Serial No. 51-1714), FS-714.  The Museum’s F-84 was manufactured by Republic Aviation, Farmingdale NY and delivered to the USAF on 31 December 1954.  Dropped from inventory in January 1971 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Republic F-105D Thunderchief (Serial No. 61-0069), C/N D264, JJ.  This aircraft is mounted on a pedestal located on Hwy I-80 at Exit 426.  The Museum’s F-105 was manufactured by Republic Aviation, Farmingdale, New York and gained by the USAF on 5 January 1962.  61-0069 is credited with downing a MiG-17 during operations over Vietnam in 1967.  Dropped from inventory in March 1982 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

(Allen Jones Photo)

Rockwell International B-1A Lancer (Serial No. 76-0174).  This aircraft is the fourth and last B-1A model built.  First flown in February 1979, the USAF primarily used it as the avionics test bed for the B-1B Program.  Unlike the other B-1As which had crew escape modules, this aircraft has ejection seats (standard on the B-1B).  This aircraft was delivered to the National Museum of United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio on 16 December 1986.  It remained there for 17 years.  It was disassembled and transported by truck and delivered to the Strategic Air & Space Museum on 22 October 2003.

(Robert Dilley Photos)

Sikorsky H-19B Chickasaw Helicopter (Serial No. 53-4426).  This aircraft was accepted by the USAF on 27 August 1954.  It was dropped from inventory on 29 December 1967 and transferred to the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

Rockets and Missiles

Boeing AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).

Chance Vought SLV-1, Blue Scout (Serial No. 62-12589).

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Convair SM-65 Atlas.

Douglas PGM-17A Thor.

McDonnell GAM-72 Quail Missile.

North American GAM-77 (AGM-28) Hound Dog Missile (Serial No. 60-2102).

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Northrup SM-62 Snark (Serial No. 57-0005).

(Robert Dilley Photo)

Ryan AQM-34L Firebee.

(HrAtsuo Photo)

Apollo AS201 Command Module.

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