FTW
The second oldest operating C-130 in the world departs Fort Worth Meacham Airport after a quick tech stop. This Hercules was originally delivered to the US Air Force in 1955 as 55-0008. In 1972, 55-0008 was one of 32 ex-US Air Force C-130As that were given to the South Vietnam Air Force (RNVAF) as part of Project Enhance Plus. They flew sorties out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon but in 1975, the base came under intense aerial bombardment by North Vietnamese forces including some defecting RNVAF pilots. 55-0008 was one of 15 C-130As that managed to escape Tan Son Nhut Air Base and fly to U-Tapao Military Airfield in Thailand. 47 years later, it's still its keep. A true testament to this incredible machine!
FTW
The second oldest operating C-130 in the world departs Fort Worth Meacham Airport after a quick tech stop. This Hercules was originally delivered to the US Air Force in 1955 as 55-0008. In 1972, 55-0008 was one of 32 ex-US Air Force C-130As that were given to the South Vietnam Air Force (RNVAF) as part of Project Enhance Plus. They flew sorties out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon but in 1975, the base came under intense aerial bombardment by North Vietnamese forces including some defecting RNVAF pilots. 55-0008 was one of 15 C-130As that managed to escape Tan Son Nhut Air Base and fly to U-Tapao Military Airfield in Thailand. 47 years later, it's still its keep. A true testament to this incredible machine!