Stroll down memory lane--the Herc

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 317th Airlift Group C-130 Hercules reign of more than 3,000 consecutive days at a deployed location came to an end when the last C-130 H-model, tail number 31598, returned home May 20, 2012, after performing combat and humanitarian missions in Southwest Asia.

Since Dec. 20, 2003, missions have included passenger and cargo lift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, medical air evacuation and psychological warfare, with the 317th AG dropping more than 20 million combat leaflets.

The C-130 Hercules will no longer deploy from Dyess. Instead, the C-130 J Super Hercules will take over the deployment rotation.

The United States first C-130 H-model was delivered to the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess AFB on March 31, 1975.

In the 1970s, Dyess C-130Hs performed routine rotational missions to Europe and South America. The first major relief mission for Dyess occurred in July 1975 when supplies were flown to Recife, Brazil, following wide spread flooding.

In 1975 the C-130 H-model flew flights along the Arctic Circle to resupply the Distant Early Warning radar sites in both Alaska and Canada.

"The C-130s are a reliable aircraft," said Brian Smith, 317th Airlift Group historian. "This is the only aircraft in the whole world that's 50 years-old and still in production."

C-130Hs flew several combat missions to include during Operation Urgent Fury, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Restore Hope and more.

This era will come to an end later this year when the last of 33 C-130Hs will be withdrawn from Dyess and replaced with 28 new C-130J.

"With the H-model aircraft, there were a lot of restrictions. We had to calculate numerous amounts of data and weight when we flew in other countries due to the altitude and mountains," said Master Sgt. Matthew Rossi, 39th Airlift Squadron loadmaster superintendent. "The J-Model increases our capabilities with its efficiency and powerful engines."

Compared to the previous C-130s, the C-130 J-model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance.

"This is the turning of a new page," said Lt. Col. George Clark, 39th Airlift Squadron commander. "We will continue to carry out the mission of the Air Mobility Command. It's what we do as operators and will continue to do no matter the model of C-130."