1975: 1st production model C-130: Heroic 'First Lady' assigned here

  • Published
  • By Dolphin Digest - July 1975
  • 919th Special Operations Group
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  (Editor's Note: This story is republished as a historic tribute to the 919th Special Operations Wing's Midnight Express newspaper, which goes out of print beginning this month.)

A battle-scarred, but heroic "First Lady" will soon be sitting on the ramp at Duke Field. She's the first productions C-130A Hercules ever built by Lockheed-Georgia Company.
She celebrated her 20th anniversary at Hurlburt Field in April while being used for AC-130A aircrew training, and is now being transferred to the 919th Special Operations Group as an Air Force Reserve gunship. 

Bearing the tail number 33129, she took her maiden flight April 7, 1955, marking the start for the longest production span of any cargo plane in aviation history.
During those 20 years, her roles has changes from elegant young lady, always on display, to the tough old soldier she is today. 

She gained her first battle scar before even being assigned to the Air Force, though, when she lost one wing in a ground fire following a test flight. 

After repairs, she was turned over to the Air Force which used her extensively for C-130 demonstration flights around the world. From the mid to late 1950s, many experienced C-119 pilots sat in her cockpit, getting the feel of what would become the workhorse for Tactical Air Command's airlift fleet. 

In the early 1069s she kept her glamour role, supporting both the Mercury and Gemini space programs at Patrick AFB. But she was scheduled for a skin toughening.
By the late 60s, armor plating was being added, cargo equipment was coming out, and guns were being installed. She was being fitted to become an AC-130A gunship ... and Ubon, Thailand was to be her next home. 

While in Indochina, she flew 4,500 hours, sustaining heavy damage from enemy fire on more than one occasion. While there, her crews affectionately nicknamed her the "First Lady" - a name which remains today. 

As the American role in Southeast Asia was phased back, the battle-scarred old "Lady" returned home - to Hurlburt Field. Once again she was used to teach many new pilots and aircrew members the feel of a C-130 ... the Ac-130 gunship. It is in this role she will join the Air Force Reserve.