Staff Sgt. Benjamin Woods, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron air freight supervisor, places a pallet of Spanish coins in a line, Feb. 23, 2012, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century, are being palletized in preparation for their long awaited return to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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(From left to right) Master Sgt. Chris Eggleston, section chief small air terminal, Tech. Sgt. Peter Little, noncommissioned officer in charge of air freight, and Staff Sgt. Benjamin Woods, air freight supervisor, of the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, prepare to load Spanish coins onto an aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2012. The coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century, are being palletized in preparation for their long awaited return to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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Staff Sgt. Rachael McCray, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron Mobility Training Instructor, connects a cargo net to a pallet of Spanish coins to be loaded on a Spanish C-130 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2012. The coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century, are being palletized in preparation for their long awaited return to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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Spanish navy Rear Adm. Javier Romero, Defense Attaché, talks with Col. Lenny J. Richoux, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., Feb. 23, 2012. Romero is escorting half of one billion dollars of Spanish coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century and unearthed three years ago, back to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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Spanish navy Rear Adm. Javier Romero, Defense Attaché, gives an interview at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., Feb. 23, 2012. Romero is escorting half of one billion dollars of Spanish coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century and unearthed three years ago, back to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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Rodney Pate, a Transit Alert employee with the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshalls in a Spanish C-130, Feb. 23, 2012, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. MacDill hosted two Spanish C-130 aircraft dispatched by the Spanish government to retrieve Spanish coins that were lost at sea in the 19th century. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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Staff Sgt. Benjamin Woods, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron air freight supervisor, removes a pallet of Spanish coins from a truck, Feb. 23, 2012, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The coins, which were lost at sea in the 19th century, are being palletized in preparation for their long awaited return to Spain. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic David Tracy)

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MacDill helps reunite Spanish government, lost gold

Published Feb. 24, 2012
By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida -- Two Spanish air force C-130 Hercules aircraft departed MacDill Air Force Base on Feb. 24 after being loaded with approximately 17 metric tons, or approximately $500 million, of gold.

The two aircraft were dispatched by the Spanish government to retrieve coins that were lost at sea in the 19th century.

The gold was discovered by the Odyssey Marine Exploration treasure hunting corporation in 2007. Odyssey recovered the treasure from the Atlantic Ocean floor after finding the wreck off of the coast of Portugal with a remote-controlled underwater robot.

Airmen across MacDill helped ensure the gold was loaded safely onto the waiting aircraft. Once the aircraft take off, more than a half-million silver and gold coins went to the Spanish government.