Metalbasher Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 11/14/2007 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A 44-year-old C-130 with a Purple Heart and more than 29,500 flying hours flew its final combat mission Nov. 13 here. Aircraft 63-7865, belonging to Ramstein Air Base, Germany\'s 86th Airlift Wing 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. \"It was an honor for me to fly this last combat sortie for 63-7865. It is amazing and humbling to know that this aircraft had an illustrious history and combat record dating back over a quarter century even before I flew it for the first time more than 17 years ago,\" said Col. Brian O\'Connor, 386 AEW vice commander. \"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 Air Base, Japan. He flew the aircraft on at least seven missions while stationed in the Pacific. Another pilot here has a history with this particular C-130. Lt. Col. Rick Matton, currently deployed from Yokota, flew 63-7865 11 times while on a previous assignment to the air base. \"It\'s definitely a bittersweet day,\" said Colonel Matton, also a pilot on the last mission and currently the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. \"Knowing the history that she\'s been through, especially with her Vietnam experience, I was completely honored by the opportunity to fly her last combat mission.\" On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is a plaque telling the story of its honorary Purple Heart. According to the certificate, on June 1, 1972, the aircraft was assigned to the 21 TAS at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, when it took a mortar round through engine No. 3 while sitting on the flightline on Kontum Air Base, Vietnam. After a maintenance recovery team replaced the engine, the aircraft was once again ready to fly. But just as the pilot Lt. Col. Lyn Mulkey taxied the C-130 for takeoff, the new engine failed to start, forcing a three-engine takeoff. Despite taking even more incoming mortar rounds that punctured the wings and inflicted heavy damage to its other engines, the colonel got the aircraft airborne. The war-torn C-130 could only reach 1,000 feet due to its damage and had to make an emergency landing at Plieku Air Base, Vietnam, where it was determined that the combat aircraft would need two new wings and four engines. \"The task of keeping an aircraft mission ready is a daunting task, and taking care of 7865 was no different,\" said Lt. Col. Shirlene Ostrov, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. \"The caliber of people we have working in maintenance is tremendous. This aircraft represents the outstanding aircrews who flew here and the talented maintainers that kept her flying.\" Aircraft 63-7865 will soon be flown back to Ramstein and then to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, also known as the \"Boneyard,\" located near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The Pilot was Reed Mulkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunCrewChief Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I read that this morning too. Sad to hear, it is/was a good aircraft. I ferried it from Yokota to Ramstein back in 2002 and also flew on in a couple of times in PACAF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivars Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I was the loadmaster on the crew that flew her out of kontum...hate to see such a historical artifact just go to the boneyard...should be in a museum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I agree, these pieces of history need to be more than just an entry in some book. They need to be restored and displayed, along with all their pertinent information. It\'s been over 20 years but I do believe that I have some hours on the old girl.... Especially if she was at EDF or the Dorf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 7865 went from DYS to PACAF in the 60\'s and recently to Ramstein. I don\'t think it was ever stationed at Elmendorf Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fräulein Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Do you know if it was ever at Clark? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskeyglenn Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I don\'t think it went to Clark. When CCK closed, all the 62\'s & 64\'s went to Clark and the 63\'s went to Kadena. Wait a minute, E Flt had one 63. Rg Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fräulein Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Cool thanks. I am still learning the numbers and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF4DVG Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Wow, Hate to hear of another one heading to Tucson. Worked this one as Com Nav between 1986 and 1990 at Yokota and was very surprised to work (and see) her again as a civilian a couple of years back in Ramstein. A lot of history being put to rest. Too bad this one couldn\'t be used a static display at one of the bases or a museum. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Lars shows it going CCK, Kadena,Yokota, Ramstein Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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