THE C-130 ON DISPLAY AT THE FRONT GATE OF LITTLE ROCK AFB, ARKANSAS
This C-130A Hercules was the 126th built by Lockheed Aircraft corp. of Marietta , Georgia.
It was accepted into the Air Force inventory on 23 August 1957.
On 2 November 1972, it was given to the South Vietnamese Air Force as part of the Military Assistance Program.
A few years later, the aircraft would be involved in a historic flight.
On 29 April 1975, this Herk was the last out of Vietnam during the fall of Saigon . With over 100 aircraft destroyed
On 29 April 1975, this Herk was the last out of Vietnam during the fall of Saigon . With over 100 aircraft destroyed
on the flight line at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, some of them still burning, it was the last flyable C-130 remaining.
In a very panicked state, hundreds of people were rushing to get aboard, as the aircraft represented a final ticket to freedom.
People hurriedly crowded into the Herk, packing in tighter and tighter. Eventually, the loadmaster informed the pilot,
People hurriedly crowded into the Herk, packing in tighter and tighter. Eventually, the loadmaster informed the pilot,
Major Phuong, a South Vietnamese instructor pilot, that he could not get the rear ramp closed due to the number of people
standing on it. In a moment of inspiration, Major Phuong slowly taxied forward, then hit the brakes. The loadmaster called forward again stating he had successfully got the doors closed.
In all, 452 people were on board, including a staggering 32 in the cockpit alone. Using a conservative estimate of 100 pounds
In all, 452 people were on board, including a staggering 32 in the cockpit alone. Using a conservative estimate of 100 pounds
per person, it translated into an overload of at least 10,000 pounds. Consequently, the Herk used every bit of the runway and overrun before it was able to get airborne.
The target was Thailand, which should have been 1:20 in flight time, but after an hour and a half, the aircraft was over the
Gulf of Siam, and they were clearly lost. Finally, a map was located, they identified some terrain features, and they were able to navigate. They landed at Utapao, Thailand after a three and a half hour flight.
Ground personnel were shocked at what "fell out" as they opened the doors. It was clear that a longer flight would almost
Ground personnel were shocked at what "fell out" as they opened the doors. It was clear that a longer flight would almost
certainly have resulted in a loss of life. In the end, however, all 452 people made it to freedom aboard this historic C-130.
452 very happy passengers and I'll wager there wasn't one complaint about the service!
Upon landing, the aircraft was reclaimed by the United States Air Force and assigned to two different Air National Guard units for the next 14 years.
On 28 June 1989, it made its final flight to Little Rock Air Force Base and was placed on permanent display
As a seven year old kid on April 29th, 1975, I was on one of the last two Hercs that was not burning or destroyed. My family had spent the previous night at an abandoned barracks across the fence from Air America. On that morning, we had made our way to the airfield after being stopped several times by the MPs. We were hiding in a cement bunker when my father screamed at us to run after two pilots that were making their way towards a C-130. It was a dash of about two hundred yards and I ran as fast as my legs could go. We were some of the first people on board and as the engines revved up, more and more people piled in. Even as we were rolling down the taxi way, people were continuing to jump on board. After what felt like an eternity, we finally took off and went south. After another base told us not to land because they too were under attack, the Herc turned west towards Utapao Thailand where we landed about two hours later. After the plane came to a stop and the ramp dropped, we all gasped at the sea of airplanes that was before us with many more trying to land. USAF personnel told those on board to leave their weapons on the deck. My father and I walked around our plane and counted 5-6 bullet holes. I saw other C-130s with tips of their wings gone or vertical stabilizers shredded, yet they were able to fly and land. After all these years my love for the Hercules has never changed, it is still the most beautiful plane in the world in my opinion.
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