by Phil Rowe
No sir ... she doesn't get much respect at all today. Oh sure, some of her former ramp-mates still receive laurels, but not her. And that's a darn shame. The trusty old C-47 Gooney Bird stills draws "ooohs and aahhs" from nostalgic fans. And even "Old Shakey", that lumbering and monstrous C-124, gets more respect than the airplane I must remind you of here. How quickly we forget. But then a couple generations have grown up since she joined the Air Force inventory.
The proud bird that deserves both our affection and continuing admiration is the Boeing C/KC-97 aerial gas station and versatile transport. She served faithfully for decades in the 50's, 60's and even into the 70's. And she served all around the world. She was the replacement for KB-29 tankers and then in return was replaced by the KC-135 jet tanker. How could you forget her so quickly?
From "strip alert" duty in northern Goose Bay, Labrador to the deserts of Africa the mighty KC-97 tanker and its cargo-only cousin the C-97 more than earned their keep. She hauled troops, cargo, aircraft engines and just about everything imaginable, in addition to refueling thirsty fighters and bombers. And she was a welcome escort across the oceans for airplanes that could not have made it without her help.
Look at them. All lined up in the cold, ice and snow and ready to serve instantly. These are some of the mighty KC-97's that helped the Strategic Air Command (SAC) maintain readiness during those dark years of the Cold War. Designed and built right after WWII, the venerable KC-97's were an essential part of America's nuclear deterrent, for without them the B-47's could not reach their targets. Fighters placed in forward bases in Europe required their support just to get there. Without those dependable flying gas stations our retaliatory air forces would have to stay at home.
Oh sure, the speed of the KC-97 was a bit of a problem, not enough of it. And the total fuel available to off-load to big receivers, like the B-52, wasn't enough. But in her day the KC-97 was a worthy craft that performed well. She sure hauled a lot of SAC support and maintenance troops and equipment around too. Whenever our bombers deployed to forward bases in the far north (Thule, Goose Bay, Gander, etc..) or in England, Africa and across the Pacific, that dependable KC-97 went along to provide essential help.
In later years she was modified with jet engines (KC-97L models) to boost her speed and extend her useful life in the coming age of higher speed bombers and fighters. She was passed off from the regular Air Forces to the Air Reserves and the National Guard units. Still she performed faithfully and loyally. New roles and missions for her included rescue, communications and electronic reconnaissance. And she kept on helping with troop deployments, cargo hauling and ready reserve duties.
Finally it was time to retire that venerable old bird. The KC-135 was faster, carried more and kept up with the pace of the jet age. But old 'Casey' earned her time out to pasture, having served the military and the American taxpayer well. It's just a darn shame that folks have forgotten her, choosing instead to remember other planes with barely half her capabilities.
Ah well. I hope that this will encourage readers to find out more about this proud airplane. She can be seen at several aircraft museums and static displays. And there are even a few WWW sites that talk about her and display her portrait. Why not browse around and see what you can find?