Lockheed EC-121R Batcat 21 Super Constellation
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Lockheed EC-121R Batcat 21 Super Constellation
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
On 25 April 1969, an EC-121R, Number 67-21493, call sign "BATCAT21" crew number 39 from the 554th Recon Sqn, Korat RTAFB, was scheduled for a combat tactical mission directed by frag order number 115, mission number 6901. Scheduled mission briefing time was 1315, taxi time 1530, and takeoff time 1600, for a flight from Korat to the combat zone and return. Pertinent aircrew positions were: Aircraft commander; (Pilot)-Lt Col Heller; Co-pilot-Major Lunsford; Flight Engineer-TSgt Fowler. Mission briefing consisted of a standard 553rd Recon Wg briefing. BATCAT 21 established contact with departure control and requested information on the position, direction of movement and speed of the thunderstorm cell near the base. Departure control advised BATCAT 21 that the thunderstorm was over the base and extended 20 miles southwest. BATCAT 21 requested a right turn after takeoff and radar vectoring around the thunderstorms. BATCAT 21 was requested to maintain runway heading and departure control would vector the aircraft around the thunderstorms. Prior to becoming airborne, BATCAT 21 was advised that he was cleared to turn right to two eight zero degrees. BATCAT 21 reported airborne at 1558 and departure control advised the heading was two eight zero degrees and he would radar identify BATCAT 21. BATCAT 21 acknowledged his vector to two eight zero and a short time later requested to make a right turn if possible as it was very turbulent. Korat departure control approved the request. No further transmissions were received from BATCAT 21. The aircraft impacted the ground at approximately 1559, 3.7 miles off the departure end of runway 24 on the 260 degree radial of the Korat TACAN. The impact occurred less than one-half minute after the co-pilot's last transmission. Distance from takeoff to impact indicated a total flight duration of approximately 2 minutes. The 18 BATCAT Aircrew members that perished in the wreckage include: Lt Col Emerson E. Heller/Aircraft Commander, Maj Paul R. Lunsford/Pilot, Maj Thomas Brandom/Pilot, Lt Col William C. McCormick Jr./Navigator, 1Lt John A. Marsh/Navigator, Capt George R. Kidd, TSgt Kenneth W. Fowler/ Flight Engineer, TSgt Warren C. Delany/Flight Engineer, SSgt Paul Faulk/Radar Operator, TSgt Albert N. Booker, TSgt James H. Belflower, SSgt James D. Moore, SSgt Jerald C. Davis, A1C Mark M. Stelley, A1C Michael J. Cotterill, A1C Ronald C. DeForrest, A1C William D. Stepp, and Sgt Mitchel Messing.
Uploaded
July 5th, 2013
Statistics
Viewed 508 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/17/2024 at 11:44 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments
There are no comments for Lockheed EC-121R Batcat 21 Super Constellation. Click here to post the first comment.