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Approximately one third of the crews will he off duty while
the others are working so the bunks and easy chairs will get plenty of use once
the plane start its, job of patrolling.
Speeds of more than 300 mile an hour can he obtained from the
four 3,250 horsepower turbo compound engines, which power the new plane. Tip
tanks will enable it to stay aloft on patrol for extremely long periods the air
force is talking about two day missions.
Speed Exceeds 300 MPH
In addition to flying out to sea far beyond the range of fixed
radar sites on shore, the new plane reaches altitudes which give its radar
greater range than sea level units of similar power.
The plane's major duty will he to detect possible attackers but
the air force adds it is believed the electronics equipment also will he very
good for tracking weather disturbances and will give better and more far
reaching storm warning service than now is available.
Operating Unit Is Named
At McClellan, the planes, and several similar ones as soon as
they are delivered, will he operated by the 4701st Airborne Early Warning And
Control Squadron.
The commanding officer is Lieutenant Colonel Russell E. Cheever,
who flew the new plane in from Burbank yesterday.
The unit is a tenant organization at McClellan and is under ii,'
direct command of the Western Air Defense Force headquartered at the Hamilton,
Air force Base.
More than 350 officers and men have been assigned to the
Squadron, most of them volunteers for the particular duty. A nucleus of the
officers underwent several months training on the plane and the particular
duties the squadron will be called upon to perform.
The squadrons will he expected to test out its own planes in
interest of military expediency
In the past, new aircraft undergone extensive test under the Air
Proving Ground Command before being
Assigned to a unit. Because the Airforce is in a hurry this time
squadron will test the planes while they are in actual operation.
Dorsal Fin With A Fishy Eye-It Scans The
Skies
Three local men are officers of the newly activated Airborne Early Warning and
Control Squadron, McClellan AFB, which operates the Super-Constellation,
RC-121-C, the "flying radar station" that cruises out over the Pacific
Ocean. Left to right, they are Major Richard L Banning, 6505 Clara way; Lt.
Colonel Russell E. Cheever, squadron commander, of 2511 La France drive,
and Major Clarence Wiles. 3628 Wing way. The dope on how the
"121" does its job is told in "HAVE YOU HEARD?" |
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Thursday, January 21, 1954
 People
around here who might have been Inclined to feel like sitting ducks in the event
of enemy attack, are feeling a lot safer these days when they look up into the
blue and see the Super-Constellation, RC-121-C, jogging its way over Lower
Suburbia. The -121" as we aircraft experts casually refer to It, Is the
"flying radar station" that is scheduled to scan western skies around
the clock, flying out above the Pacific Ocean, far beyond the range of fixed
radar stations.
Lieutenant Colonel Russell E. Cheever, 2511 La France drive, Carmichael, who
commands the newly activated Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, In.
spires a certain amount of confidence himself. He hails from San Antonio, Texas,
Is In his late 30's, and has the look of an ex-footballer who knows how to back
up the line In the Interests of offense or defense, IT YOU Know what we mean.
Col. Cheever comes to McClellan Air Force Base from headquarters
of the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs. During World War II he served on
Saipan with I the 73rd Bomber Wing under "Rosie" O'Donnell. Col.
Cheever explains the workings of the Super-Constellation as follows
"If an enemy should attack toward the West Coast, the new
USAF radar aircraft will spot the Invaders long before they reach present
detection zones. Ultrahigh frequency radios will transmit enemy strength,
direction, altitude, and speed to jet interceptors of the Air Defense Command,
guide the defenders to their target, and direct the attack on it."
The most striking first-glance features of the RC-121-C is the
humped back and bulging belly which have been added to the smooth silhouette of
a Super-Constellation to make room for specialized search and communications
equipment. An arched dome, eight feet high, protrudes from the top, above the
wings, looking like the dorsal fin of a sailfish. This houses a height-finder
radar antenna, to measure the altitude of an approaching enemy air fleet.
Under the fuselage bulges another dome carrying devices to
detect the speed, strength, and direction of approaching Invaders, whether
attacking by sea or air. Further equipment can detect, aryl if desired,
interfere with enemy radar and other broadcasts.
The Interior of the plane is equally unusual. In addition to
latest electronic equipment, full facilities are provided for a crew of 31 so
that key men can be relieved at their posts during long flights. Bunks can be
converted to davenports, seats are scientifically designed to reduce fatigue on
long missions and the galley is complete with refrigerator, sink with running
water, and grills for cooking I hot meals.
The new aircraft also reaches altitudes that give its radar
greater range than sea-level units of similar power.
It is also able to track weather disturbances and so improve storm warning
services.
With all of this, and the cozy assurance it gives us, we offer a
snappy military salute to the three local men who have the "121" and
its activities under their wing.
Lesser members of the 4701st, as lesser members are wont to do.
refer to their airplane as "the pregnant camel."
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