Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 377M Anak

In the early 1960s the Israeli Air Force wanted to upgrade to the C-130 Hercules, which could lift larger payloads, but the aircraft was expensive and sales were embargoed by the United States. Israel Aircraft Industries, at Ben Gurion International Airport, offered an alternative: modifying Boeing 377 Stratocruisers.

The conversion combined a stronger cabin floor able to take cargo with a military C-97 tail section that brought the clamshell cargo door. The resulting aircraft were dubbed Anak — giant in Hebrew — and entered service in 1964.

Three of the Anaks received a swing tail section, in the manner of the Canadair CL-44D-4. Two others served as aerial tankers with underwing hose reel refuelling pods. Two more were ELINT platforms for electronic reconnaissance, surveillance and countermeasures. Four KC-97Gs with the flying boom system later joined the fleet.

Two of the aircraft were shot down in the course of their service, and the three remaining 377Ms were retired in 1978 and later scrapped. None of the 56 Stratocruisers built was preserved on display in original configuration; the Israeli Air Force Museum exhibits a C-97 painted to resemble their most famous 377M, Masada.