C-121 HEEELPPP!

[Jeff Franks]

I am attempting to have a C-121 Constellation model made for my father for
Christmas. He was an ECM operator "backender" in the mid-60's in VQ-2. He
has sent me several pictures of the Connie in the past, but only one in the
VQ-2 paint scheme as he flew them. His description and the black & white
picture he has, both show the plane as being painted VERY dark grey with
black leading edges.

This isn't the same grey as on the Early Warning birds, but charcoal. There
were no insignia's on it identifying it as NAVY, etc. There was a small
American flag on the back left side...and that was it.

Is there ANYONE out there with a better description of this plane or even
knows what I'm talking about? The picture I have came from
http://www.vpnavy.com/vq2_aircraft.html Its the top of the 2 black & white
photos of the Connie's. As you can see, its not real helpful other than to
prove that there was a "black" Connie.

VERY few people that I have emailed/spoken with will even admit that there
was a paint job like this. They want to tell me it was blue or light grey
(the standard paint schemes). I have no idea what to tell the model maker
in order to make this thing accurate. Heck he'd like it either way, but I'd
like to get it close :)

thanks for any help or direction.

Jeff

P.S. Dad, if your reading this, it's all a lie. I'm not getting you squat
for Christmas ;)

[John]

Check out the VQ Association web site. You'll find what you need.
"Yofuri" > wrote in message
...
> You're right on the color, but there was a full set of markings on the
> aircraft, including MODEX, BUNO, etc. It was in letters about two inches
> high, flat black on the charcoal background. You just had to stand real
> close.
>
> Rick
>
> --
> My real e-mail address is:
>
>
>
>
> "Jeff Franks" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am attempting to have a C-121 Constellation model made for my father
for
> > Christmas. He was an ECM operator "backender" in the mid-60's in VQ-2.
> He
> > has sent me several pictures of the Connie in the past, but only one in
> the
> > VQ-2 paint scheme as he flew them. His description and the black &
white
> > picture he has, both show the plane as being painted VERY dark grey with
> > black leading edges.
> >
> > This isn't the same grey as on the Early Warning birds, but charcoal.
> There
> > were no insignia's on it identifying it as NAVY, etc. There was a small
> > American flag on the back left side...and that was it.
> >
> > Is there ANYONE out there with a better description of this plane or
even
> > knows what I'm talking about? The picture I have came from
> > http://www.vpnavy.com/vq2_aircraft.html Its the top of the 2 black &
> white
> > photos of the Connie's. As you can see, its not real helpful other than
> to
> > prove that there was a "black" Connie.
> >
> > VERY few people that I have emailed/spoken with will even admit that
there
> > was a paint job like this. They want to tell me it was blue or light
grey
> > (the standard paint schemes). I have no idea what to tell the model
maker
> > in order to make this thing accurate. Heck he'd like it either way, but
> I'd
> > like to get it close :)
> >
> > thanks for any help or direction.
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > P.S. Dad, if your reading this, it's all a lie. I'm not getting you
> squat
> > for Christmas ;)
> >
> >
>
>

[Chuck]

(Jeff=A0Franks) wrote:
"I am attempting to have a C-121 Constellation model made for my father
for Christmas. He was an ECM operator "backender" in the mid-60's in
VQ-2."

Jeff, I suggest you google "WV-2Q", as it was designated prior to
October 1962, and "EC-121M", as it was re-designated.
You'll find many photos in various schemes. And as your dad may have
indicated, on occasion deceptive paint schemes and "interesting" tail
codes or none at all were utilized.

Chuck (mission planner/intel analyst '60 to '63, VQ-2)



HEAVY ATTACK COMPOSITE (VC-5,6,7,8,9) WEBSITE
http://community.webtv.net/charles379/USNComposite

FAIRECONRON ONE AND TWO (VQ-1/2) CASUALTIES
http://www.anzwers.org/free/navyscpo4/Chuck_Huber_AirCrew.html

[Ron]

Jeff: Can't figure out how to post a hyperlink here, but if you
copy/paste
the line below, it will take you to the Rantoul WV2 restoration I
mentioned in a previous post. There are several good quality color
photos. According the site, the original color was called Seaplane
Gray.

http://www.willyvictor.com/Rantoul_Restoration/putting%20on%20the%20final%20touches.htm

Hope this helps. -- rn

[Chuck]

Jeff - nice photo at
http://personal.riverusers.com/~elmccaul/ac131391.htm The paint is dark
gray, not black.

The photo you linked to on vpnavy is of Buno 131392 (JQ-12) from 2/23/60
when it came to VQ-2 as a WV-2Q. On 9/18/62 it was redesignated
EC-121M. Re-numbered JQ-11 in 1971, and JQ-31 in 1972 when it was known
as Lakey's Loafer. Went to MASDC Davis-Montian AFB, AZ 2/14/74 with
12,917 hours (some of which I slept through <g>). Scrapped there 6/5/81.

VQ-2 also had:

Buno 131390 (JQ-15), crashed, all crew killed, Germany 5/12/62 (see my
casualty list, below).

Buno 131391 (JQ-13, later JQ-10), known as Ajax Airlines in 1962,
detached to VQ-1 Det Bravo July 1967, scrapped 5/25/76.

Buno 135957 (JQ-14), which was over the USS Liberty during the Israeli
attack in 1967, went to VQ-1 Det Bravo shortly after attack in July
1967, scrapped 9/16/76.

Buno 143209 (PR-22 after it went to VQ-1).



HEAVY ATTACK COMPOSITE (VC-5,6,7,8,9) WEBSITE
http://community.webtv.net/charles379/USNComposite

FAIRECONRON ONE AND TWO (VQ-1/2) CASUALTIES
http://www.anzwers.org/free/navyscpo4/Chuck_Huber_AirCrew.html

[Chuck]

Jeff - photo with no markings at
personal.riverusers.com/~elmccaul/ac131390.htm

As I wrote before, markings and paint variations appeared and
disappeared and on occasion were fictitious, depending upon the specific
mission - especially from 1955 thru mid-1960's when individual crews and
aircraft were tasked by the Special Projects Division, CNO.

And not just the "Q" and earlier (NCU, Detachment A, etc.) birds - the
VC squadrons' P2V-3C Neptunes (with tailhooks) were also tasked and flew
some out of short "secret" airfields; RATO/JATO takeoffs and arresting
wires stretched across the "runway" attached to heavy piles of junk,
which were simply dragged along the ground, then bulldozed back in
position.

Chuck (VC-8, VAH-1, FAITCLANT, VQ-2)



HEAVY ATTACK COMPOSITE (VC-5,6,7,8,9) WEBSITE
http://community.webtv.net/charles379/USNComposite

FAIRECONRON ONE AND TWO (VQ-1/2) CASUALTIES
http://www.anzwers.org/free/navyscpo4/Chuck_Huber_AirCrew.html