Maintenance team lays four MC-130s to rest

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
GOWEN FIELD, Idaho --  Seven maintainers acted as morticians to four historic MC-130E Combat Talons, preparing them for decommissioning and the flight to their final resting place.

Airmen from the 919th Special Operations Wing ventured here for a three-week task of giving the birds "last rites" and ensuring they could fly one final mission.

"It is sentimental for us to see them go," said Chief Master Sgt. Ken Potter, flight chief for the crew. "It will be a sad day when they're gone, but at least it was us that got to send them out."

The chief's seasoned and diverse crew of technicians had aircraft knowledge and experience to spare. All but one had over 30 years in the military and every one had at least 10 years working with C-130s.

Like the Talons, the maintainers are in the twilight of their Air Force careers as well. Some had maintained and had connections to these particular aircraft and wanted to see them through to the end - even planning to ride out on the last official flight.

Senior Master Sgt. Randy Usher had spent his entire 31-year career as a C-130 maintainer. Senior Master Sgt. Bill "Mac" McAnelly had also spent 31 years maintaining C-130s and served as crew chief to one of the planes --Tail Number 567 -- for six years during its time at Duke Field, Fla.

"I've sent three aircraft to the bone yard to get chopped up," said Sergeant McAnelly, a 36-year veteran. "I just wanted to be involved with this one going to a museum. I'd get to take my grandkids and say that was my plane."

The team was joined by a second crew of four Airmen from the 179th Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard unit from Mansfield, Ohio. The 179th Maintenance Group was chosen because of their evolving mission status and was considered a "first source" for C-130 maintenance assistance, according to the team.

The dichotomy of the youthful AW and older SOW crews along with the aged aircraft added extra context to this significant event, representing almost 50 years of the Air Force. The Talons, Tail Numbers 785, 555, 572, 567, were assembled and put into service in the mid-'60s. The 919th crew began their careers in the early '80s, while most of the 179th crew joined the Air Force in the new millennium.

To retire the "old birds," the team had to ensure the Talons were still airworthy. Each aircraft had to undergo a thorough inspection, including full engine runs, tows, power-ups and refuels. As part of the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission report, the Talons transferred to the 124th Wing at Gowen Field in 2007, but as of 2010 were still considered 919th inventory. The Talons had only flown once in the three years here.

"Considering how little they were used, they weren't in bad shape," said Chief Potter. "With the exception of a few birds' nests and leaks, they were okay."

The team put the four Talons through their paces, so when their time came, the Talons could return to the sky, for one final mission.

"These are dependable, hardworking aircraft," the chief said. "It's a shame they can't continue for another 20 years."

Although dependable, a few of the Talons were known for their quirks and had developed a temperament, according to those who kept them up. When it came time for them to go, some fought it. 785, the first to go, was the oldest of the four. She saw action in Vietnam, Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, was the first up.

"785 did not want to go," said Senior Master Sgt. Al Hudson, a 30-year veteran with 20 years experience on C-130s. "It was like she knew she was going first and she wasn't ready."

The maintainers eased her pain (a fuel cell issue) and she took flight May 4 for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

The next to go was 555 or "Triple Nickel" or "Lady in Black." All the maintainers had stories of her. 555 was part of history, flying the last successful Surface to Air Recovery System training exercise in Liberia. The mission was the last successful use of the famed "Fulton System." . Although dependable whenever called upon, she was also known to be temperamental.

"She was great traveling, going TDY," said Chief Potter. "It was when she'd get back home; she wouldn't want to do anything."

She maintained her reputation to the end. When her time came May 5, a hydraulic and fuel problem delayed her date with destiny, but eventually, before the snow clouds rolled over the mountains north of the base, she also departed.

As she left, many of the maintainers watched her fly away a little longer than the others as she headed west before returning to their tasks.

"There are so few active ones left," said Sergeant Hudson. "For those that work on them, it's like we're in an elite club. There's a sense of pride in it."

C-130s have been a part of the 919th SOW since 1971 and Combat Talons have been the wing's primary aircraft for 15 years. The maintainers said it wouldn't have been right for just anyone to send them off.

"We continued that heritage of the C-130 community when we inherited the Talons, after the gunships," said the chief. "The aircraft and its maintainers-- we're a dying breed."

May 7 arrived and both 567 and 572 were to make their exit. The stubborn 572 wasn't quite ready and held up the show with a few stops and starts.

Talon 567, another historic aircraft, would be the last to leave. 567 was the special operations C-130 that carried Manuel Noriega back to the U.S. from Panama during Operation Just Cause in 1989. Along with 555, it and was also one of the elite Blackbird C-130s that carried the Fulton System. Despite the nickname "Wild Thing" stenciled on its interior, the maintainers had nothing but good things to report on 567.

"She was the good girl," said Chief Potter. "The best flying aircraft we had."

While the other Talons' journey ended in Arizona, 567 was headed back home to Florida. Back to Air Force Special Operations Command where it served for more than 30 years. Its final resting place: the AFSOC air park to be viewed and remembered forever.

Sergeant McAnelly, 567's final crew chief, stayed close to her all morning, walking around checking and double-checking all the panels. He hooked up the fuel hose on her final fill-up. When it was time to fire up the propellers, Sergeant McAnelly was leaning against the nose of the aircraft. As the loadmaster watched Engine 3, Sergeant McAnelly began to gently pat the nose of 567. He continued as the propeller sputtered and spun to life. He continued until Engine 4 began to spin. He turned away and gave her one more rub and pat to say "good job, old girl," before climbing aboard.

Talon #567 continued to prove she was a very special aircraft, even on her final flight. All three of the other Talons that were retiring had to return to the flight line for a minor adjustment before making their exit. Despite having double the cargo and passengers as the others, 567 lifted off, never looked back and reached her destination ahead of schedule.

"(She) was just a good flying aircraft, that always did a good job," said Sergeant McAnelly. "Now she's just an old warrior that beat me to retirement."