8th AF Museum: walk through history

A Boeing KC-97 G/L "Stratofreighter" sits on display as part of the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Feb. 16, 2011. The aircraft was manned by a crew of five and had a maximum speed of 400 mph, with a range of 2,300 miles. The first flight occurred on Nov. 15, 1944. A tanker version (KC-97) was introduced in 1950 using the "flying boom" refueling system. After 1956, USAF KC-97s were gradually replaced by KC-135 jet tankers, but some were modified for continued use in other roles. This particular aircraft arrived at the 8th Air Force Museum in 1980. A team of five, three from the 2nd Bomb Wing and two from the 917th Wing took a week to get the KC-97 ready for the flight to Barksdale from the DoD Salvage and Reclamation yard at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where it had been since 1975. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)