by Richard Graham
(362nd TEWS, DaNang, 1971-1972)
Despite its long and distinguished service, there are no true EC-47 "Electric Goons" preserved for display in the United States. For an "Old Tiger" veteran or aircraft enthusiast, the only "EC-47s" available for viewing are a couple of replicas. The first is the not a so very accurate replica at Lackland AFB displayed as EC-47Q # 201. The second (but much more authentic) is adjacent to the ARDF History Exhibit located at Goodfellow AFB where the replica of EC-47Q #204 is located. But would you like to see and maybe even touch a real EC-47? If you do, then you have to go to all the way to South Korea or Thailand.
At the end of the Vietnam War most of the remaining US Air Force EC-47s were stripped of their electronic gear and were either transferred to other countries in Southeast Asia or scrapped. An exception to this policy were the three Q's transferred to the Republic of South Korean Air Force (RoKAF) - #'s 029, 570, and 704. At least two of these EC-47’s, #570 and #704, continued in RoKAF service flying electronic surveillance missions for several years. At the end of their service lives they were placed into storage until being refurbished and put on public display. As far as can determined, they are still there today. The fate of #029 remains unknown.
There is one additional EC-47 airframe in existence but it would be hard to recognize. This is the red C-47 “crashing” into the entrance to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Pattaya, Thailand. This is believed to be EC-47P #703 which was transferred first from the USAF to the South Vietnamese AF; then to the Cambodian AF; and finally, to the Thai AF before being sold as surplus.
From a personal point of view, I am glad to see these old war birds preserved as I flew missions in both #570 and #703 during my tour. Maybe there's hope to find more one day.
EC-47Q #570, the "Goon Fighter" Landing at DaNang, 1972. (EC-47 History Site)
EC-47Q #049-570 on the RoKAF’s 60th Anniversary October 2009. (Air History.net)
#570 on display at Yeouido Park, a recreational area in Seoul, South Korea (Jet Photos)
RoKAF # 093-704 at the KAI Aerospace Museum, Sacheon, South Korea (Jet Photos)
#703 "arriving" at the Ripley's Pattaya, Thailand
#703 at Ripley's Pattaya
The EC-47 History Site is in search of photos of EC-47P #703 (43-49703). The aircraft was assigned at various times to the 360th and 362nd TEWS. At DaNang it was nicknamed “Andy’s Animosity.” If you have a photo(s) of #703 (or any other unseen photos of EC-47s for that matter) please share them with the site at https://www.ec47.com/contact-us
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