Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-97G Stratofreighter "Angel of Deliverance"

Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter "Angel of Deliverance"
Ocean County Airport / Robert J. Miller Airpark
Toms River, New Jersey
Tuesday November 7, 2017

This video covers a special event featuring the C-97G Stratofreighter owned by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (BAHF) as it made its first flight in over fifteen years. The C-97G, operated by the BAHF, was fully restored over a span of fifteen years at the Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, and on November 7, made its first flight to the Ocean County Airport (KMJX) in Toms River, New Jersey. Photos featured here include its landing at KMJX, with a T-34 photo ship seen, which was flown by Mark Murphy, as well as photos ramp side and inside the aircraft, as well as one of its departure. After a fuel stop, the aircraft departed KMJX for Reading Regional Airport in Pennsylvania. Video of its startup and departure are also featured here; I do apologize as I was using an iPhone for video and attempted both photo and video on the departure.

The aircraft featured here was delivered to the USAF as a KC-97G on April 27, 1954 and registered as 52-2718. Over its nearly twenty year career in the USAF it was based at Lincoln AFB, NE; Altus AFB, OK; Malmstrom AFB, MT; Plattsburgh AFB, NY; Milwaukee, WI; and Salt Lake City, UT. While in Milwaukee it was converted to KC-97L standard with the addition of two J47 turbojet engines under the outboard wings. After its service with the USAF it was retired to the Boneyard, where it was auctioned off in 1986, converted to a C-97G, and seized by the US Marshals in 1988 and auctioned to a firm in Texas and used for humanitarian missions to South America and to carry fish in Alaska.

The BAHF purchased the aircraft in 1996, flew it from Washington to Wyoming in 1998, painted in 2000 in its current paint scheme, flown to South Dakota and Millville, New Jersey in 2001, was on static display during the 2002 Wheels and Wings Airshow in Millville, and flown to Floyd Bennett Field after the airshow. The aircraft is painted as YC-97A 45–9595, which was used in the Berlin Airlift during April 1949 operating for the 1st Strategic Support Squadron. It suffered a landing gear accident at Rhein Main Air Base and by the time it was repaired, the Soviet Blockade was lifted. It was the only C-97 used in the Berlin Airlift.

The BAHF can be reached at http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

I would like to extend a huge thank you to the BAHF as well as the staff of Ocean Aire FBO at the Ocean County Airport for allowing access for this historic event.

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