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United States Army Beechcraft RU-21D Laffing Eagle 67-18105
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United States Army Beechcraft RU-21D Laffing Eagle 67-18105
United States Army Beechcraft RU-21D Laffing Eagle (msn LM-101) converted to JRU-21D, later to RU-21H Guardrail V, then U-21H. To civil registry as N7139Z, noted in 1997 as on static display outside HQ 224th MIB at Hunter aF, GA. On 8 December 1968, the 509th Radio Research Group distributed 16 RU-21D LAFFING EAGLE aircraft to the 138th, 144th, and 146th Aviation Companies during the Vietnam War. The deployment improved the Armys ability to track the enemy in the critical northern and central zones of South Vietnam. With twin turboprop engines, it had greater range, speed, and rate of climb than other ASA aircraft in Vietnam. It also had a larger payload capacity with cabin space for two operators and their mission equipment. With more interior space for SIGINT equipment, LAFFING EAGLE became a more efficient surveillance platform with both collection and direction-finding capabilities. The collection system had an improved frequency range and could record low-level voice intercepts on tape. These recordings could be hand-carried to an analysis center or transmitted by secure voice to units. The direction-finding position could establish the necessary bearings without requiring the pilot to point the aircraft into the incoming signal. Instead, the operator made the necessary measurements independent of the cockpit. With these capabilities, LAFFING EAGLE was able to intercept the attack plans of the North Vietnamese Army 1st Division in February 1969.In October 1970, ASA upgraded LAFFING EAGLE with the ARD-23 direction-finding system. Date: circa 1968
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Beechcraft Converted Eagle Guardrail
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This photograph captures a United States Army Beechcraft RU-21D Laffing Eagle with the serial number 67-18105, also known as LM-101, during its military service. Converted from a JRU-21D to an RU-21H Guardrail V, and later U-21H, this aircraft played a crucial role in the Vietnam War. In December 1968, the 509th Radio Research Group distributed 16 of these aircraft to the 138th, 144th, and 146th Aviation Companies, significantly enhancing the Army's ability to monitor enemy activity in the northern and central zones of South Vietnam. With its twin turboprop engines, the Laffing Eagle boasted greater range, speed, and rate of climb than other Army aircraft in Vietnam, making it an invaluable asset. Its larger payload capacity and cabin space for two operators and their mission equipment transformed it into an efficient surveillance platform, with both collection and direction-finding capabilities. The collection system boasted an improved frequency range and the ability to record low-level voice intercepts on tape, which could be hand-carried to an analysis center or transmitted securely to units. The direction-finding system allowed operators to establish bearings without requiring the pilot to point the aircraft into the incoming signal, increasing operational efficiency. In February 1969, the Laffing Eagle intercepted the attack plans of the North Vietnamese Army 1st Division, demonstrating its critical role in the conflict. In October 1970, the Army upgraded the Laffing Eagle with the ARD-23 direction-finding system, marking another evolution in this versatile aircraft's military career.
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