LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE GETS FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF NEW PLANE
Del Rio News-Herald
July 12, 1957 Lockheed U-2 Comes to LAFB to Continue Research on Long Term Basis
Colonel Hubert Zemke, commanding officer, 4080th Reconnaissance Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, announced Wednesday his command has been designated to receive the Lockheed U-2 aircraft. Aircraft of this type will be assigned to the 4028th SAC Reconnaissance Squadron (Weather). It will be utilized to support the Third Weather Wing of the Air Weather Service. A release from Laughlin Air Force Base stated as follows: “This will be the first assignment of the U-2 aircraft to a regular Air Force unit. This vehicle has previously been employed by the Air Force in a joint USAF-AEC Program and by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in a worldwide upper atmosphere meteorological research program. Operation in the United States under both programs has been based at the Watertown Strip at the Nevada Testing Site of the Atomic Energy Commission. “Certain of these activities will be continued at Laughlin AFB in conjunction with the normal operation of the 4080th SAC Reconnaissance Wing. The NACA program which is of limited duration and partly exploratory in character had already yielded results of great value. The U-2 aircraft has proved highly satisfactory for high altitude research and to be more economical than tactical aircraft in the performance of this type of mission. “Improved airborne weather instrumentation is being developed as a result of the program. The operation of the U-2 aircraft at Laughlin AFB will permit the Air Weather Service to continue this research on a long-term basis. “The result should be to improve the service available to both tactical military units and to commercial air lines that employ jet aircraft and require accurate information concerning weather conditions at high altitudes,” the statement concluded. Sources: LHF Archives Del Rio News-Herald Microfilm Archives Wednesday afternoon, July 12, 1957 |
|
|
