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Historian highlights Lucky Lady II

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jessica Tope
  • 43rd Airlift Wing historian
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Feb. 26, 1949, the Lucky Lady II, a B-50A, went on the first non-stop flight around the world lasting 94 hours and one minute to demonstrate the effectiveness of air refueling. 

The aircraft was commanded by Capt. James Gallagher and was made up of a crew of 14 people from both the 43rd Bomb Group and the 63rd Bomb Squadron.
Due to the nature of the mission and the relative infancy of the air refueling mission, the Air Force did not want to publicize the flight unless it was successful. In order to maintain the secrecy of the mission, the Lucky Lady II traded tail numbers with the tanker aircraft during each refueling so it would appear the various refueling missions were supporting several other shorter
missions. 

At 9:22 a.m., March 2, 1949, the Lucky Lady II landed at Carswell AFB, Texas, after completing the first successful aerial refueled flight around the world. The crew was met by Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg and General Curtis LeMay, among other dignitaries. This accomplishment won the crew the Mackay Trophy and the Air Age Trophy that year. 

In 2006 two crewmembers from the 43rd Airlift Wing won the MacKay Trophy for their participation as instructors on an Iraqi Air Force operational mission transporting Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi from Baghdad International Airport to al Sulaymania civil airport near Kirkuk, Iraq. This was the first mission to move the Iraqi Prime Minister with an Iraqi Air Force crew on an Iraqi C-130. The crewmembers were part of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron stationed in Iraq training members of the newly formed Iraqi Air Force. 

As for the Lucky Lady II, unfortunately the aircraft was in an accident shortly after its around-the-world flight. The fuselage was recovered, and it toured the country as a recruiting exhibit for a short time. The remains of the aircraft are now housed at an air museum in Chino, Calif. 

Please wear your blues Monday in honor of these brave crews.