03-0363 —

Great photo of a KC97 that the KC135 replaced.

Navigator on both this and the ensuing KC-135

I remember visiting Arizona ANG at Skyharbour when they still had these back in 1976 ( jees I’m old:-(

I remember seeing a lot of these coming and going in the Azores, in the 50's

Don't forget the PAN AM Clipper ship

Flew on a Northwest Airlines Stratocruiser KMKE to Seattle, Way, way, back when.

My father was a Tennessee ANG pilot and flew the L-model. I so fondly remember playing as a child inside these on the ramp at TYS. It was a different day, to be sure. I have a model of a KC-97 on my desk to honor my father's memory.

I flew on the Pan Am clipper in 1950 from San Francisco to Hawaii then wake island finally to Guam

I remember as a kid riding my bike over to Wold Chamberlan Field (MSP) and seeing the Northwest Stratocruisers lumber into the air. They were the A380 of their day.

A beauty and a beast! She sure did herself proud! As it.turned that massive crankshaft that in turn made those pistons move to create compression; a lot of fuel and some spark —- she would fire up and run!
…..sorry I was having an old timers moment!!!
Those were the days my friends….

https://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=61473

Hard to imagine being the pilot, and kicking that rudder around with your feet.

4- R3350's

Caught rides on these multiple times to and from Germany. Ohio. Missouri, and other Air Guard units flew them under Creek Party supplementing KC-135s during late 60s early 70s. Overnight in the Azores. It was free.

I was an aircraft electrician on KC 97’s at Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, Louisiana. I was there when the transitions from KC 97’s to KC 135s..

There used to be two (2) of these at the Oakland, CA airport (KOAK) that allegedly were owned by Howard Hughes.

There were two KC-97's at the Oakland (KOAK) that were reportedly owned by Howard Hughes.

I remember a MITO of 4 KC-97 at Pease AFB in the early ‘60s. Number 1 no issue, number 2 pretty shaky on take off. Number 3 didn’t make it, too much prop turbulence and crashed killing all onboard. Number 4 was saved by the lift from the heat from number 3 and break up of the prop turbulence. Very tragic accident from the Cold War.

I caught a hop on one of these from my base Forbes AFB Ks, a TAC base to Offett AFB in Omaha. in 1971. Noisy and cold in the rear.
I'm seated in the cargo area when one of the pilots comes back to me just steaming that my hair was to long.! As an airman one striper I was introduced to a SAC pilot. Even as a 21 year old I thought what kind of A-hole is this.

Thank you all for your comments and remembrances on this airplane. THIS is why I subscribe to FlightAware. Alas, I was born too late to have experienced it...

I would love to see this aircraft flying again!!