Built by Lockheed Aircraft, it was derived from the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation commercial airliner. It was first developed by the Navy as an airborne picket plane carrying special electronic gear. A similar USAF variant was produced for airborne early warning operations. They entered service with the Air Defense Command in October, 1953 with the 552nd AEW & C Wing operating patrols off the U.S. West Coast from McClellan AFB, California. During the Vietnam War, aircraft from the 552nd operated from airfields in South Vietnam providing early warning and control for U.S. aircraft flying missions over North Vietnam during Project ‘College Eye’.

Navy Bu.No. 141309 is a Navy WV-2 built by Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, California and delivered to the Navy in August, 1956. It served with VW-13, VW-15, and VW-2 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland; and in November, 1961 it was sent to the Pacific Missile Range, NAS Point Mugu, California. It was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in March, 1978, and was flown to the museum in April, 1983.

The museum’s ‘Warning Star’ was given the USAF S/N 53-552 in honor of the 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing which was stationed at McClellan from 1953 to 1977.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Crew: 22, including radar operators.

Power Plants: Four 3,250 hp Wright R-3350-35 engines.

Dimensions:

Span: 126 ft 2 in.

Length: 116 ft 2 in.

Height: 27 ft 0 in.

Weight: Empty – 80,611 lbs. Gross – 143,600 lbs.

Performance:

Speed: 321 mph at 20,000 ft.

Service Ceiling: 20,600 ft.

Range: 4,600 miles.

THIS AIRCRAFT IS ON LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE USAF