RC-130B

This "Plain Jane" RC-130B, 59-1532, shown landing at Yokota AB, Japan, in December 1968 is a rare bird. In addition to three HF (long wire) antennas, the airplane has a shorter antenna from the lower tail to a post on the fuselage top near the tail, a swept VHF (?) blade antenna on top of the fuselage, and a short antenna just visible under the horizontal stabilizer. The underwing tanks also are unusual for a B-model to be placed outboard on the wings. The Hercules was one of a fleet of thirteen RC-130Bs modified for electronic reconnaissance. Does anyone have more information on this aircraft and the unit that flew it?

Welcome to the site matsman.

We have more info on #59-1532 in our database.

http://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database/ ... file/6571/

Would be interested in getting you send in a bigger image of this photo so we can update the history of 1532.

I flew that airplane at the 706TAS AFRES at NAS NOLA after it was demoded in the 70's.
It crashed in Bolivia in 1994.
When it was a BII it was flown by 556 RS at Yokota until the 70's when it went to the 7406CS at Rhein Main after that we got it at NOLA in 74.
I had a list of 13 BII's 58-0711,0723,59-1524,1525,1526,1527,1528,1530,1531,1532,1533,1535,1537.
If you have any other pics of the BII's could you post them.
Thanks again
Bob

I flew an FCF on that one too after it transferred to AFRES

We got that airplane at NAS NOLA from the active duty in Nov 74. Were you there then?
Bob

Lake City , Fl. The pods underwing are probably antennae inside a fibreglass shell. The KC-130F ,USMC, refueling pod weighs 950 LB and the KC-130F is structurally a C-130B . There is a reinforcement Mod to the outer wings at OWS 334 to accommodate the IFR Pod on the KC ,so the same Mod could be performed on a "B" and the antennae pod weigh 950 LB or less it would work on a "B". Certainly not a fuel tank.

There were 13 RC-130B or more commonly C-130BII
When we first got them most still had small cabins in the back. We could not haul trash with them until they went to Birmingham and the cabins taken out and rails put in.
The aircraft were 58-0711,0723 59-1524,25,26,27,28,30,31,32,33,35,37
I flew 26,27,28,30,31,37 at 68TAS, 32 at 706TAS and 35 at 706 and 68.
Bob

What series of planes is the AFRES flying at NAS NOLA today?

I was in 706 TAS, when they took our Herks away, I transferred to Kelly.
AFRES replaced the Herks with A-37's , then F-16's and A-10's and finally transferred the unit to Nellis.
As far as I know, no AFRES flying at NOLA, The guard still has F-15's, the Navy FA-18 and Herks, and the Coast Guard helos.
Bob