Location: Charleston AFB, SC in the good old MAC days
Copyright © - George Miller
A magazine clipping. Boarding for a trip to somewhere
George Miller Collection
Copyright © - Justin Chederholm
Source :
airlinerst.net
Article from September 3, 2004 McGuire AFB AirTides base
newspaper.
C-141B 67-0012 MAKES FINAL FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD
By Staff Sgt.
Christin Michaud, Editor
After nearly four decades of service to the U.S. Air
Force, crew members from
McGuire decided to say goodbye to the C-141B Starlifter in a special way - a trip
around the world.
Twelve crewmembers departed McGuire on Aug. 19 for the last
overseas flight in a
C-141B before its retirement Sept. 16.
The hand-selected crew included eight
members from the 6th Airlift Squadron,
primarily seasoned veterans in the C-141, and four flying crew chiefs from the
305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We wanted to do something special for our
last overseas flight," said Lt. Col. Juan Sotomayor, 6th AS operations officer.
The
flight was an extension of their '7F3' normal Bahrain run that the 6th has
done on a weekly basis for some time now, according to Colonel Sotomayor. The
first stop of the '7F3' is Norfolk Air Station, Va., followed by other various
stops before arriving in Bahrain. Traditionally during the '7F3' the C-141 is
used to transport troops and cargo.
To continue their trip around the world, from Bahrain, the next stop for
the crew
from McGuire, with more than 59,000 hours combined flying experience between
them, was Diego Garcia.
"It's an awesome airplane that has done a lot of good,"
Colonel Sotomayor said of
the aircraft that was taking them around the world.
The C-141 is known for its
support of humanitarian and contingency missions, but
an important element of the C-141 is its ability to be an ambulance in the sky
with medical evacuations.
While in Diego Garcia, the crew found out there was a
patient who needed an air
evac to Singapore. Ironically, the crew was able to fly their final mission
transporting a patient, something the C-141 and its crews have handled for
decades.
"It was an added hoorah to be called upon to help someone who needs
medical
care," said Master Sgt. Charles Thompson, 6th AS chief flight engineer. The crew
brought the patient - a child - to Singapore, before heading to Yokota Air Base,
Japan. From Yokota, the C-141 carried the crew to Kadena Air Base, Japan, and
back to Yokota, before making its way back to the states with a stop in Hawaii,
Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and finally, Dover AFB, Del., before returning
home Aug. 28.
"Not everyone gets to put an airplane to bed," said Sergeant Thompson
of the only
plane he's flown and worked on in his 24-years of flying. "It's a milestone."
This trip around the world has helped Sergeant Thompson log close to two and a
half million miles during his career. He, like several other C-141 crews, will
end his career with the C-141. "I love the 141," said Sergeant Thompson. "And I
loved every day I stepped on the airplane. This is my closure - I'm going to the
bone yard with it." Master Sgt. Don Cool, 305th Operations Group flight engineer
and stan eval, is also retiring with the C-141.
"I loved every minute of it." One
of the things Sergeant Cool said he liked most
about the Starlifter was its versatility. "It's a very forgiving airplane," he
said. "If you make a mistake, she'll compensate for you." It's a plane that can
fly anywhere as an ambulance, for air drops, personnel, even presidential limos,
he added.
One of the most memorable missions in the C- 141B for pilot Colonel
Sotomayor,
was a mission to Homestead Air Base, Fla., during the aftermath of Hurricane
Andrew. "You see, just three years earlier I had lived through Hurricane Hugo and
had experienced, firsthand, the devastation and suffering a hurricane could
bring," he said. "As I flew down the east coast of the Florida peninsula it was
dark and as we got further south and closer to the Miami area the lights below
were less and less until there was complete darkness. When we landed it was just
before dawn using emergency lighting to illuminate the airfield.
While we offloaded the pallets of food, medicine and supplies the sun came
up and
then we saw the effects of one of God's most awesome forces. There wasn't one
tree standing from our vantage point. I understood firsthand the suffering and
sense of despair losing everything can bring and knowing that we could make a
difference in these people's lives gave me a great sense of accomplishment."
The
Starlifter has aided in humanitarian missions here in the United States to
Antarctica, and in fact has been to every continent.
The trip to Antarctica is one
that stands out for Sergeant Cool. In 1999, he was
part of the crew bringing air drops of supplies.
"The only lights were burning
barrels," he said. The aircraft doors were opened
in sub zero temperatures for the drops, and because it was freezing, they were
unable to be refueled.
"We didn't know if we had enough gas, it was just a feat to
make it back."
The trip around the world is another feat for Sergeant Cool and the
rest of the
crew. They will take each trip or personal experience with them.
"We've all been to
these places before, but it was our last time there in uniform
before we retire, just like the plane," said Master Sgt. James Hess, 305th
Operations Support Squadron, chief C-141 flight engineer, who was recognized by
Lockheed Martin for 10,350 hours - the highest ever on active duty - on the
C-141. He spent 25 years with the C-141.
"Wherever America would go, you'd see a
141 show up."
Sergeant Thompson describes the C-141 as very reliable with very few
maintenance
problems. While at times it needed some tender love and tweaking, the C-141 has
proven itself, he said. "It's been a workhorse throughout its time," said
Sergeant Thompson. "It's been in every conflict since Vietnam - there's so much
history and I was a part of it - that's what I like about it." His trip around
the world is now also part of the C-141s history.
Departure for the last flight!
9/16/2004. I fired up my AirBand radio and listened for the radio call from
67-0012. It came at 11:45 am. This is a shot of the aircraft making its final
turn to final at Davis-Monthan.
These photos were taken from about 10 miles north of
DM.
Copyright © - Michael Novack
9/16/2004. The final smoke from tires hitting pavement for this
aircraft.
Copyright © - Michael Novack
The crew that brought 012 to Tucson on its final flight
Taken on the ramp at DM on 9/16/2004, the last landing for Balls-12
Copyright © -
Steve Long
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
Copyright © - Phillip Kovaric
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