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Starlifters retire from active duty service

  • Published
The last two active-duty C-141B Starlifter transport aircraft will be retired Sept. 16 at McGuire AFB, N.J.

During the past 40 years, the C-141 has proven a versatile platform for troop and cargo transport, humanitarian and disaster relief operations and aeromedical evacuation. As such, the Starlifter has secured an important place in history ranging from Vietnam through the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.

Lockheed-Georgia (now Lockheed Martin) delivered the first C-141 Starlifter to Tinker AFB, Okla., in October 1964. At that time, the aircraft was assigned to Military Airlift Command, the predecessor of todays Air Mobility Command.

During a recent interview, General Handy discussed the retirement of the C-141 from the active duty Air Force and the contributions of both the aircraft and the Airmen who supported it during the past four decades.

General Handy said its important to remember that although the aircraft is retiring from active-duty service, the Air Force Reserve Command will continue to fly the remaining 20 Starlifters until those aircraft are retired by the end of 2006. AMC began transferring C-141s to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard forces in July 1986. C-141s will now only be on duty with Reserve units at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

I am saddened by the departure of the C-141, but the aircraft has done a marvelous job in the hands of our great Airman, and its time for it to retire, said the general.

The general said it is the sum total of the contributions of the all the people aircrews, maintainers and other support personnel -- combined with the capabilities of the aircraft that made the C-141 so remarkable.

In fact, since the C-141 joined the Air Force inventory nearly four decades ago, the aircraft has logged approximately 9 million miles and recorded a number of firsts.

The C-141 was the first jet aircraft to serve as a jump platform for Army paratroopers. It was the first jet aircraft to land in Antarctica. It set a record in 1981, flying nonstop from New Jersey to Saudi Arabia, carrying 67,000 pounds of cargo and refueling in flight three times.

Of the millions of miles logged by the C-141, many were flown by Starlifters assigned to McGuire AFB. At peak strength, 60 Starlifters were assigned at McGuire of the 284 C-141s in the Air Force inventory.

McGuire AFB has played a pivotal role in the history of the C-141, from initial air-evacuation duties in Vietnam, through its support of the Israel and Middle East Peace accords, to humanitarian crises of the 1980s, and conflicts in Grenada, Somalia, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to Lt. Col. Eric Wydra, McGuires 6th Airlift Squadron commander, for more than 30 years the C-141 was the backbone of American military airlift. It would be safe to say that airlift grew-up in the C-141, said the colonel.

He also said that it was through the lessons learned and the capabilities demonstrated in the C-141 that AMC was able to take the next step in global mobility airlift the U.S. Air Forces newest airlifter, the C-17 Globemaster III.

McGuires first C-141 arrived at the base Aug. 8, 1967. Because it was the first C-141 assigned to the state of New Jersey, the aircraft was christened the Garden State Starlifter.

When the Air Force officially retires the last active-duty Starlifter on Sept. 16, the Garden State Starlifter will become McGuires sole remaining C-141. After more than 30 years of service, the aircraft will be placed on static display, a proud reminder of the Starlifters distinguished service to America.

(Airman 1st Class Dilia DeGrego, 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, contributed significantly to this story)

 

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