62-4473_1976-03_MUC_1290_SB
Photo taken by Stephan Barth, scan kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.
München-Riem
March 1976
62-4473
North American CT-39A
276-26
United States Air Force
62-4473 was noted at Riem on 28 March 1976 (probably the precise date for this shot) along with an assortment of other US Air Force/Navy/Marine planes including VC-188A 53-3303, Convair C-131F 141011, US Marine Corps Douglas C-9B II 160046 and USAF Sabreliners 61-0679 and 62-4469.
Information from airhistory.net - thanks to Stephan Barth:
24473 was based at Ramstein AFB when it visited Munich-Riem in 1976. Later, after a final assignment in Japan, it was seen at AMARC in 1989, wfu. It was cut into pieces, and the nose section was donated to a museum in East St. Louis, MO.
Background information on 62-4473 from a post on Airport-Data.com Forum (April 2010):
I was a flying crew chief on North American Rockwell T-39A 62-4473 from 1974–1977 at Ramstein AB, Germany. I have been trying to find out what happened to her for some time now until I happened upon Glenn Chatfield’s pictures posted on this site.
62-4473 was an amazing plane. She was originally the backup for Brig. General Richard Ellis’ plane (62-4462) who was the Commander in Chief Air Forces Europe, USAFE, at the time. 62-4462 began having recurring mechanical problems and 62-4473 was brought up as the primary. She was the first plane of our 12 T-39’s to make over 100 on time takeoffs, with no aborts.
In 1975 we did a major overhaul. We gutted her and put in new carpet, high back seats, headliners, wet bar with stereo, along with a cockpit overhaul. The gauges were removed and a flat black wrinkle paint was applied on the dash and new gauges installed. The landing gears, wheel wells, and exterior paint were redone. She was really beautiful when she came out of the hanger.
She flew all over Europe and Africa during those years transporting many dignitaries including the Secretary of Treasury, Congressmen, Representatives, and high ranking officers of all branches.
In October 1977, I rotated back to the states to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC a week later 62-4473 left Germany for Scott AFB, IL. The last time I saw her was in 1980 on the transient ramp at Seymour. I rushed out to see her but by the time I got there she was taxing away.
I left active duty in 1980 then joined the Air National Guard in 1990 and for the next 18 years I was a crew chief on C-130 aircraft, but my time on the T-39 was the best of my career.
MSgt Louis (Larry) a. Barrett ret. USAF/NCANG
Source: www.airport-data.com/forums/post-5223.html
62-4473 landing at Ramstein in 1977:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/455/455211.jpg
62-4473’s cockpit:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/455/455217.jpg
62-4473’s forward fuselage at the Greater St. Louis Aviation Museum, St Louis Downtown Airport, in November 2007:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/130/130225.jpg
Scan from Kodachrome slide.
62-4473_1976-03_MUC_1290_SB
Photo taken by Stephan Barth, scan kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.
München-Riem
March 1976
62-4473
North American CT-39A
276-26
United States Air Force
62-4473 was noted at Riem on 28 March 1976 (probably the precise date for this shot) along with an assortment of other US Air Force/Navy/Marine planes including VC-188A 53-3303, Convair C-131F 141011, US Marine Corps Douglas C-9B II 160046 and USAF Sabreliners 61-0679 and 62-4469.
Information from airhistory.net - thanks to Stephan Barth:
24473 was based at Ramstein AFB when it visited Munich-Riem in 1976. Later, after a final assignment in Japan, it was seen at AMARC in 1989, wfu. It was cut into pieces, and the nose section was donated to a museum in East St. Louis, MO.
Background information on 62-4473 from a post on Airport-Data.com Forum (April 2010):
I was a flying crew chief on North American Rockwell T-39A 62-4473 from 1974–1977 at Ramstein AB, Germany. I have been trying to find out what happened to her for some time now until I happened upon Glenn Chatfield’s pictures posted on this site.
62-4473 was an amazing plane. She was originally the backup for Brig. General Richard Ellis’ plane (62-4462) who was the Commander in Chief Air Forces Europe, USAFE, at the time. 62-4462 began having recurring mechanical problems and 62-4473 was brought up as the primary. She was the first plane of our 12 T-39’s to make over 100 on time takeoffs, with no aborts.
In 1975 we did a major overhaul. We gutted her and put in new carpet, high back seats, headliners, wet bar with stereo, along with a cockpit overhaul. The gauges were removed and a flat black wrinkle paint was applied on the dash and new gauges installed. The landing gears, wheel wells, and exterior paint were redone. She was really beautiful when she came out of the hanger.
She flew all over Europe and Africa during those years transporting many dignitaries including the Secretary of Treasury, Congressmen, Representatives, and high ranking officers of all branches.
In October 1977, I rotated back to the states to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC a week later 62-4473 left Germany for Scott AFB, IL. The last time I saw her was in 1980 on the transient ramp at Seymour. I rushed out to see her but by the time I got there she was taxing away.
I left active duty in 1980 then joined the Air National Guard in 1990 and for the next 18 years I was a crew chief on C-130 aircraft, but my time on the T-39 was the best of my career.
MSgt Louis (Larry) a. Barrett ret. USAF/NCANG
Source: www.airport-data.com/forums/post-5223.html
62-4473 landing at Ramstein in 1977:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/455/455211.jpg
62-4473’s cockpit:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/455/455217.jpg
62-4473’s forward fuselage at the Greater St. Louis Aviation Museum, St Louis Downtown Airport, in November 2007:
www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/000/130/130225.jpg
Scan from Kodachrome slide.