I tried PMing you but I dont have enough post to PM members,

The pic is a "very" heavely modified Boeing 747, Airforce calls it the E4B. It is not AirForce 1. The smaller "dome" above the upper 747 "bubble" is a shroud that covers a Satellite dish. Its mission was quite extensive, especially during the cold war and the Reagen years. I served on it from 1982-1992 during the cold war and the Reagen years. As I look back (hindsight) it was, handsdown the best job I ever had. Since the end of the cold war, its mission is still in existance but its roll has somewhat changed to meet todays world enviroment.
Ive got many pics of it, going to leave that one up through July 4, I liked it with the Flag as a back drop, I may cycle a few up from time to time

The RC-137 was a modified boeing 707/717

 

You flew on KNEECAP aka the Doomsday plane the plane that was to keep the president alive in case of a nuclear war.

 

Yes I did, for 10yrs. KNEECAP is the pronouncation. Its was actually
NEACP (KNEECAP). Stood for National Emergency Airborne Command Post. Also was Knicknamed Nightwatch. Like you stated it also carried the Nickname "The Doomsday Plane"

Sounds like you are familiar with it.

 

Yeah a litle bit my brother was stationed for years at Langley and the F-15's stood alert to fly escort for that one and what ever plane the President and VP were using as AF1 and 2 at the time. He is now a Master Sargent and getting ready to move again probaly to Shaw in SC to retire there in 6 years after 26 years active duty. Hard to belive we could modify a 747-200 into a plane that could in an emergancy basically become the goverment of the US isn't it.

 

Thanks for the "update" Drew! As I said, I got out about the time THIS plane took over from the EC-135. I flew as a "backender" on the RC-135 M and V models, and yes.... they were modified 707's.

Your FIRST picture deceived me. From that angle, I couldn't see the familiar "bulge" of the 747, so I thought it was the newer 757.

I had never SEEN the E4B and was puzzled by the "humpback."

In another thread you mentioned being a flight instructor. Does this mean you PILOTED this beatiful bird?? I always wanted to be a pilot!

Had we flown together on Kneecap, I would have occupied one of the 29 "operational racks" on board (in support of Looking Glass.) After the cramped space on the old RC-135 models, THIS would have been sheer LUXURY! :shock: :lol:

I'm still wondering if "Drew" is your real name.... or short for Andrews AFB. Just curious.

BTW, isn't the plane in your avatar one of the scale "models" of this plane? Sits on your desk, I bet! 8) :wink:

And I agree totally that "those" were the best years of our lives!!

I wish we had a "neat" slogan/greeting like "Semper Fi!" Ut Fiat Libertas just doesn't roll off the tongue too well! :x

Anyway, carry on, Airman! Keep posting the pics. It makes me jealous!

Hobo

 

Actually, not the WHOLE gov't, IronEagle.... but I know what you mean. If this plane were ever needed as the Doomsday Plane, the Pres would have allready declared Martial Law, suspending the need for a Congress. Other than the Speaker of the house (and a few select others,) to ensure Presidential succession (Pelosi??) It would be mostly manned by Pentagon types and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

I sure hope it is never needed!

 

I was Telecommunications on the E4B...I started a short "Career" as Commercial Pilot/Flight Instructor from 1992-2002

Dont know if you could call it Luxury, but I guess by Military standards it was quite nice. It size and amount of room made it easier to fly the lengther missions.

Drew is my middle name. CB handle is "Wingman" wanted to use it as username but its to popular.

The avatar is the real deal, I just used photobucket to "Convert" pictures to smaller size for the use as Avatar.
I did build many scale E4B models, after I build one, many of my crewmates wanted one, so I had build probably 6 or 7 total.

We have a connection, Maybe different time period. What did you do in support of Looking Glass?? Were you at Ellsworth or Offutt....??
BTW...The E4 was stationed at Andrews at the start of its mission, (I think in the 60's) as an EC-135, then moved to Offutt in the 70's, then changed to the E4A in the 70's, conversions to E4B's in the early 80's

 

golfhobo: Try this link, (You might enjoy)...This is also where I got a couple off my photos....


http://www.wwabncp.com/

 

Looking Glass was just one of many "missions" we supported. Our aircraft were based out of Offut, but I was deployed overseas. Here's an idea of what I would have been tasked with: