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Post by connieguy on Jan 27, 2021 12:44:25 GMT -5
Partly as a result of researching the histories of the C-121C MATS transport squadrons Nos 41 and 76 I have come across their role in carrying refugees from the consequences of the 1956 Hungarian uprising to the USA. The most detailed source I have yet found is linked below. Many flights were from Munich Riem direct to the United States but of course they cannot have been non-stop. Does anyone have any information on the routes used - via Keflavik or Bermuda or both perhaps? Also employed were the two trial turboprop YC-121F Super Constellations of the 1700th Test Squadron, MATS Continental Division; according to Marson they flew the route to Rhein Main three times, presumably from Kelly AFB. I am about to engage with the Connie Team's no doubt superb recreation of this aircraft, but there is plenty of playability here using the standard C-121s.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 27, 2021 15:03:14 GMT -5
I looked in my MATS book by Williams and while he doesn't mention the route, he states:
"MATS C-121Cs airlifted refugees during the Hungarian Crisis of 1956-1957, and troops to the Lebanon Crisis in 1958, the Berlin Crisis in 1961, and briefly during the Cuban Crisis of 1962. However, by October 1962 nearly all of these C-121Cs had been replaced by the new Lockheed C-130E Hercules."
About the R7V-1/C-121Gs:
"Along with the Air Force's procurement of 33 C-121Cs, the Navy received 50 R7V-1s, with most of these serving as its contribution to MATS. These Super Constellations were flown by VR-8, beginning in June 1953, and VR-7 which received its first R7V-1 in January 1954, both squadrons based at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, as part of the Pacific Division of MATS. The Navy R7V-1s were flown mainly on the MATS "Embassy Runs: from Hickam AFB to Manila, Tokyo, Australia, and as far west as India.
VR-7 and VR-8 moved their headquarters to NAS Moffett Field, California, beginning in August 1957. Both squadrons were reassigned to the Naval Air Transport Wing, Pacific, and 32 of their R7V-1s were transferred to the Air Force in May and June 1958 as C-121Gs, 54-4048/4079. These Super Constellations continued making passenger and cargo flights from NAS Moffett Field over MATS Pacific routes to Hawaii, the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand, including "Operation Deep Freeze" support flights in 1959 and 1961, until being replaced by the C-130E during the fall of 1963."
About the C-121Fs:
"The various problems with the YC-121Fs eventually were overcome so that, in October 1956, a new speed record was set by 53-8157 between Los Angeles and San Antonio, Texas, when the 1,260 mile flight was made in just under three hours. The same airplane made a four-day trip to England in November, covering 9,757 miles in 35 1/2 flight hours. During "Operation Safe Haven" in December, four transatlantic trips were flown by a YC-121F to Germany and France, returning to the United States with Hungarian refugees."
Hope this helps,
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 27, 2021 15:19:38 GMT -5
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Post by Defender on Jan 27, 2021 16:59:17 GMT -5
Ken,
The turbine YC's were gas guzzlers and limited by the Connie tank space, so not suitable for long trips. So westbound would most likely be via Prestwick,(there's a photo from there somewhere) Kef and Goose and only with favourable forecasts. The northerly route has least headwind for much of the year
But I'm sure you'll enjoy the model.
Bill
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Post by connieguy on Jan 28, 2021 5:55:56 GMT -5
Many thanks gentlemen, as always. As it may be of interest I will just add a little information from Peter Marson's remarkable book on the Constellation. There was a point at which Lockheed had great hopes for the turbo-prop version of the L-1049 and from mid-1954 all the L-1049s delivered included all the fuselage and wing modifications necessary for conversion to turbo-prop engines, but not the modifications that would have been necessary for the main landing gear. The two YC-121Fs arrived at Kelly AFB on 11th Feb and 17th April 1956. Cargo overseas flights began on 8th May with a departure for Rhein-Main, the first visit to Prestwick was on 11-12th May and on 12th Nov there was a flight to Burtonwood by 'the northern route' to test performance in cold temperatures; this was repeated in January 1957. Both the aircraft took part in Safe Haven, flying Rhein-Main three times and Chateauroux once (I had to look this up. There was a very large US AFB there). Testing stopped in June 1957 when there had been a total flight time of about 4000 hours. During that period the time between engine overhauls was raised from 150 hours in several stages to 1500 hours, while propeller reliability moved from 300 hours to 1000 hours. Nevertheless the USAF did not place an order for them, for what were no doubt good reasons. Even so, if only... I am sure that I shall enjoy flying it Bill, as the Jahn-Connie Team models are virtually all that I do fly.
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Post by aharon on Jan 28, 2021 10:50:27 GMT -5
However, by October 1962 nearly all of these C-121Cs had been replaced by the new Lockheed C-130 E Hercules." I did not know that E version of C-130 existed in 1962??? I thought that would be version A??? Regards, Aharon P.S. My apologies to original poster for off the topic question but would like to thank the original poster for providing me with educational lesson on history of Operation Safe Haven which I never knew about before/
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Post by connieguy on Jan 28, 2021 11:34:10 GMT -5
That's fine Aharon. I am just old enough to remember the Hungarian rising and there must have been newsreel films about Safe Haven, though I have not been able to find anything on You Tube.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Jan 28, 2021 11:43:43 GMT -5
The C-130 is older than most people think. The C-130A made its first flight in April 1955 and replaced the C-119 Flying Boxcars in the Tactical Air Command and Troop Carrier Command. The C-130B first flew in 1959 and also flew with TAC.
In 1961 MATS held a design competition, won by the Lockheed C-141. But as this would not be ready for several years, two planes were acquired as a stopgap measure, the C-135A Stratolifter and the C-130E Hercules. The C-130E first flew on April 25, 1961 and deliveries followed a year later. Initial deliveries were to the 41st and 76th ATS at Charleston in April 1962. Units at McGuire AFB in New Jersey and Travis AFB in California soon followed over the next two years. Navy transport units at McGuire and later at Moffett Field in California also received the Hercules.
Once the C-141 and later C-135s were received in the mid to late 1960s, most if not all MATS C-130Es were transferred to the TAC, joining the rest of the planes delivered directly to them.
Hope this helps,
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Post by aharon on Jan 29, 2021 11:37:36 GMT -5
Tom,
Thanks for great answers I always thought C-130s were introduced in mid 1960s!! Surprised me it was in mid 1950s!!!
Regards,
Aharon
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