Chapter 3

USAF ARDF Personnel

The "front end" crews ( two pilots, a navigator, and a flight mechanic) for the EC-47 are assigned to each TEWS on a 2.0 crew/aircraft ratio in support of an 150-hour-per-month utilization rate/aircraft. Prior to assignment to RVN, the crews receive Phase I training from Tactical Air Command at England AFB, Louisiana. Since all operational EC-47 aircraft are in SEA, crews can receive only familiarization training in the basic C-47 at England. Phase II training or actual work in the EC-47 occurs on combat missions at the assigned TEWS. The training covers some 13 hours of ground school, plus a minimum of five Phase II missions with a qualified instructor.

The 6994th SS units are responsible for training "back end" crews whose first experience with teh EC-47 necessarily is also "in theater". Their Phase II training includes up to 57 hours ground training and eight missions with an instructor.

This training in RVN has been under way for more than two years. The 6994th personnel have been told that UASF Security Service and Tactical Air Command soon will institute intergrated Phase II combat-crew training in CONUS. The 7AF and 460th TRW oppose this requirement because crews integrated in CONUS will not necessarily be assigned to the same unit, and also Phase II training there cannot approach combat conditions in-theater.