The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter is a four-engined, piston-powered United States strategic

tanker aircraft This is a list of tanker aircraft used for aerial refuelling of another aircraft while in powered flight. Refueling methods ;Looped hose: The first commercial method employed a hose which was held slack in a trailing half-loop behind both airc ...

based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It replaced the

KB-29 The Boeing KB-29 was a modified Boeing B-29 Superfortress for air refueling needs by the USAF. Two primary versions were developed and produced: KB-29M and KB-29P. The 509th and 43d Air Refueling Squadrons ( Walker AFB, NM and Davis-Mon ...

and was succeeded by the

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave ...

Design and development

The KC-97 Stratofreighter was an

aerial refueling Aerial refueling ( en-us), or aerial refuelling ( en-gb), also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to an ...

tanker variant of the C-97 Stratofreighter (which was itself based on the

Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the Bo ...

), greatly modified with all the necessary tanks, plumbing, and a flying boom first developed for the KB-29 bomber. The cavernous upper deck was capable of accommodating oversize cargo accessed through a very large right-side door. In addition, transferable jet fuel was contained in tanks on the lower deck (G-L models). Both decks were heated and pressurized for high altitude operations. The boom operator lay prone, viewing operations through a window at the bottom of the tail, a configuration later used on the

KC-135 The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave ...

. ''Note: Occasionally the KC-97 has been referred to as "Stratotanker". However, all reputable sources refer to the KC-97 as Stratofreighter, not -tanker. This includes both Boeing and the USAF themselves.''

Operational history

76th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 71-0314 Refueling

The USAF began operating the KC-97 in 1950. It received a total of 811 KC-97s from Boeing,Bach, p. 12 as opposed to only 74 of the C-97 cargo version,Bach, p. 4-7 while ordering 819 KC-97s and 74 C-97s. The KC-97 carried

aviation gasoline Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK) is an aviation fuel used in aircraft with spark-ignited internal combustion engines. ''Avgas'' is distinguished from conventional gasoline (petrol) used in motor vehicles, wh ...

for its own

piston engines A reciprocating engine, more often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of all ...

but it carried

jet fuel Jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel (ATF, also abbreviated avtur) is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by Gas turbine, gas-turbine engines. It is colorless to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for ...

for its refueling mission, this required an independent system for each type of fuel. However in an emergency, it was able to also offload its aviation gas to a receiver in a procedure universally known as a "save". These tankers were vitally important to the world-wide

Boeing B-47 Stratojet The Boeing B-47 Stratojet (Boeing company designation Model 450) is a retired American long- range, six-engined, turbojet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at high altitude to avoid enemy interceptor aircraft ...

strategic operations. An example was the support of Arctic reconnaissance flights from Thule Air Base. During Operation Creek Party, which started in 1967 and lasted for 10 years, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve tankers supported active duty USAF and NATO units in Europe, including an 160th Air Refueling Group Ohio Air National Guard KC-97L. While it was an effective tanker, the KC-97's slow speed and low operational altitude complicated refueling operations with jet aircraft. B-52s typically lowered their flaps and rear landing gear to slow the aircraft enough to refuel from the KC-97. In addition, a typical B-52 refueling engagement profile would involve a descent that allowed the aircraft pair to maintain a higher airspeed (220–240 knots). In the early 1960s, the

Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...

added General Electric J47 two twin- jet pods from retired KB-50 aerial tankers to produce the KC-97L. These jet pods increased the speed of the KC-97 (for short periods of time) and made it more compatible with jet fighter planes like the F-84, F-100, and F-101. In 1956, the

Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile compon ...

began phasing out its KC-97s in favor of the KC-135 Stratotanker. KC-97s continued flying with Tactical Air Command, the

Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...

, and the

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...

. The rest of the KC-97s were retired completely in 1978, when the Texas Air National Guard and the Utah Air National Guard exchanged their KC-97Ls for the

C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...

and the KC-135 Stratotanker, respectively. One KC-97 airframe (AF Ser. No. 52-0828) was adapted into the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy, a transport plane designed to carry

Apollo Program The Apollo program, also known as Project Apollo, was the United States human spaceflight program led by NASA, which Moon landing, landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969. Apollo followed Project Mercury that put the first Americans in sp ...

rocket stages from California to Florida. The aircraft carried the Saturn S-IVB stage, which served as the second stage of the Saturn IB, the third stage of the

Saturn V The Saturn V is a retired American super heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by NASA under the Apollo program for human exploration of the Moon. The rocket was human-rated, had multistage rocket, three stages, and was powered by liquid-propel ...

, and the fourth stage for the never-built Nova rocket. This modified KC-97, constructed in 1953, was eventually purchased by NASA in 1997. It is still in service supporting NASA, other Federal agencies, and Federal contractors. It is one of two KC-97s left still in flyable condition, the other being former KC-97G 52-2718, "Angel of Deliverance", currently flown by Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation as YC-97A 45-59595.

Variants

;KC-97A: Three C-97As were converted into aerial refueling tankers with rear loading door removed and a flight refueling boom added. After the design was proven, they were converted back into the standard C-97A. ;KC-97E: Company designation Model 367-4-29. Aerial refueling tankers with rear loading doors permanently closed, 60 built. Some were later converted into transports as the C-97E. ;KC-97F: Company designation Model 367-76-29. 3800 hp R-4360-59B engines and minor changes, 159 built. Some were later converted into transport as the C-97F. ;KC-97G: Company designation Model 367-76-66. Dual-role aerial refueling tankers/cargo transportation aircraft. KC-97G models carried underwing fuel tanks. 592 built. ;EC-97G:

ELINT Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is the act and field of intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly u ...

conversion of three KC-97Gs. 53-106 was operated by the Central Intelligence Agency for covert ELINT operations in the West Berlin Air Corridor. ;C-97G: 135 KC-97Gs converted to transports. ;GKC-97G: Five KC-97Gs were used as ground instruction airframes. ;JKC-97G: One aircraft was modified to test the underwing General Electric J47-GE-23 jet engines, and was later designated KC-97L. ;HC-97G: KC-97Gs converted for search and rescue operations, 22 converted. ;KC-97H: One KC-97F was experimentally converted into a hose-and-drogue refueling aircraft. ;YC-97J: Company designation Model 367-86-542. Two KC-97G conversion with four 4250 kW Pratt & Whitney YT34-P-5 turboprops, dropped in favour of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. ;C-97K: 27 KC-97Gs converted to troop transports. ;KC-97L: 81 KC-97Gs modified with two J47 turbojet engines on underwing pylons.

Operators

; *

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...

; * Spanish Air Force ; *

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

The following USAF wing organizations flew the various KC-97 models at some time during their existence:

Active duty

* 2d Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Hunter AFB,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

(1953–1963) ** 2d Air Refueling Squadron * 9th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Mountain Home AFB,

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

(1954–1965) ** 9th Air Refueling Squadron * 11th Air Refueling Wing – Altus AFB,

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

(1957–1958) ** 96th Air Refueling Squadron * 19th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Homestead AFB,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

(1955–1961) ** 19th Air Refueling Squadron ** 100th Air Refueling Squadron ** 303d Air Refueling Squadron * 22d Bombardment Wing (Medium) – March AFB,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

(1952–1962) ** 22d Air Refueling Squadron ** 22d Air Refueling Squadron – (relocated as a GSU to McChord AFB, Washington) ** 320th Air Refueling Squadron * 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Medium) – Lockborne AFB,

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

(1953–1955; 1956–1958) ** 26th Air Refueling Squadron ** 321st Air Refueling Squadron * 28th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) – Ellsworth AFB,

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

(1962–1964) ** 97th Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Malmstrom AFB,

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

* 40th Bombardment Wing (Medium) Schilling AFB,

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

(1953–1960) ** 40th Air Refueling Squadron * 42d Bombardment Wing (Heavy) – Limestone AFB,

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

(1955–1957) ** 42d Air Refueling Squadron * 43d Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Davis-Monthan AFB,

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

(1953–1960) ** 9th Air Refueling Squadron ** 43d Air Refueling Squadron * 44th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Lake Charles AFB,

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

(1953–1960) ** 44th Air Refueling Squadron * 68th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana (1953–1957) ** 68th Air Refueling Squadron * 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Medium) – Little Rock AFB,

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

(1955–1961) ** 70th Air Refueling Squadron * 90th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Fairchild AFB, Washington (1955–1960) ** 90th Air Refueling Squadron * 91st Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Glasgow AFB,

(1952–1957) ** 26th Air Refueling Squadron ** 68th Air Refueling Squadron **

91st Air Refueling Squadron The 91st Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It operates the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions. The squadron was first activated in January 1941 as ...

** 100th Air Refueling Squadron * 93d Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Castle AFB,

(1953–1957) ** 90th Air Refueling Squadron **

93d Air Refueling Squadron The 93rd Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where it is assigned to the 92nd Operations Group and operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air r ...

* 96th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Altus AFB,

(1954–1958) ** 11th Air Refueling Squadron ** 96th Air Refueling Squadron ** 321st Air Refueling Squadron ** 380th Air Refueling Squadron * 97th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Biggs AFB,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

(1954–1957) ** 97th Air Refueling Squadron * 98th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Lincoln AFB,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

(1954–1963) ** 98th Air Refueling Squadron ** 307th Air Refueling Squadron * 100th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Portsmouth AFB/ Pease AFB,

New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

(1956–1966) ** 100th Air Refueling Squadron ** 509th Air Refueling Squadron * 301st Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Barksdale AFB,

/ Lockborne AFB,

(1953–1963) ** 301st Air Refueling Squadron * 303rd Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Davis-Monthan AFB,

(1953–1956; 1960) ** 9th Air Refueling Squadron ** 43d Air Refueling Squadron ** 96th Air Refueling Squadron ** 303d Air Refueling Squadron * 305th Bombardment Wing (Medium) –

MacDill AFB MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...

(1951–1959) ** 305th Air Refueling Squadron * 306th Bombardment Wing (Medium) –

(1951–1962) **

306th Air Refueling Squadron The 306th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 457th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where it was inactivated on 1 August 1994. The squadron's first predecessor is t ...

* 307th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Lincoln AFB,

(1955–1960) ** 307th Air Refueling Squadron * 308th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Hunter AFB,

(1953–1959) ** 303d Air Refueling Squadron ** 308th Air Refueling Squadron * 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Smoky Hill AFB/ Schilling AFB,

(1952–1963) ** 40th Air Refueling Squadron ** 310th Air Refueling Squadron * 320th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – March AFB,

(1952–1960) ** 320th Air Refueling Squadron * 321st Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Pinecastle AFB,

(1954–1956) ** 307th Air Refueling Squadron ** 321st Air Refueling Squadron * 340th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Whiteman AFB,

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

(1954–1962) ** 34th Air Refueling Squadron ** 340th Air Refueling Squadron * 341st Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Dyess AFB,

(1956–1960) ** 11th Air Refueling Squadron * 376th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Barksdale AFB,

/ Lockborne AFB,

(1953–1963) **

** 376th Air Refueling Squadron * 379th Bombardment Wing – Homestead AFB,

(1956–1961) ** 19th Air Refueling Squadron * 384th Air Refueling Wing (Heavy) – Little Rock AFB,

(1961–1963) ** 70th Air Refueling Squadron * 397th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) – Dow AFB,

(1963–1964) ** 71st Air Refueling Squadron **

341st Air Refueling Squadron The 641st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. After training with Douglas A-20 Havocs in the United States the squadron deployed to the European Theater of World War II, where it engaged in combat until the Surrend ...

* 407th Strategic Fighter Wing – Great Falls AFB,

(1953–1957) **

407th Air Refueling Squadron The 407th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Wing at Loring Air Force Base, Maine, where it was inactivated on 1 October 1990. The first predecessor of the squadro ...

* 497th Air Refueling Wing – Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1962–1964) ** 26th Air Refueling Squadron ** 380th Air Refueling Squadron * 499th Air Refueling Wing – Westover AFB,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

(1963–1965) ** 11th Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Dover AFB,

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

** 19th Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Otis AFB,

** 99th Air Refueling Squadron (operated KC-135 & EC-135 aircraft only) ** 303d Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Kindley AFB,

Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...

** 305th Air Refueling Squadron- GSU McGuire AFB,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

** 384th Air Refueling Squadron – Westover AFB,

(1963–1965) * 500th Air Refueling Wing – Selfridge AFB,

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

(1963–1964) ** 44th Air Refueling Squadron ** 307th Air Refueling Squadron * 509th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) – Walker AFB,

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

/ Pease AFB,

(1954–1965) ** 509th Air Refueling Squadron * 4397th Air Refueling Training Wing – Randolph AFB,

(1958–1963) ** 4397th Combat Crew Training Squadron * 4050th Air Refueling Wing – Westover AFB,

(1955–1962) ** 11th Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Dover AFB,

** 19th Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Otis AFB,

** 26th Air Refueling Squadron – Westover AFB,

** 303d Air Refueling Squadron – GSU Kindley AFB,

** 305th Air Refueling Squadron- GSU McGuire AFB,

** 384th Air Refueling Squadron – Westover AFB,

(1963–1965) * 4060th Air Refueling Wing – Dow AFB,

/ Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1955–1962) * 4108th Air Refueling Wing – Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1961–1965) * 4045th Air Refueling Wing – Selfridge AFB,

* 4061st Air Refueling Wing – Malmstrom AFB,

(1957–1961) **

* 4081st Strategic Wing – Ernest Harmon AFB,

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

(1960–1966) ** 376th Air Refueling Squadron

Air National Guard

* 106th Air Refueling Group – NAS New York/Floyd Bennett Field, then Suffolk County Airport, New York (1962–1972) ** 102d Air Refueling Squadron * 126th Air Refueling Wing –

O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop, Loop business district. The airport is ope ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

(1953–1976) ** 108th Air Refueling Squadron *

128th Air Refueling Wing The 128th Air Refueling Wing (128 ARW) is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, stationed at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If activated to federal service in the United States Air Force, the wing is operati ...

– General Mitchell Air National Guard Base,

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

(1962–1977) **

126th Air Refueling Squadron The 126th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The 126th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker. The squadron w ...

* 134th Air Refueling Wing – McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base,

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

(1964–1977) ** 151st Air Refueling Squadron * 146th Air Transport Wing-

Van Nuys Van Nuys ( ) is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1 ...

(1962–1967) ** 115th Air Refueling Squadron * 136th Air Refueling Wing – NAS Dallas,

(1965–1978) ** 181st Air Refueling Squadron * 139th Air Refueling Group – Rosecrans Air National Guard Base,

(1969–1976) ** 180th Air Refueling Squadron * 151st Air Refueling Group –

Salt Lake City Air National Guard Base Salt Lake City International Airport is a joint civil-military international airport located about west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The airport, along with the much smaller Provo Airport (PVU) and Ogden–Hinckley Airpo ...

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

(1972–1978) ** 191st Air Refueling Squadron * 160th Air Refueling Group – Lockborne AFB,

(1965–1975) **

145th Air Refueling Squadron The 145th Air Refueling Squadron (145 ARS) is an inactive unit of the Ohio Air National Guard 121st Air Refueling Wing located at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio. The 145th was equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker. The squa ...

* 161st Air Refueling Group – Goldwater Air National Guard Base,

(1972–1977) ** 197th Air Refueling Squadron * 171st Air Refueling Wing –

Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania. It is located west-northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Overview Pittsburgh IAP ARS is the home station of the ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

(1972–1977) **

147th Air Refueling Squadron The 147th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 171st Air Refueling Wing located at Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania. The 147th is equipped with the KC-135T Stratotanker. History World War II The ...

Accidents and incidents

;27 June 1954:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''52-2654'' which departed from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, encountered poor weather at its destination, March Air Force Base in California, and attempted to divert to

Norton Air Force Base Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California. Overview For the majority of its operational lifetime, Norton was a logistics depot and heavy-l ...

, but crashed into Box Springs Mountain north of

Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 314,998. It is the most populous city in th ...

, killing all 14 people on board. ;4 May 1955:USAF KC-97G ''53-0110'' was flying in formation when it crashed into the Atlantic 90 mi off Iceland due to loss of control caused by an engine fire, killing all nine on board. ;6 July 1956:USAF KC-97E ''51-0220'' crashed in a wooded area 45 mile northeast of Goose Bay, Canada after reporting an engine fire, killing all six on board. ;22 January 1957:a KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''53-0222'' from Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, crashed in the foothills of the

Adirondack Mountains The Adirondack Mountains ( ) are a massif of mountains in Northeastern New York which form a circular dome approximately wide and covering about . The region contains more than 100 peaks, including Mount Marcy, which is the highest point in Ne ...

, killing its crew of seven. ;9 May 1957:KC-97F AF Ser. No. ''51-0258'' en route from Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco, to Lajes AB, Azores, ditched in the Atlantic 550 km (343.8 mls) SE of the Azores Islands following a double engine failure. All seven crew survived. The airplane floated for ten days before being sunk by the battleship USS ''Wisconsin''. ;18 July 1957:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''52-2737'' from the 380th Air Refueling Squadron with a crew of eight, exploded and crashed into

Lake Champlain Lake Champlain ( ; , ) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the U.S. states of New York (state), New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canadian province of Quebec. The cities of Burlington, Ve ...

at 2128 hrs., when two of the four engines failed three minutes after take-off from Plattsburgh AFB, New York. There were three survivors. ;29 October 1957:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''52-2711'' of the 509th Bomb Wing, out of Walker AFB, New Mexico, crashed 35 miles north of

Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff ( ), known locally as Flag, is the county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 76,831. Flagstaff is the principal city of the Coconino Cou ...

, while on a nine-hour low-level survey flight to determine minimum altitude restrictions for B-47 training routes. The aircraft was seen over Gray Mountain, Arizona, at altitude of 60 feet shortly after 0830 hrs., and then heard striking a cloud-shrouded cliff face, killing 16 crew and strewing wreckage for 200 yards along mountainside. ;22 July 1959:KC-97 AF Ser. No. ''52-2703'' of Pease Air Force Base crashed near

Andover, New Hampshire Andover is a New England town, town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,406 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Andover includes the villages of Cilleyville, Potter ...

, while on a nighttime training mission; all seven crewmen were killed. ;14 December 1959:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''53-0231'' of the 384th Air Refueling Squadron, out of Westover AFB, Massachusetts, collided with a B-52 during a refueling mission at an altitude of ~15,000 feet. The aircraft lost the whole left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, the rudder, and the upper quarter of the vertical stabilizer. The crew made a no-flap, electrical power off landing at night at Dow AFB, Maine; seven crew okay. "Spokesmen at Dow Air Force, Bangor, said the B52 icapparently 'crowded too close' and rammed a fuel boom into the tail of a four-engined KC95 ictanker plane." Aircraft stricken as beyond economical repair. Two crew on the B-52 ejected, parachuted safely, and were recovered by helicopters in a snow-covered wilderness area. The bomber and remaining eight crew safely landed at Westover AFB. ;30 March 1960:KC-97 AF Ser. No. ''51-0363'' (Manufacturer's Serial Number 16430) ditched and sank off

Cape Canaveral Cape Canaveral () is a cape (geography), cape in Brevard County, Florida, in the United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. Officially Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated ...

. This particular aircraft was lost due to engine damage caused by hail. The crash resulted in 3 fatalities of the 14 crew. The wreck of the aircraft was discovered June 6, 2015, in 365 feet of water by divers. ;15 April 1960:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''52-0919'' of the 307th Air Refueling Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, crashed on take-off from Lincoln AFB, Nebraska, after the undercarriage collapsed. All 24 on board survived, with two airmen suffering leg fractures and five others with minor cuts and burns. ;27 June 1960:KC-97G AF Ser. No. ''52-2728'' of the 380th Air Refueling Squadron, Plattsburgh AFB, New York, suffered failure of lubrication on an engine impeller shaft during an evening four-hour training mission to refuel a Boeing B-47 Stratojet. During rendezvous at 15,500 feet, the tanker's number one (port outer) powerplant caught fire. As the bomber moved away from the burning tanker, the crew tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze. The plane went into a spin as the wing failed outboard of the engine; the aircraft crashed on Jonathan Smith Mountain, a hill east of Puzzle Mountain in Newry, Maine. The flash of the fire was seen from as far away as Lewiston and Bridgton. All five crew were killed. Wreckage covering five acres was still there as of 2010.Langeveld, M.Dirk, Staff Writer, "''The ultimate sacrifice; wreck sites a reminder of military plane disasters''", Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, 12 September 2010. Retrieved on 2011-12-1SunJournal.com: Oxford Hills ''The ultimate sacrifice; wreck sites a reminder of military plane disasters''
Retrieved on 2011-12-1 ;28 February 1961:KC-97 AF Ser. No. UNKNOWN of Selfridge Air Force Base, MI. Aircraft crashed shortly after take-off due to engine failure. All five crew members were killed. The aircraft struck houses and an ornamental windmill that was a landmark along Gratiot Rd. (M-25), just north of the base. The attached article incorrectly identifies Selfridge AFB as Selfridge ANGB. Selfridge was not transferred to the Air National Guard until 1 July 1971. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-boeing-kc-97-stratotanker-selfridge-afb-5-killed ; 5 November 1964:KC-97 AF Ser. No. ''unknown'' of Pease Air Force Base crashed on takeoff; all five crewmen were killed. ;19 December 1964: USAF KC-97G ''52-907'' ran off the runway at Ernest Harmon AFB after the pilot landed too far down the runway, killing all five on board. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, but the aircraft struck approach lights and crashed into a pond. ;19 January 1969: Wisconsin Air National Guard KC-97L ''52-0904'' crashed short of the runway at General Mitchell Airport, killing four of 11 on board. ;17 September 1971:KC-97G IAF Serial ''4X-FPR/033'' of the Israeli Air Force, was shot down by Egyptian missiles over Suez, Egypt; seven of eight-man crew were killed.

Surviving aircraft

no KC-97s remain airworthy in 2025. there is a KC-97G "angel of Deliverance" but it was converted to C-97G to represent the C-97 that participated in the Berlin airlift

On display

KC-97G

*52-895 – Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Central Point, Oregon. *52-905 – Wisconsin National Guard Museum at Volk Field Air National Guard Base in

Camp Douglas, Wisconsin Camp Douglas is a village in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 647 at the 2020 census, up from 601 at the 2010 census. Camp Douglas is home to Volk Field Air National Guard Base. History Camp Douglas was laid out in ...

. *52-2604 - Cleveland I-X Center grounds in Cleveland Ohio. *52-2624 – Florence Air & Missile Museum,

Florence Regional Airport Florence Regional Airport is three miles east of Florence, in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. The only scheduled flights are American Eagle to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Facilities The airport covers and has ...

Florence, South Carolina Florence is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within the Florence metropol ...

, which is now closed. Following museum closure, parts were used complete the KC-97, AF Ser. No. 53-0335, on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. *52-2630 "''Zeppelinheim"'' –

National Museum of the United States Air Force The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is ...

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County, Ohio, Greene and Montgomery County, Ohio, Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patte ...

near

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...

. *52-2697 – Grissom Air Museum at

Grissom Air Reserve Base Grissom Air Reserve Base is a United States Air Force base, located about north of Kokomo, Indiana, Kokomo in Cass County, Indiana, Cass and Miami County, Indiana, Miami counties in Indiana. The facility was established as a U.S. Navy installa ...

(former Grissom AFB) in Peru, Indiana. *52-2736 – Israeli Air Force Museum adjacent to

Beersheba Beersheba ( / ; ), officially Be'er-Sheva, is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the centre of the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in Israel, the eighth-most p ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

. *53-151 – Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

. *53-189 (Spanish Serial Number TK1-3) – Museo del Aire (Spain) at Cuatro Vientos Airport in

Madrid, Spain Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

. Former USAF aircraft. *53-198 – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum near

Ashland, Nebraska Ashland is a city in Saunders County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,262 at th2022 census History Ashland is located at the site of a low-water limestone ledge along the bottom of Salt Creek, an otherwise mud-bottomed stream th ...

. *53-218 – Minnesota Air National Guard Museum,

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city a ...

. Displayed in C-97G configuration. *53-230 – Air Mobility Command Museum at

Dover Air Force Base Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force (USAF) base under the operational control of Air Mobility Command (AMC), located southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware. The 436th Airlift Wing is the host wing, and runs the bu ...

. *53-240 –

Barksdale Global Power Museum The Barksdale Global Power Museum (formerly, the 8th Air Force Museum) is an aviation museum run by the United States Air Force on Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City, Louisiana. Hosted by the 2nd Bomb Wing, it maintains a large collect ...

Barksdale Air Force Base Barksdale Air Force Base (Barksdale AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, in northwest Louisiana. Much of the base is within the city limits of Bossier City, Louisiana, along the base's western and northwest ...

. *53-272 - Milestones of Flight Museum, General William J. Fox Airfield, Lancaster,

, which is now closed. *53-282 – Dyess Linear Air Park at Dyess Air Force Base in

Abilene, Texas Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor County, Texas, Taylor and Jones County, Texas, Jones counties, Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan ar ...

. *53-283 – The Airplane Restaurant adjacent to Peterson Air Force Base and Colorado Springs Municipal Airport in

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...

. *53-298 – Museum of Aviation at

Robins Air Force Base Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force installation located in Houston County, Georgia, Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, Warner Robins, south-southea ...

. *53-327 – Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster,

. *53-335 – Carolinas Aviation Museum, north of Charlotte Air National Guard Base at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

. The museum is closed with a planned re-opening in 2022. *53-354 – Castle Air Museum at the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. *53-360 – Malmstrom Museum, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Displayed as 52-2638. *53-363 –

March Field Air Museum The March Field Air Museum is an aviation museum near Moreno Valley, California, Moreno Valley and Riverside, California, located at March Air Reserve Base. History The museum was founded in 1979 as March Air Force Base Museum. One of the first e ...

March Air Reserve Base March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), previously known as March Air Force Base (March AFB), is located in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside, California, Riverside, Moreno Valley, California, Moreno Valley, and Perri ...

(former March AFB) in

Stored

every stored airplane is a former hawkins and powers water bomberhttps://www.ruudleeuw.com/grey-logs.htm * KC-97L - 16612 (N97HP) “aluminum overcast” stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 16990 (N397HP) stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 17047 (N497HP) stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 22698 (N1365N) stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 17132 (N972HP) stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 16792 (N29862) stored in greybull, wyoming * KC-97L - 16726 (N29866) stored in greybull, wyoming

In popular culture

The KC-97 Stratofreighter is shown in both its cargo and tanker tasks in the 1955 film ''Strategic Air Command'', refueling a B-47 in flight, and in the 1957 film ''Bombers B-52'', refueling B-52s.

Specifications (KC-97L)

Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter 3-view line drawing

References

Citations

Bibliography

* Bach, Martin: ''Boeing 367 Stratofreighter, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, Aero Spacelines Guppies.'' NARA Verlag, Allershausen 1996, . * Bowers, Peter M.: ''Boeing Aircraft since 1916.'' Putnam Aeronautical Books, London 1989, . * Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M.: ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909.'' Putnam Aeronautical Books, London 1989, .

External links

KC-97 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
(archived)
Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter - National Museum of the United States Air Force
(active)

A Look Back At Tankers
- U.S Department of Defense {{DEFAULTSORT:Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker KC-097 KC-97 Stratotanker Four-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft with auxiliary jet engines Air refueling Stratotanker Four-engined piston aircraft Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear