U.S. Navy Lockheed EC-121 (WV-2) Warning Star

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The Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star was an American airborne early warning and control radar surveillance aircraft that operated in the 1950s for both the United States Navy (USN) and United States Air Force (USAF). The EC-121 was the military version of the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation and served as an airborne early warning system aircraft using two large radomes above and below the fuselage. The EC-121 was introduced in 1954 and phased out in 1978, although one specially modified EC-121 aircraft remained in USN service until 1982.

The USN version of the aircraft was initially procured and designated as the WV-1, WV-2, and WV-3. The USAF Warning Stars served during the Vietnam War both as electronic sensor monitors and as the forerunner to the Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. The USAF aircrews adopted the aircraft’s civil nickname, “Connie” and the USN aircrews used the nickname “Willie Victor”. The EC-121’s objective was to extend early warning coverage against surprise Soviet bomber and missile attacks during the Cold War.

Deliveries of the PO-2W Constellations began in 1953 and 142 were eventually produced. The PO-2W was re-designated the WV-2 in 1954 and in 1962, with standardization of aircraft designations within the Department of Defense, the WV-2 then became the EC-121K. The last US Navys NC-121K “Connie”, Bu No 141292, had its final flight to Davis-Monthan AFB for retirement in April 1982.

The Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star was a frequent transient visitor to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One EC-121 Warning Star Bu No. 43189, was assigned to Kirtland AFB for special testing in 1967.

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