Castle AFB KC-135R 60-0331 Nose Art 1993

[Gator52]

Hoping to find a closeup where the text above the "Triangle-W" nose art is legible-

 

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (717-148) - USA - Air Force | Aviation Photo #1004277 | Airliners.net

 

Thanks!

 

Chris

 

 

[Dutch]

Chris,

 

Could it be as simple as "Triangle W"?  According to Jeff Baugher's website: "60-0331 (MSN 18106/T0445) converted to KC-135R. Named "Triangle W" with 97th AMW in Apr 1994."  Notice also that the 97th arrowhead on the tail bears the name "CASTLE" instead of "ALTUS,"  where the wing was based since 1992 with the closing of Eaker (Blytheville) AFB.  The photo caption says August 1993.  Did the 97th have a det at Castle?

 

Most likely, "Triangle W" is a reference to the 398th Bomb Group in WWII. Hence the red background above the black triangle and white "W" which came from the B-17 tails.  

 

HTH,

Dutch

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Dutch

[Gator52]

That all fits together Dutch, thanks for the info from Jeff’s site, hadn’t seen that. 
 

398 OG was the parent unit of Castle’s 93 ARS during the transition of the KC-135 schoolhouse from Castle to Altus (around the time the 97th left Eaker, was redesignated, and reassigned to Altus).  
 

And, the 398 OG traces its lineage to the 398 BG; I was missing the linkage between the 398th and its historical Triangle W marking. 

I think you’re right, the text could be as simple as literally “Triangle W” particularly since that was reported as the jets name in 1994. 
 

Thanks for the help

Chris

 

[Dutch]

Sounds like a candidate for one of Kursad's Shamu KC-135 sheets.