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Dedicated crew chiefs say farewell to Tail No. #1303
USAF AC-130W #88-1303 Stinger II gunship, takes off on the runway at Cannon AFB, for its final flight prior to retirement on October 19, 2020. As a gunship, Tail No. 1303 made its claim to fame by being the first gunship to record a combat kill on Feb. 9, 2011. It then went on to achieve another milestone by having the distinction of being the first 105mm cannon-installed whiskey to confirm a 105mm kill in December of 2016. [USAF photo by SSgt. Luke Kitterman]
Oct 19, 2020 - The 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit said farewell to one of its AC-130W Stinger II gunships as it took its final flight from Cannon on Oct. 19, 2020, before permanently retiring from air operations. [Read more...]
4th SOS, AMU make history with AC-130U
The last AC-130U Spooky gunship to retire, aircraft #87-0128, also known as ‘Big Daddy’, is parked on the flightline at Hurlburt Field, Florida, June 26, 2020. On June 18, 2020, Big Daddy made history by becoming the first Spooky to ever receive a black letter initial. A black letter initial means that before a flight there were no discrepancies on Big Daddy’s status paperwork. [USAF photo by A1C Hailey M. Ziegler]
Jun 26, 2020 - An AC-130U Spooky gunship named ‘Big Daddy’ made history by being the first Spooky to ever receive a black letter initial on its status page before a flight, June 18, 2020. [Read more...]
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908th bids farewell to last ’85 model in fleet
The last of the 908th AW’s 1985 vintage C-130s, #85-0035, known as the "City of Montgomery" departed Maxwell AFB on September 10, after 31 years of service with the unit. This marks the last departure and retirement of eight 1985 model aircraft belonging to the 908th after having flown more than 94,700 hours total in the more than 31 years since they arrived at Maxwell. [USAF photo by Lt. Col. Jerry Lobb]
Sep 11, 2017 - The last of the 908th Airlift Wing’s 1985 vintage C-130s, tail number 0035, known as the “City of Montgomery” departed Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., September 10, after 31 years of service with the unit. [Read more...]
Wing bids farewell to last HC-130N model
The 920th RQW commander, Col. Kurt Matthews, left, poses with fellow aircrew and maintainers in front of the HC-130N #69-5830 'King 30' on August 7, 2017, at Patrick AFB, before heading to Davis-Monthan AFB. [USAF photo by SSgt. Jared Trimarchi]
Aug 09, 2017 - The 920th Rescue Wing commander, Col. Kurt Matthews, and members of a hand-selected aircrew flew the wing’s last HC-130N King, Aug. 7 from Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, to be decommissioned. [Read more...]
AF's 1st HC-130 takes its final flight to retirement
Crew members from the 39th RQS and 720th AMXS pose in front of King 52, #64-14852 the first HC-130 configured for Air Force rescue in 1964, before taking it on its final flight from Patrick AFB, to Davis-Monthan AFB, where it will retire March 6, 2017. [USAF photo by TSgt. Lindsey Maurice]
Mar 07, 2017 - After more than 50 years of faithful service and rescue missions spanning the globe, King 52, #64-14852 the first HC-130P/N configured for Air Force rescue in 1964, retired March 6, 2017. [Read more...]
Crew chief, C-130E part ways
Willie Goodwin, 19th MXG Engineering and technical services specialist, marshals the final C-130E #63-9815, off Little Rock AFB on November 11, 2016. The aircraft retired Dec. 9, 2011, after a tornado damaged the right wing of a C-130H. Despite the E model being in good condition, its right wing was given to the C-130H which had less flying hours. [Courtesy photo by Lt. Col. Elizabeth Clay]
Dec 09, 2016 - Crew chiefs are the individuals who are essential in the upkeep and maintenance of aircraft, so it’s no surprise that they would be prone to remember certain aircraft. [Read more...]
186th AS C-130H retired by the Montana ANG
USAF Chief Master Sgt. Joe Barron and members from the 39th AS board C-130H 73-1598 at Dyess AFB, Texas for a practice mission on December 6, 2007. Barron, the AMC command chief, is visiting the Airmen at Dyess and discussing the Airmen's concerns. [USAF photo by Airman by Stephen Reyes]
May 03, 2016 - Airman of the Montana Air National Guard came together to honor a recent retiree. A C-130 flown by the 186th Airlift Squadron was retired Monday afternoon. [Read more...]
First AC-130U Spooky retires
USAF AC-130U #90-0163 'Bad Omen' takes off for its retirement flight at Hurlburt Field on September 21, 2015. “Bad Omen” is the first "U" model to retire with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB. [USAF photo by Amn Kai White]
Sep 24, 2015 - The first AC-130U Spooky gunship to retire from the active fleet flew from its home following a small ceremony September 21st. [Read more...]
Air commandos retire final AC-130H Spectre gunship
USAF AC-130H #69-6569 nicknamed “Excalibur”, flies overhead on May 26, 2015 at Cannon AFB. The gunship has a long and proud history beginning in Southeast Asia over 46 years ago. [USAF photo by SrA Eboni Reece]
May 27, 2015 - Members of the 27th Special Operations Wing gathered to officially retire the final AC-130H Spectre Gunship, tail number #69-6569 “Excalibur,” Tuesday. [Read more...]
Air Commandos bid farewell to MC-130P Combat Shadow
USAF MC-130P Combat Shadows #66-0217 and #69-5819 from 9 SOS fly by during their final flight, May 15, 2015, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The final two MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in the Air Force landed for the last time at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in front of more than 400 people and will take their last flight to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 1. [USAF photo by A1C Ryan Conroy]
May 15, 2015 - The final two MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in the Air Force landed for the last time in front of more than 400 people during an MC-130P Heritage Flight on May 15. [Read more...]
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