How to identify the white C-32B aircraft of the USAF

Latest update: March 8, 2026

The USAF are operating a four C-32B Gatekeeper aircraft. These B757 in the past carried a registration. Nowadays there is no visible registration. And they are hard to track on trackingwebsites as the transponder signal is often not shown.

99-6143 (ex N226G)
00-9001
02-4452
02-5001 (ex N610G)

The mission of this aircraft is not clear. It is said they fly for rapid command forces and foreign emergency support team . The registration and ICAO hex code is changed once in a while. The C-32B reportedly has been fitted with enlarged fuel tanks in its cargo hold, permitting it to fly up to 6,000 miles without refueling. Also the C-32B is the only B757 type in the world which can be refueled in flight via a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (USRRSI) located atop the fuselage, 15 feet behind of the nose, along the aircraft’s centerline. See for photos this Tweet.

It’s also said to be packed with sophisticated satellite communications equipment.

The McGuire-based 00-9001 (AE0443) and 02-4452 (AE0449) look very similar. These belong to 227th Special Operations Flight in New Jersey. These two provide transport capability to the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) . The U.S. Air Force supports worldwide operations to select U.S. government agencies on the recommendation of the Deputies Committee and approval by the Secretary of Defense”. The FEST primarily is an advisory team and serves as the single point-of-contact for the ambassador in coordinating all U.S. government support during a terrorist incident. The FEST will not enter the host country unless requested by the ambassador, with the host government’s permission. Depending upon the type of incident overseas and the host governments’ capabilities, the FEST can be tailored with expertise to manage the crisis. The FEST can tailor its team to include experts on managing specific types of WMD incidents, such as nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. For example, the FEST can provide (1) guidance on terrorist policy and incident management, (2) dedicated secure communications to support the U.S. embassy throughout the incident, and (3) special expertise and equipment not otherwise available, including a professional hostage negotiations adviser.

Also for CIA Special Activities Center is flown.

There are two B757 aircraft operating for the USAF which look similar to the C-32B. It is not known if these are operating for the USAF, for a civilian company or both. These aircraft are 100% sure at least operating for United States agencies. Eglin-based 99-6143 (ex N226G) (icao hex #A1F7E1) and 02-5001 (ex N610G ) (icao hex #A7EF54) fly for 486th Flight Test Squadron. It seems the military serials and civilian registration are switched regulary. A third serial used in the past was 86006.

These aircraft are/ used to be owned by L-3 CAPITAL LLC. The address of of this company is a home address. Also Dash 8 N404E is owned by L-3 . When parked and unused, the aircraft have padlocks which seal each of the exits, a highly unusual modification for an aircraft of its type and size

These aicraft in the past had COMCO titles. Comco was not a realy company. I could not find any information. So Comco titles were likely painted to look the aircraft like it was a regular commercial plane.

At May 25 2023 N226G visited Las Vegas. The aircraft had blue markings on the tail and forward fuselage on at least the righthand side. The registration N226G was visible. In 2026 the aircraft is all white.

L3Harris had a vacancy for a B757 pilot. One of the requirement is “Ability to maintain a DoD Top Secret Security Clearance.” The job advert also says “Position will require short notice travel and on-call responsibilities”. From this it is clear the L3Harris aircraft are used for transportation of people on secret missions. L-3 Capital is owner of B757 N144DC.. NASA sold it via Starflite International Corp. Another B757 of L3 is N903TB

How to recognize these four C-32Bs
The easiest way to recognize them is by counting the number of windows from the front of the aircraft. 00-9001, 02-4452, and 99-6143 all have a 13-window layout at the front.

02-5001 has only 12 windows forward + 19 in the middle . 99-6143 has 13 windows + 17 in the middle, and smaller scuff plates below the doors.

Another difference between 00-9001 / 02-4452 and 99-6143 is the forward flat antenna on top of the fuselage. On 99-6143 this antenna starts at the third window counting from the front, while on the other two it starts at the eighth window.

99-6143 is in the same livery as 00-9001 and 02-4452. All white, no titles, no registration.

02-5001 is unique for the smaller scuff plates below the door.

02-4452 was seen at March 8 at Rotterdam-the Hague airport. A closeup of the rear fuselage in black and white showed the remains of the registration. Photo by Pim Hesse.