C-130 Flies Final Mission

[unhappycamper]

C-130 Flies Final Mission
Air Force Print News | November 15, 2007

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- After 44 years of service and more than 29,500 flying hours, a C-130 Hercules flew its final combat mission Nov. 13 from Southwest Asia and will next be heading to the boneyard.

Aircraft 63-7865 from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and currently assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing here, transported servicemembers and cargo between bases in the region before landing after its final combat sortie.

Aircraft 63-7865 will soon be flown back to Ramstein AB and then to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, also known as the "Boneyard," located near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"It was an honor for me to fly this last combat sortie for 63-7865," said Col. Brian O'Connor, the 386th AEW vice commander. "It is amazing and humbling to know that this aircraft had an illustrious history and combat record dating back more than a quarter century. There are certainly a multitude of operators and maintainers who have distinct memories of 7865 over its 44 years of service. I am fortunate to be one of those individuals. It is fitting that this aircraft closed out its career with superlative combat service in Iraq, and there wasn't a better way for it to fly into the sunset of its career."

Colonel O'Connor first flew the aircraft in 1990 while assigned to the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan. He flew the aircraft on at least seven missions while stationed in the Pacific.

Lt. Col. Rick Matton is another pilot here who has a history with this particular C-130. Currently deployed from Yokota AB, he flew 63-7865 11 times while on a previous assignment to the air base.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,156326,00.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. My favorite Aircraft ever

Flew me out of Saudi 11 years ago with the aft hatch open because we had too much of a load. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ride.

[unhappycamper]

2. The 130 and the Shithook are the two best aircraft, IMO.

130s, 123s, and Caribou were the workhorses for hauling large amounts of 'stuff' around Viet Nam.

[Historic NY]

3. Maybe they can find a museum for her.....

sure beats the crusher and a second life as a beer can.