Aircraft and Broadcast Equipment Information
AIRCRAFT INFO
BUNO: 128429
ACFT TYPE: C-118
CALL SIGN: None
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Test Aircraft, temporary configuration, Radio/TV Broadcast
YEAR CONVERTED: 1962
ACFT NICKNAME: None
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1965
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Returned to parent squadron VR-1 and eventually probably
scrapped
BUNO: 131611
ACFT TYPE: C-118
CALL SIGN: None
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Test Aircraft, temporary configuration, Radio/TV Broadcast
YEAR CONVERTED: 1962
ACFT NICKNAME: None
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1965
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Returned to parent squadron VR-1 and eventually probably
scrapped
BUNO: 131627
ACFT TYPE: NC-121J
CALL SIGN: Blue Eagle I (one)
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Radio Broadcast aircraft, permanent configuration
YEAR CONVERTED: 1965
ACFT NICKNAME: DaNang Dirty Bird
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1970 ?
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Scrapped
BUNO: 128444
ACFT TYPE: NC-121J
CALL SIGN: Blue Eagle II (two)
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Radio/TV Broadcast aircraft, permanent configuration
YEAR CONVERTED: 1965
ACFT NICKNAME: Cripple Four
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1970 ?
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Scrapped
BUNO: 131641
ACFT TYPE: NC-121J
CALL SIGN: Blue Eagle III (three)
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Radio/TV Broadcast aircraft, permanent
configuration
YEAR CONVERTED: 1965
ACFT NICKNAME: Slick-Four-One
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1970 ?
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Scrapped
BUNO: 131655
ACFT TYPE: NC-121J
CALL SIGN: Blue Eagle VI (six)
ACFT CONFIGURATION: Radio/TV Broadcast aircraft, permanent
configuration
YEAR CONVERTED: 1966
ACFT NICKNAME: None
YEAR DECONFIGURED: 1970 ? (see note 1)
FINAL STATUS OF ACFT: Scrapped (see note 1)
Note 1 - Information recieved from Jim Andrews, a broadcast
engineer at AFVN in 1970/71 indicates that broadcast equipment was removed
from some of the Blue Eagles and left in Saigon for the use of AFVN/THVN.
However, Jim also states that one aircraft was left in Saigon for a broadcast
backup. It is possible this was Blue Eagle VI. It is also possiblethat
this aircraft was eventually turned over to the U.S. Air Force and assigned
to Project Coronet Solo, the follow-on airborne broadcast project to Project
Jenny. Project Coronet Solo is the fore-runner of Project Commando Solo,the
airborne radio/TV broadcast project that recently saw service in Afghanistan.
Note 2- If anyone knows why the Blue Eagle numbersskipped
from Blue Eagle III to Blue Eagle VI, the information would be appreciated.
Is it possible that someone in OASU didn't know how to count? Or more realistically,
someone in the Pentagon didn't know how to count.
BROADCAST EQUIPMENT INFO
(Nominal 1966 Configuration)
RADIO/TV BROADCAST EQUIPMENT
One 1KW RCA FM Transmitter
One 1KW RCA AM Transmitter (see note 1)
Two 2KW RCA Hi Band/Lo Band VHF TV Transmitters (see
note 2 & 3)
One 10KW AN/FRT-39 HF/SSB/ISB Transmitter
One RCA TR-4 2" Video Tape Recorder (see note 3)
One RCA TR-22 2" Video Tape Recorder (see note 3)
Two RCA 16mm Film Chains w/vidicon cameras (see note
3)
Two RCA TG-12 Sync Generators with associated video
distribution equipment(see note 3)
Two RCA Video Switching Consoles (see note 3)
One RCA Orthicon Video Camera installed in studio with
remote camera control(see note 3)
Two Conrac Waveform/Video Monitors installed in control
console (see note3)
Two Conrac Video Monitors installed in equipment racks
(see note 3)
One large Conrac Video Monitor in control area (see
note 3)
Two RCA Stereo Audio Switching Consoles
Three RCA Reel-to-Reel Audio Recorders
Three RCA Casette Audio Recorder/Playback units
Audio distribution amplifiers and switching equipment
Note 1. Original installation in BE 2 and BE3 was an
RCA 1KW AM transmittter, changed at a later date to a TMC 10KW AM transmitter.
BE 1 had an RCA 10KW AM transmitter
Note 2. BE 2 and 3 had RCA 2KW Video/1KW Aural transmitters,
BE 6 had an RCA 5KW Video/2KW Aural transmitter
Note 3. Video equipment not installed on BE 1.
BE 1 had an additional EW position installed for Naval Security Group individuals
use
COMSEC/COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Two Collins R-1051 HF Commuications Receivers
One R-390 HF Communications Receiver
One R-389 LF/MF Communications Receiver
One Telesig 4 Channel VFTG Terminal Set
One URA-17 FSK Converter/Comparitor
One FSK Keying Set
Two Mite TT-299 Teletypes
Two KW-7 Crypto Sets
updated 26 Feb 02 SJR