EC-121 Warning Star

The Lockheed Warning Star began development as the US Navy PO-1W, an early model

Constellation Airliner modified to carry experimental electronic surveillance equipment. After

the PO-1W proved the concept of airborne early warning in large NATO exercises, the US

Navy and Air Force ordered large numbers of a developed variant based on the Lockheed

Model 1049 Super Constellation. These aircraft entered service as the Navy WV-2, with 244

ordered, and the Air Force EC-121, 82 ordered of which 72 were from US Navy orders.

The Warning Star entered service in 1955, with the final variants being retired from the US

Air Force Reserve in 1978. The Warning Star pioneered the concept of Airborne Early

Warning and Control, with units being used for fleet coverage, airborne extension of the

Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, support of the Apollo Space Program and other force

coordination tasks. Throughout its life the Lockheed Warning Star was used to test

experimental radar and electronic equipment installations, including a rotodome installation

on the WX-2E (above), later redesignated the EC-121L. After evaluation by the US Navy the

EC-121L was used as a prototype for evaluation of systems later installed on the E-3 Sentry.

USAF EC-121s were deployed to Vietnam in 1965 to provide coordination, early warning and

communications relay. A USAF EC-121 made history in October 1967, when, while

operating over the Tonkin Gulf off North Vietnam, it guided a US Fighter to the successful

interception of a VNAF Mig 21, the first time an airborne controller had directed a successful

attack, setting the stage for many future developments in the arena of AEW&C.

On July 28, 1970, two EC-121 Lockheed "Super Constellations" from the 193d Tactical

Electronic Warfare Squadron took off from Olmsted State Airport, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

United States forces were fighting in Vietnam, and the EC-121s were headed for Korat in the

neighboring country of Thailand, 12,000 miles away, where the United States Air Force was

operating from a Royal Thai Air Force base. Korat Air Base would be home for 252 Air

Guardsmen for the next six months. The men were rotated as part of Operation Commando

Buzz, with approximately 60 officers and airmen at a time serving tours of duty of from 30 to

90 days. In addition to the aircrews and technicians, an additional 75 officers and airmen

supported Commando Buzz by flying materiel and personnel from Olmsted to Southeast Asia

and back. The Pennsylvania Air Guard's EC-121s were laden with electronic equipment, and

their mission was to act as flying radar stations and air borne control platforms. They

possessed search and identification radar, interception equipment, and a battery of

communications gear. The range of the EC-121s extended over all of North Vietnam and the

Gulf of Tonkin, and they were a key element in Seventh Air Force control of tactical air

operations. The final group of Air Guardsmen rotated during the Thanksgiving and Christmas

holidays of 1970, and early in January 1971, the mission was completed. Within three days

after the return of the 193d to Pennsylvania the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Air Forces sent

a message to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commending the dedication and

professionalism demonstrated by the exceptional mission performance of the 193d, which

won the USAF outstanding unit award that year.

EC-121R “Batcat”

The EC-121R aircraft used by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing were all refurbished ex U.S.

Navy aircraft previously retired to the "boneyard" at Davis Monthan. A total of 30 aircraft

were modified for the specialized BATCAT mission.

Before becoming U.S. Air Force EC-121R's, most of the Navy aircraft were used in the early

warning role. First two conversions were AF serial number 67-21471 and 67-21472, both

these aircraft were ex Navy EC-121P/WV-3's, Lockheed construction numbers 4382 and

4385. The next 28 EC-121R's, serial numbers 67-21473 through 67-21500, were all ex EC-

121K/WV-2's. Lockheed construction numbers, U.S. Navy Bureau numbers, and U.S. Air

Force serial numbers, along with the fate of each airplane, appears at the end of this article.

Most obvious modification to the Navy aircraft was the removal of the fuselage top radome

(the height finder), and the lower fuselage radome (the search radar antenna). With these

gaping items removed, and their holes covered, a number of smaller antennas were added for

the BATCAT mission. One other unique identification of the Batcat aircraft - they were

camouflaged. Previously only the prototype Lockheed Constellation was camouflaged, and

then only during the test phase which occurred during World War II.

During the operational use three aircraft were lost.

First aircraft loss was 67-21476 at Otis AFB, MA on January 24, 1969. All survived, in fact

only one injury, a broken leg, was sustained.

Second loss was aircraft 67-21493 on April 25, 1969. All 18 crew members from Batcat crew

39 perished with this loss.

Third aircraft lost was 67-21495 during September 1969. Four crew members from Batcat

crew 40 perished in this loss.

Have seen photographs of EC-121R aircraft at Davis Monthan AFB. Below is a list of all the

Batcat aircraft and their fate. Three aircraft were lost in during service, all during 1969.

The remaining 27 aircraft were all broken up at Davis Monthan AFBbetween September 1972

and September 1976. The last surviving Batcat aircraft, USAF 67-21471, was scrapped at

Davis Monthan AFB on September 20, 1976.

Lockheed USN USAF Fate

c/n Bu-No S/n

4382 137895 67-21471 Scrapped DM 20-Sep-76

4385 137898 67-21472 Scrapped DM 17-Aug-76

4420 141296 67-21473 Scrapped DM << May-74

4430 141306 67-21474 Scrapped DM 01-Aug-74

4436 141312 67-21475 Scrapped DM 17-Sep-76

4441 141317 67-21476 Landing accident Otis 24-Jan-69

4444 141320 67-21477 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4452 141328 67-21478 Scrapped DM ??-May-74

4454 141330 67-21479 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4459 143185 67-21480 Scrapped DM 31-Jul-74

4462 143188 67-21481 Scrapped DM << Sep-72

4465 143191 67-21482 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4469 143195 67-21483 Scrapped DM 17-Sep-76

4476 143202 67-21484 Scrapped DM 01-Aug-74

4477 143203 67-21485 Scrapped DM << May-73

4478 143204 67-21486 Scrapped DM << May-73

4480 143206 67-21487 Scrapped DM 01-Aug-74

4481 143207 67-21488 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4482 143208 67-21489 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4484 143210 67-21490 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4487 143213 67-21491 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4488 143214 67-21492 Scrapped DM << Oct-73

4489 143215 67-21493 Crashed Korat 25-Apr-69

4490 143216 67-21494 Scrapped DM << Oct-73

4491 143217 67-21495 Crashed Korat 06-Sep-69

4492 143218 67-21496 Scrapped DM << Jul-74

4493 143219 67-21497 Scrapped DM 01-Aug-74

4496 143222 67-21498 Scrapped DM >> Oct-73

4497 143223 67-21499 Scrapped DM 17-Sep-76

4498 143224 67-21500 Scrapped DM << Jul-74