Grissom Air Museum

[moose135]

Thought I would post this as a separate thread, since it's aircraft related photos. On Sunday, I headed up to the Grissom Air Museum. It's located at Grissom Air Reserve Base (formerly Grissom Air Force Base) near Kokomo, Indiana. I spent 3 1/2 years flying KC-135s out of GAFB, and this was the first time I've been back to the base since 1988. When I was stationed there, we had about 8 or 10 aircraft in a little air park, located inside the main gate. They now have over 20 aircraft on display outside, as well as a building with displays. It was an overcast day, it rained earlier and later that day, but the rain stopped long enough for me to visit the museum.

B-47, the first jet-powered bomber used by the USAF, assigned to GAFB in the late 1950's.


B-58 Hustler, supersonic bomber. GAFB was one of two bases for the Hustler, in the 1960's. This is one of only 8 remaining B-58s.




A-10, flown by the Air Force Reserve wing while I was at GAFB.


Seems like you find Tomcats everywhere


B-25 Mitchel bomber - this particular aircraft was used in the filming of the movie "Catch-22" which may account for the non-typical paint.


NAMC YS-11 - this is the only commercial airliner produced by a Japanese manufacturer. It's still undergoing restoration, you can see the engines (Rolls-Royce turboprops) are not yet installed.


KC-97 tanker.


Cessna U-3A "Blue Canoe". It doesn't look like anything special, but this is one of the aircraft from the original air park, and I helped work on it several times when I was on alert.


Boeing EC-135L - this aircraft was stationed at GAFB when I was there. It's a modified tanker, containing radio relay equipment. It retained the boom equipment, and also had a receiver receptacle. I don't know that I ever flew this particular aircraft, although I was qualified in the EC as well as the KC, and was receiver qualified, I normally flew the KC's. I'll have to check my logbook when I get home.




This memorial is located next to the EC-135. While I was at GAFB, we lost this crew in a tanker crash at Howard AFB, Panama - we had crews down there regularly supporting the Special Operations MC-130s. They were in the other squadron (we had 2 flying squadrons) and on a different alert cycle, so I didn't know them well, except for the navigator, Wayne Ching - we arrived at GAFB at the same time, and went through initial training on EWO procedures together, we got to be friends. It was a sad day when we lost these guys.
Glad to see they put this memorial up. RIP guys...

[SCOTYDEMCO]

Very Nice Moose!!

Nice Red Ripper Cat and love the Hustler!

[nikon50bigma]

Yes, very nice!
Are you going cross country on your road trip-to the west coast?

[Futterman]

Excellent shots and commentary, John. I remember flying over GUS on one of my first cross-countries last year and seeing the air park - as well as a 135 doing a touch and go right under me! I'll find my way out there when the good weather and my schedule stop doing everything together. :)

I'm glad you had a good time.

Brian

[BDLGUY]

Hey Moose,

I have only two questions for you. As you know that I'm a huge fan of the F-14 Tomcat. What is the BuNo of the F-14 at Grissom? Is the Grissom Air Museum open to the public? I might go there in the near future.

Thanks a bunch!! :borat:
John/BDL

[moose135]

Hey Moose,

I have only two questions for you. As you know that I'm a huge fan of the F-14 Tomcat. What is the BuNo of the F-14 at Grissom? Is the Grissom Air Museum open to the public? I might go there in the near future.

Thanks a bunch!! :borat:
John/BDL

It's BuNo 162912
And yes, the museum is open to the public. It's open 7 days a week Memorial Day to Labor Day, and closed Mondays the rest of the time. Here's their website: http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/home.html

[Derf]

I always loved the Sac Blue ribbon on the 135.... It just seemed....RIGHT :borat:

Nice Job Moose... Can we see some more of the Navy F-14 in the AirForce Museum? :borat: