Dates

Event

Constructed as a RC-121D.

Circa 1953

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 53-0535.

November 1963

Redesignated as EC-121H.

Transferred to 551st Airborne Early Warning Wing, Otis AFB.
Operated with markings: U.S. AIR FORCE

December 1969

Assigned to Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ for storage.
Retired and flown to Davis Monthan.

29 December 1969

Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number CK084.

11 June 1970

Declared excess.

October 1973

To Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, Arizona, United States.

25 September 1980

Photographer: Paul Thallon
Notes: 1980 photo at Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ - of a Lockheed EC-121H Warning Star

October 1981

To Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ.
Traded back to Davis Monthan for EC-121T 53-554.

28 October 1981

Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number CK0220.

Placed on display near the main gate of Davis Monthan AFB.

To Leonard Parker.

On behalf of the owner stored with/at Allied Aircraft Sales, Tucson, Arizona, United States.

To Minden Corporation/Janet Shephardson, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, AZ.
View the Location Dossier

5 October 1993

Photographer: eLaReF
Notes: Parked at scrapyard in Tucson

By 1996

To Allied Aircraft Sales, Tucson, AZ.
View the Location Dossier

February 1996

To Vern Raburn.

4 March 1996

To unknown owner with c/r N51006.
Sale reported to a new owner in Scottsdale, AZ.

July 2001

To Urs Lauppi.

6 July 2001

Photographer: Simon Wallwork
Notes: Abandoned RC-121D in Minden in 2001. It showed up at Pima AM later, after this yard was cleared

30 April 2002

Photographer: Reinhard Jost
Notes: Center section of 53-0535 is still visible between the remains of other classic airliners at Allied Aircraft yard, Tucson, AZ

To Super Constellation Flyers Association.
Mr. Lauppi donated the Connie to the association for use as a spares plane.

2007

To Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Wollongong Airport, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
Sold to HARS for use in the support of their C-121C, c/r VH-EAG.

June 2008

Transported by ground. Delivered to Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, AZ.
Moved from the Allied Aircraft yard to the storage area of the museum.
View the Location Dossier

August 2011

Scrapped at the Pima museum with the forward fuselage set-aside to be shipped to Australia for restoration.

9 September 2011

Photographer: Mike Henniger

27 February 2013

Civil registration, N51006, cancelled.
Sale reported to a new owner in Scottsdale, AZ.