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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Boeing B707 / C-135 / C-137 / C-18 / E-3 / E-6 / E-8
    Latest Model:RC-135W
    Last Military Serial:62-4133 USAF
    Construction Number:18473
    Latest Owner or Location:45th Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE

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    Dates

    Event

    21 May 1962

    Constructed as a C-135B-BN by Boeing at Renton, WA, USA.
    Roll out

    14 June 1962

    First flight.

    29 June 1962

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 62-4133.

    29 June 1962

    To 1611th Air Transport Wing (MATS), McGuire AFB, NJ.

    1967

    Converted to a C-135B (TRIA).
    Converted to Telemetry Range Instrumented Aircraft C-135B (TRIA) by Douglas Aircraft, Tulsa, OK, with ten-foot nose extension.

    1967

    Transferred to Air Force Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB, FL.

    May 1971

    Redesignated as RC-135T.
    Sole aircraft to have this designation.

    Circa June 1971

    Transferred to 4950th Test Wing, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

    1971

    Transferred to 6th Strategic Wing Eielson Air Force Base, AK.
    Used to provide initial and recurring training for RC-135S Cobra Ball flight deck crews.

    31 December 1979

    Converted to an EC-135B (ARIA).
    Date delivered to USAF after conversion. Primary Mission Electronic Equipment from 60-0375.

    From 1980 to 31 December 1983

    Transferred to 4950th Test Wing, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

    24 July 1982


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Dayton, OH

    Transferred to 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Offutt AFB, NE.

    September 1985

    Reskinned.

    By December 1985

    Transferred to 6th Strategic Wing, Eielson AFB, AK.

    1987

    Transferred to 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE.
    Operated with markings: Northstar, OF

    From 1987 to 1988

    Converted to a TC-135S.
    Equipment removed and installed in USAF s/n 81-0896 but the extended nose was retained.

    By 1 May 2011

    Transferred to 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE.
    Operated with markings: OF

    20 September 2012

    December 2016

    Converted to a RC-135W.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker by Robert S. Hopkins III
    Military Aircraft Serials of North America by S. Mitchell and A Eastwood

    Internet Sources
    AirFighters.com
    Airliners.Net
    Plane Logger

    Individual Contributors
    Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
    francois olivier

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