posted 08-27-2018 11:57 AM            

NASA and the Department of Defense contracted with the McDonnell Douglas and the Bendix Corporations to modify eight Boeing C-135 Stratolifter cargo aircraft into Apollo/Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA). Some of that work was done here in Tulsa. The aircraft were equipped with a steerable seven-foot antenna dish in its distinctive "Droop Snoot" or "Snoopy Nose."

Among the papers are a number of copies of "Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty - Military". These list the operations his crew was assigned to. For example there is "To provide mission support of Job Order 40000-Apollo XVI." But the only other request that identifies the mission in simple terms is "Project 7450 Pioneer Venus." The others are only identified by Job Order number, Test number, or Operation number, etc. His missions were in the Atlantic, Pacific, Alaska, at Cape Canaveral and Edwards AFB.