Post by Bernard on Sept 1, 2024 10:07:44 GMT
Some years ago I did this post and tought to republish it honouring the seventieth years anniversary of its first flight.
These sreenies are based on following extract from Tom Clancy’s book “Airborne” of 1997.
From the start, the Hercules had an unusual career within the U.S. military. The first operational employment of the C-130 came in 1957, when President Eisenhower dispatched troops of the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas. This federal effort to enforce court-ordered school desegregation against the opposition of a defiant state governor started the tradition of the C-130 being used in non-combatant/ civil/ relief efforts.
started at Sewart AFB and approaching Little Rock AFB
C-130’s and C-123’s on tarmac at Little Rock AFB
The Hercules’ major overseas deployment came in 1958 during the Lebanon Crisis, delivering supplies to Marines who landed at Beirut to support a friendly government threatened by civil war.
approaching Beirut Intl while US Navy task force is mooring offshore
flying over landing crafts having disembarked US Marines forces at the beaches of Beirut
C-130’s and a C-124 on tarmac at Beirut Intl
The first combat airborne assault for USAF C-130s came in 1960 in the Congo, where they delivered a battalion of French paratroops. The French were headed to the remote town of Stanleyville (now Kisangani) to rescue civilians and diplomats threatened by a local uprising.
taking-off at Congolese Kamina Air Base
approaching Stanleyville
dropping paratroopers
Following this, when Chinese troops invaded disputed regions on the northern borders of India in 1962, President Kennedy quietly dispatched a squadron of C-130s to help the Indian Army reinforce its remote Himalayan outposts. The Herks flew thousands of troops and tons of supplies into Leh, where a mountain-ringed 5,000 ft runway of pierced steel plate (PSP) at an altitude of 10,500 feet was the only link to the outside world. Even more astounding feats were ahead for the C-130, though.
C-130’s at Palam New Dehli Intl
flying over Transhimalayan mountains
approaching Leh airfield
touchdown after tricky and very steep descent
on tarmac at Leh
In 1963, the U.S. Navy actually conducted C-130 carrier landing and takeoff trials onboard USS Forrestal (CV-59). The Chief of Naval Operations wanted to know if the big transport could be used to deliver supplies to carriers operating far from friendly bases.
approaching aircraft carrier "USS Independence" (instead of unavailable "Forrestal")
touchdown on carrier (useless to say that landing deck is too short to let AI do a perfect landing)
Bernard
These sreenies are based on following extract from Tom Clancy’s book “Airborne” of 1997.
From the start, the Hercules had an unusual career within the U.S. military. The first operational employment of the C-130 came in 1957, when President Eisenhower dispatched troops of the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas. This federal effort to enforce court-ordered school desegregation against the opposition of a defiant state governor started the tradition of the C-130 being used in non-combatant/ civil/ relief efforts.
started at Sewart AFB and approaching Little Rock AFB
C-130’s and C-123’s on tarmac at Little Rock AFB
The Hercules’ major overseas deployment came in 1958 during the Lebanon Crisis, delivering supplies to Marines who landed at Beirut to support a friendly government threatened by civil war.
approaching Beirut Intl while US Navy task force is mooring offshore
flying over landing crafts having disembarked US Marines forces at the beaches of Beirut
C-130’s and a C-124 on tarmac at Beirut Intl
The first combat airborne assault for USAF C-130s came in 1960 in the Congo, where they delivered a battalion of French paratroops. The French were headed to the remote town of Stanleyville (now Kisangani) to rescue civilians and diplomats threatened by a local uprising.
taking-off at Congolese Kamina Air Base
approaching Stanleyville
dropping paratroopers
Following this, when Chinese troops invaded disputed regions on the northern borders of India in 1962, President Kennedy quietly dispatched a squadron of C-130s to help the Indian Army reinforce its remote Himalayan outposts. The Herks flew thousands of troops and tons of supplies into Leh, where a mountain-ringed 5,000 ft runway of pierced steel plate (PSP) at an altitude of 10,500 feet was the only link to the outside world. Even more astounding feats were ahead for the C-130, though.
C-130’s at Palam New Dehli Intl
flying over Transhimalayan mountains
approaching Leh airfield
touchdown after tricky and very steep descent
on tarmac at Leh
In 1963, the U.S. Navy actually conducted C-130 carrier landing and takeoff trials onboard USS Forrestal (CV-59). The Chief of Naval Operations wanted to know if the big transport could be used to deliver supplies to carriers operating far from friendly bases.
approaching aircraft carrier "USS Independence" (instead of unavailable "Forrestal")
touchdown on carrier (useless to say that landing deck is too short to let AI do a perfect landing)
Bernard