Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star, Military surveillance aircraft in United States
The Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star carries specialized radar equipment in two large dome structures mounted above and below its extended fuselage.
Between 1954 and 1978, these aircraft monitored vast ocean areas during the Cold War, providing critical data about potential aerial threats.
The aircraft received different names from its crews, with Air Force personnel calling it Connie while Navy teams used the term Willie Victor.
The EC-121 required a crew of 15 specialists to operate its advanced radar systems and maintain continuous surveillance during extended missions.
The aircraft tracked movements along the Ho Chi Minh Trail using ground sensors, earning one variant the designation Batcat.
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