Combat Talons fly for last time

A loadmaster with the 919th Special Operations Wing admires his aircraft, the MC-130E Combat Talon I, in flight one last time April 15 during its final flight before retirement. The last five Talons in the Air Force belong to the 919th SOW and are scheduled to be retired at a ceremony April 25. They will make one final flight to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., by the end of the fiscal year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Combat Talons fly for last time

Aircrew from the 919th Special Operations Wing admire their aircraft, the MC-130E Combat Talon I, in flight one last time April 15 during its final flight before retirement. The last five Talons in the Air Force belong to the 919th SOW and are scheduled to be retired at a ceremony April 25. They will make one final flight to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., by the end of the fiscal year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Combat Talons fly for last time

Newly retired Col. (Dr.) Ed Seeliger, the former 919th Medical Squadron commander, checks out the view from an MC-130E Combat Talon I during its final sortie before its retired as well. Seeliger spent 30 years in the Air Force Reserve, all at Duke Field. C-130s have been a part of Duke Field for more than 40 years. The last five Talons in the Air Force are scheduled to be retired at a ceremony April 25. They will make one final flight to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., by the end of the fiscal year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Combat Talons fly for last time

MC-130E Combat Talon Is roll down the taxiway at Duke Field April 15 for their final sorties before retirement. The last five Talons in the Air Force belong to the 919th Special Operations Wing and are scheduled to be retired at a ceremony April 25. They will make one final flight to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., by the end of the fiscal year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Rearview

A 919th Special Operations Wing MC-130E Combat Talon I sits on the Duke Field flightline before its next mission. The 919th are the only wing in the Air Force that still flies the Talon I. Over the next several years, the Talons will be phased out of the 919th as it moves to an Aviation Foreign Internal Defense mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Talon loadmasters

919th Special Operations Wing loadmasters attempt to lower the load bay door on an MC-130E Combat Talon I during an aerial drop mission from Duke Field, Fla. The 919th are the only wing in the Air Force still flying the Talon I. Over the next two years, the Talons will be phased out of the 919th as it moves to an Aviation Foreign Internal Defense mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)