AIR AMERICA: LOCKHEED C-130 HERCULES

by Dr. Joe F. Leeker

First published on 15 August 2003, last updated on 24 August 2015

Air America crews flew the following types of C-130 operations:

I) The Tibetan airlift:

Since October 57, Tibetan guerillas were supported by CAT aircraft. At first by a B-17,
then by a “sanitized” C-118A bailed from the USAF. From July 19591 to May 1960,
“sanitized” USAF C-130As belonging to the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron of Naha Air Base,
Okinawa, and flown by “quarantined” Air America crews, continued these airdrops into Tibet
out of Takhli, Thailand. For each mission, one to three USAF C-130A were flown from Naha
to Kadena, Okinawa. There they were loaded by CIA people and then flown to Takhli by Air
America crews, where they were “sanitized”, i.e. stripped of all military markings to make
them non-attributable. Then they were flown from Takhli across Burma to Tibet by
“quarantined” Air America crews, using letters like “Able flight” or “Baker flight” as call-
signs, made their drops (cargo and guerillas), returned to Takhli, and were then given back to
the USAF at Naha. Such drops were flown on 18 September 59 (1 C-130A), in the second
week of November 59 (1 C-130A), mid-December 59 (1 C-130A), mid-January 60 (1 C-
130A), mid-February 60 (1 C-130A), mid-March 60 (2 C-130As), mid-April 60 (2 C-130As),
and on two consecutive nights at the end of April 60 (2 times 3 C-130As).2 These airdrops
ceased in May 60, after the CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers had been shot down on 1 May 60.
Reportedly, between November 1959 and May 1960, some 35 to 40 missions had delivered
almost 400 tons of cargo to resistance fighters of Tibet.3 The airdrops were resumed on 31
March 1961 under the Kennedy administration, with known missions on 31 March 61 (1 C-
130A), 2 April 61 to Mustang in Nepal (2 C-130As), and mid-December 61 to Mustang (2 C-
130As),4 but the airdrop missions probably continued to about mid-1962.5 The C-130As used
on that second Tibetan C-130 airlift still belonged to the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron,6
possibly including those of the E-Flight detachment, which were also based at Naha and
temporarily at Takhli. Since 1962 the Tibetan program was slowly reorganized as to include
the cooperation of India, so that Air Ventures Inc., the CIA’s outfit which had been set up in
Nepal in the fall of 1963, did not have to be used for covert supply drops. For since that time
the C-46s and Helio Couriers of the Indian ARC or Aviation Research Center of Charbatia
Air Base, India, were responsible for supporting the Tibetan resistance.7 For more details
about Air America’s Tibetan airlift see the file Missions to Tibet at
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/Leeker/history/Tibet.pdf . As
to the first Tibetan C-130A airlift between July 59 and May 60, the USAF Assignment
Records preserved at the AFHRA at Maxwell AFB (microfilms nos. ACA-56, ACA-60,
ACA-66, ACA-67, and ACA-76) do not indicate any C-130As belonging to the 21st TCS for
1
Leary, Secret mission to Tibet, p. 68. This date seems to be correct, as the drop of June 59 was still made by a
C-118A (Conboy / Morrison, The CIA’s secret war in Tibet, p. 105).
2
Conboy / Morrison, The CIA’s secret war in Tibet, pp. 110-33. The mission of 18 September 59 seems to have
been the first one during which guerrillas were dropped who had been trained in Colorado.
3
Leary, Secret mission to Tibet, p. 71.
4
Conboy / Morrison, The CIA’s secret war in Tibet, pp. 140/1, 158-64.
5
Fax dated 29 May 2000, sent by Brigadier General Aderholt to the author.
6
Trest, Air Commando One, pp. 87, 92/3.
7
Robbins, Air America, pp. 90-98; Leary, Secret mission to Tibet, pp. 62-71; Trest, Air Commando One, pp. 75-
98; Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia, pp. 448/9; Conboy / Morrison, The CIA’s secret war in Tibet, pp.
171-207.
that period. But the official history of the 21st TCS that can be found at the AFHRA site
http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/wwwroot/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0021as.html states that
the 21st TCS was assigned to the 483rd TCW at least between 8 December 58 and 25 June 60
(when it was assigned to the 315th Air Division), and that the 21st TCS was officially
stationed at Naha between 15 November 58 and 31 May 71. Indeed, several C-130As
belonging to the 483rd TCW of Ashiya, Japan, were transferred to Naha in 1958/9, but their
unit is still given as the 483rd TCW (based at Naha) in the USAF Assignment Records. So, it
can be assumed that those Naha-based C-130As of the 483rd TCW (or part of them) were the
21st TCS aircraft used on the Tibetan airlift.
In the list of Naha-based C-130As given below, all maintenance times are marked gray.
Times of known use by CAT or Air America are marked blue, and times of possible use by
the CIA are typed in red. The gray background means times, when an aircraft was out for
maintenance or modifications, often in the US.

C-130As of the 483rd TCW and the 21st TCS based at Naha, Okinawa
between July 1959 and mid-1962:8

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________

Lockheed C-130A 57-467 3174 3 October 58 USAF Japan
Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 3 October 58 (= 030100 on card 12/58;
100 = 10 October = reporting date); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 11 October 59
[transferred to the control of the 4440 th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 11
October 59 (= 110 on card 12/59); to Robins (WRAMA) on 14 October 59 (= 140 on card 12/59) and
again to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, on 14 January 60 (= 141 on
card 6/60); left the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 27 January 60 (= 271311 on card 6/60, reported on 31
Jan.) to the (21st) Troop Carrier Wing, Naha (OL 48)];
to the (21st) Troop Carrier Wing, Naha (OL 48) on 27 January 60, but officially
gained by the 483rd TCW, Ashiya only on 27 March 60 (= 273313 on card 6/60,
reported on 31 March), i.e. 2 months later; to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 27 June 60 (=
276 on card 6/60); this might indicate that the aircraft was with the CIA from 27
January 60 to 27 June 60; left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 7 November 60;
[was to go to Kawasaki, Gifu, for maintenance on 12 July 60 (=127 on card 12/60), but remained at
Naha (OL 48)];
[to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, on 7 November 60 (= 60312); to
Robins (WRAMA) on 14 November 60 (= 60319); and on the way back to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on
31 January 61 (= 61031)] and
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 6 February 61 (= 61037); C-130A “70467” was flown
by “Doc” Johnson on a 3-hour training flight out of Naha on 19 March 61 (“Doc”
Johnson’s log book kindly supplied by his son James on 18 February 2013); again to
the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212); a period of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, was between 11 and 13 September 62.
Fate: transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 25 September 62 (62268), but
remained in the Far East; transferred to the 315th Air Division, Naha, on 1 December
62 (62335), and was still current with them in December 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-469 3176 25 Sep. 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 25 September 59 (259309/card 12/59,
reported on 30 Sep.); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 12 May 60;
8
Naha-based C-130As that were assigned to the 817TCS, the 345TCS, or the 315AD HQ, in the early sixties,
are not listed here.
 [transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 12 May 60
(125 card 6/60); left the 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) only on 24 May 60 (245 card
6/60); left Robins (WRAMA) on 60237 (24 Aug 60) to 4440 th ADEGP, Langley; left 4440th ADEGP,
Langley to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 60243 (30 Aug 60)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 30 Aug 60; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 3 March 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 61062 (3
March 61); passed from the 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 61066 (7 Mar 61);
transferred from Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 61249 (6 Sep 61), and from the
4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 21st TCS, Naha on 61259 (16 September 61)]
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 16 September 61;
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 26 July and 2 August 62;
between 29 and 31 August 62; and between 19 and 27 March 63.
Fate: transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 20 July 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-470 3177 6 October 58 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 6 October 58 (060205 card 6/59 = 6 Oct
58, reported only on 20 May 59); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 30 March 60
[was to leave the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 18 March 60 (183313 card 6/60) for the 4440 th ADEGP,
Langley; but this loss was reported in error];
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 30 March
60 (303 card 6/60); left 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 4 April 60 (044 card 6/60);
left Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 4 August 60 (60217); 4440th ADEGP, Langley
to 21st TCS, Naha, on 17 August 60 (60230)];
to 21st TCS, Naha, on 17 August 60; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 4 September 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 4
September 61 (61247); left 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 7 September 61 (61250);
left Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 30 October 61 (61303); returned to the 21st
TCS, Naha, on 5 November 61 (61309)];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 5 November 61;
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
periods of maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 11 and 13
September 62; and between 20 and 28 February 63.
Fate: transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; current on 1
July 64.

Lockheed C-130A 57-471 3178 6 October 58 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 6 October 58 (060100 on card 12/58 =
on 6 Oct 58, reported on 10 Oct 58); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 17 January 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 17 January
60 (171 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 25 Jan 60 (251 on card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 18 April 60 (184 on card 6/60); back to the 483rd
TCW, Naha, on 30 April 60 (304 on card 6/60)];
back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 30 April 60; transferred to the 21st TCS, Naha, on
25 June 60 (256 on card 12/60); left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 29 October 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 29
October 60 (60303); to Robins (WRAMA) on 3 November 60 (30308); to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on
17 January 61 (61017); returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 January 61 (61022)];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 January 61
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
periods of maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 19 and 28 August
 62; between 1 and 19 March 63; and between 24 August 63 and 2 April 64.
Fate: transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; current on 1
July 64.

Lockheed C-130A 57-472 3179 1 October 58 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 1 October 58 (010100 on card 12/58,
reported on 10 Oct 58); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 29 January 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 29 January
60 (291 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 2 February 60 (022 on card
6/60); Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 3 April 60 (034045 on card 6/60); left 4440 th
ADEGP, Langley to station NE31 (= Nellis AFB, Las Vegas) on 6 May 60 ( 065085 on card 6/60);
from station NE31 (= Nellis AFB, Las Vegas) to 4440 th ADEGP, Langley on 21 May 60 (215245 on
card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 26 May 60 (265 on card 6/60) ];
to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 26 May 60; to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 (256 on
card 12/60);
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 12 and 16 July 60 ];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 16 July 60 (127 and 167 on card 12/60); left the
21st TCS, Naha, on 18 August 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 18 August
60 (60231); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 24 August 60 (60237); Robins
(WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley 28 October 60 (60302); back to the 21st TCS, Naha on 10
November 60 (60315)];
back to the 21st TCS, Naha on 10 November 60
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; a period of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, was between 28 September and 1 October
62.
Fate: transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 7 April 63; returned to 315th
AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 July 63; current on 1 July 64.

Lockheed C-130A 57-473 3180 3 October 58 USAF Japan

rd
Service history: to the 483 TCW, Naha, on 3 October 58 (030100 on card 12/58,
reported on 10 October 58); left the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 7 March 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 7 March
60 (073 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 11 March 60 (113 card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley intended for 27 May 60, but postponed to 1 June 60
(275 corrected to 016 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 13 June 60
(136 on card 6/60)];
back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 13 June 60; transferred to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25
June 60 (256 on card 12/60);
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 30 June and 4 July 60 (306 to 047 on card
12/60)]; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 September 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 14 September 60
(60258); to Robins (WRAMA) on 19 September 60 (60263); Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley
on 5 December 60 (60340); 4440th ADEGP, Langley back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 December 60 (60349)];
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 December 60;
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 26 and 28 September 62 and
between 7 and 14 May 63.
Fate: transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 28 October 63; returned to
315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 20 January 64; transferred to McClellan AFB on 27
 January 64; returned to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 11 February 64; current on
1 July 64.

Lockheed C-130A 57-474 3181 1 October 58 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha on 1 October 58 (010100 on card 12/58,
reported on 10 October 58); transferred to the 483rd TCW, Ashiya from ADEGP
LP91 (Langley) on 13 May 59 (135 on card 6/59); left the 483rd TCW, Naha (!), to
ADEGP on 8 January 60 (081 on card 6/60); this might indicate that the aircraft was
with the CIA between 13 May 59 and 8 January 60
[left the 483rd TCW, Naha (!), to ADEGP on 8 January 60 (081 on card 6/60); transferred to Robins
(WRAMA) on 13 January 60 (131 on card 6/60); Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley 30
March 60 (303 on card 6/60); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 11 April 60 (114 on
card 6/60)];
to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 11 April 60, left Naha on 14 June 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 14 June 60
(146 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 20 June 60 (206 on card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to 4440th ADEGP, Langley intended for 26 September 60, postponed to 30
September 60 (60270 corrected to 60274); to Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan AFB on 2
October 60 (60276); Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan to 4440 th ADEGP, Langley on 6
October 60 (60280); 4440th ADEGP, Langley back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 11 October 60
(60285)];
back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 11 October 60 (60285); transferred to the 21st TCS
on 11 October 60 (60285); according to “Doc” Johnson’s log book, he did 4.0 hours
of flight training at Naha on 15 December 61 in C-130 “74”, and on 16 December 61,
flew C-130 “74” from Kadena, Okinawa to Takhli (“Romeo”) (page from “Doc”
Johnson’s log book, kindly sent to the author on 10 August 2013);
again to the 21st TCS, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62 (62212);
transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 11 Aug. 62 (62223); returned to the
21st TCS, Naha, on 23 October 62 (62296);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62 (62304); periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 2 and 5 July 62; between 30
November and 1 December 62; and between 13 and 18 April 63.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 25 April 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-475 3182 8 April 59 USAF Japan

rd
Service history: to the 483 TCW, Naha, on 8 April 59 (084 on card 6/59); left Naha
on 9 June 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 9 June 60
(096 card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 16 June 60 (166 on card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 20 October 60 (60294); 4440th ADEGP, Langley
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 28 October 60 (60302)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 28 October 60; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 19 October 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 19
October 61 (61292); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 30 October 61 (61303); Robins
(WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 27 December 61 (61361); no details about its return to
the 21st TCS in January 61]
no details about its return to the 21st TCS in January 61
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 13 and 16 September 62;
between 4 and 12 April 63; and between 25 and 27 May 63.
 Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 5 June 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-476 3183 13 May 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483 TCW, Ashiya on 1 July 58; to 483rd TCW, Naha, on 13
rd

May 59 (135 on card 6/59); left Ashiya (!) for the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 6
October 59 (060 on card 12/59); (officially) to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 8 October 59
(080 on card 12/59); left Naha on 18 October 59; this might indicate that the aircraft
was – unofficially – with the CIA from 13 May 59 to 18 October 59
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 18
October 59 (18J on card 12/59); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 21 October 59 (21J
on card 12/59); Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440 th ADEGP, Langley on 29 June 60 (296 on card 6/60);
4440th ADEGP, Langley to Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan AFB on 1 July 60 (017 on card
12/60); Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan AFB to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley, on 8 July 60
(087 on card 12/60, corrected from 077, i.e. 7 July 60); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley to PAF (Pacific Air
Force) (21st) TCS, Naha (OL48) on 14 July 60 (147 on card 12/60)];
to PAF (Pacific Air Force) (21st) TCS, Naha (OL48) on 14 July 60; to the 21st TCS,
Naha on 25 June 60 (256 on card 12/60) (!); according to “Doc” Johnson’s log book,
he did 4.3 hours of flight training at Naha on 14 December 61 in C-130 “76”, and on
20 December 61, he flew C-130 “76” back from Takhli (“Romeo”) to Kadena,
Okinawa (page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book, kindly sent to the author on 10
August 2013);
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212); transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 16 August 62; returned to
315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; a period of maintenance (WM),
while based at Naha, was between 28 and 39 November 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 18 April 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-477 3184 13 June 59 USAF Japan

rd
Service history: to the 483 TCW, Naha, on 13 June 59 (136 on card 6/59); left Naha
on 3 June 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 3 June 60
(036 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 7 June 60 (076 on card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 29 September 60 (60273); 4440 th ADEGP,
Langley to Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan AFB on 3 October 60 (60277); Sacramento Air
Material Area, McClellan AFB to Langley 17 October 60 (60291); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 21st
TCS, Naha, on 22 October 60 (60296)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 October 60; left Naha on 10 September 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 10
September 61 (61253); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 16 September 61 (61259);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 23 October 61 (61296); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 7 November 61 (61311)];
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 7 November 61; according to “Doc” Johnson’s log
book, he made an 11.3 h flight out of Takhli (“Romeo”) on 19 December 61 in C-130
“77”, probably to Tibet or Mustang (page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book, kindly sent
to the author on 10 August 2013);
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 18 and 26 July 62 and
between 20 and 23 September 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 2 May 63.
Lockheed C-130A 57-478 3185 10 April 59 USAF Japan
Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 10 April 59 (104 on card 6/59); left
Naha on 22 June 60;
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 22 June 60
(226 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 27 June 60 (276 on card 6/60);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 28 October 60 (60302); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 10 November 60 (60315)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 10 November 60; left Naha on 10 November 61
[21st TCS, Naha, to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 10 November 61 (61314); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley
to Robins (WRAMA) on 15 November 61 (61319); left Robins (WRAMA) to PAF (Pacific Air Force),
Naha (OL 48) on 13 March 62 (62072); officially transferred from Robins (WRAMA) to the 21 st TCS,
Naha, only on 4 April 62 (62094)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, only on 4 April 62
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 21 and 26 July 62; between 8
and 11 September 62; and between 7 and 15 March 63.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 24 April 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-479 3186 1 October 58 USAF Japan

rd
Service history: to the 483 TCW, Naha, on 1 October 58 (010100 on card 12/58,
reported on 10 October 58); left Naha on 11 April 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 11 April
60 (114 on card 6/60); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 18 April 60 (184 card on
6/60); reported in error to leave Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 20 March 60
(203 on card 12/60); from Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440 th ADEGP, Langley and immediately to NE31
(Nellis AFB, Las Vegas) on 22 July 60 (227 on card 12/60); to the 815 th TCS, Tachikawa on 31 July
60 (60213); officially transferred from the 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 5 August
60 (60218)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 5 August 60; left Naha on 11 November 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 11
November 60 (60316); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 21 November 60 (60326);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 6 February 61 (61037); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 16 February 61 (61047)];
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 16 February 61;
transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 18 May 62 (62138); returned to the
21st TCS, Naha, on 17 August 62 (62230);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 18 and 19 October 62;
between 27 March and 12 April 63; and between 22 and 25 May 63.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 25 May 63; between 13 and 29 April
64, the aircraft was flown from Tachikawa to Naha for maintenance (WM) with LOG
LAI CI OL48.

Lockheed C-130A 57-480 3187 20 August 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 20 August 59 (208318 on card 12/59,
reported on 31 August 59); left Naha on 29 August 59
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 29 August
59 (298 on card 12/59); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 1 September 59 (019 on
card 12/59); Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440 th ADEGP, Langley on 10 November 59 (10K on card
 12/59); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 26 November 59 (26K on card 6/60)];
to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 26 November 59
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 13 and 19 June 60 (136 to 196 on card
6/60)]; returned to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 19 June 60 (196 on card 6/60); transferred
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 (256 on card 12/60); left Naha on 21 Dec. 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 21
December 60 (60356); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 27 December 60 (60362);
Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 7 April 61 (61097); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley to
the 21st TCS, Naha, on 15 April 61 (61105)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 15 April 61
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; periods of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were on 25 July 62; between 31 July and 3
August 62; and between 19 and 25 August 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 10 Mai 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-481 3188 10 October 58 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 10 October 58 (100100 on card 12/58,
reported on 10 October 58); left Naha on 22 March 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 22 March
60 (223 on card 6/60); to Robins (WRAMA) on 25 March 60 (253 on card 6/60); was to leave Robins
(WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley (LP91) on 21 April 60 (60112); to the 4440th ADEGP,
Langley from Robins (WRAMA) only on 1 August 60 (60214); left the 4440 th ADEGP, Langley to the
21st TCS, Naha, on 15 August 60 (60228)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 15 August 60; left the 21st TCS on 2 September 62
[left the 21st TCS on 2 September 62 (62245); transferred to Robins (WRAMA) on 8 September 62
(62251)];
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 7 November 62 (62311); a period of
maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, was between 27 and 28 November 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 29 April 63 (63119).

Lockheed C-130A 57-482 3189 31 July 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 31 July 59 (317 on card 12/59); left
Naha on 29 August 59
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 29 August
59 (298 on card 12/59); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 31 August 59 (318 on card
12/59); Robins (WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 23 October 59 (23J on card 12/59);
4440th ADEGP, Langley back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 1 November 59 (01K on card 12/59) ];
back to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 1 November 59
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 3 and 11 June 60 (036 to 116 on card
6/60)]; left Naha on 22 December 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 22
December 60 (60357); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 5 January 61 (61005); Robins
(WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 29 March 61 (61088); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to the
21st TCS, Naha, on 11 April 61 (61101)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 11 April 61;
again to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on 31 July 62
(62212);
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62;
transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 12 March 63; returned to 315th AD,
Headquarters, Naha, on 27 April 63; periods of maintenance (WM), while based at
 Naha, were between 25 and 31 July 62 and between 18 and 20 September 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 10 May 63.

Lockheed C-130A 57-483 3190 30 July 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 30 July 59 (307 on card 12/59);
transferred to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 (256 on card 12/60);
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 16 and 19 July 60 (167 on card 12/60 to
60201)]; left Naha on 19 September 60
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 19
September 60 (60263); to Robins (WRAMA) on 23 September 60 (60267); Robins (WRAMA) to the
4440th ADEGP, Langley on 12 December 60 (60347); back to the 21 st TCS, Naha, on 20 December 60
(60355)];
back to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 20 December 60
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62;
transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 20 December 62; returned to 315 th
AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 12 March 63; a period of maintenance (WM), while
based at Naha, was between 16 and 18 September 62.
Fate: transferred to Tachikawa AB, Japan, on 18 April 63.

Lockheed C-130A 56-542 3150 8 June 60 USAF Japan

Service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 8 June 60 (086 on card 6/60); to the 21st
TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 (256 on card 12/60);
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 2 and 6 September 60 (60246-60250)];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 6 September 60; left Naha on 12 April 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 12 April
61 (61102); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 18 April 61 (61108); Robins
(WRAMA) to the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 3 October 61 (61276); returned to the 21 st TCS, Naha,
on 12 October 61 (61285)];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 12 October 61
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62;
transferred to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 13 November 62; returned to 315 th
AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 10 May 63; periods of maintenance (WM), while based
at Naha, were between 20 and 31 July 62; between 11 and 12 October 62; between 10
and 16 May 63; and between 22 and 23 November 63.

Lockheed C-130A 56-543 3151 14 Nov. 59 USAF Japan

Service history: to 483rd TCW, Naha, on 14 November 59 (14K on card 12/59);
transferred to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 (256 on card 6/60);
[to Kawasaki, Gifu, Japan, for maintenance (WK) between 17 and 22 August 60 (60229-60234)];
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 August 60; left Naha on 7 June 61
[transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 7 June 61
(61158); 4440th ADEGP, Langley to Robins (WRAMA) on 12 June 61 (61163); Robins (WRAMA) to
the 4440th ADEGP, Langley on 14 September 61 (61257); 4440 th ADEGP, Langley to the 21st TCS,
Naha, on 24 September 61 (61267)];
to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 24 September 61
transferred to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; transferred to Warner
Robins AFB, Georgia, on 19 February 63; returned to 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha,
on 19 April 63; periods of maintenance (WM), while based at Naha, were between 8
and 31 July 62; between 6 and 8 October 62; and between 1 and 14 August 63 (=
LOG LAI CI OL48, Naha).
Fate: current in December 63.
 Analysis:
C-130As that were probably used on the Tibetan airlift in the periods
July 1959 to May 60 and March 61 to mid-1962

An unknown Air America C-130A in 1959-60, after the USAF tail markings had been
removed prior to an overflight of Tibet –
reportedly taken at Kadena AB, Okinawa, but probably at Takhli
(with kind permission from Ken Conboy)

From other USAF aircraft that were used by or temporarily handed over to Air America, it
is known that such a transaction is always documented in the USAF Assignment Records
preserved at Maxwell AFB. A long time use by Air America would be indicated by the
termination code “TL” meaning that the aircraft had gone to a user outside the regular USAF,
and a short time lease would often be indicated as “out for contract maintenance” (WK) to
Air Asia, Air America’s main maintenance base at Tainan. So, one might expect that when
the CIA used one of C-130As on the Tibetan airlift, this was indicated in the same way. The
only action that might indicate a transfer to CIA use is the frequent temporary transfer of C-
130As to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, before
those C-130As returned to their previous unit. For this group was also responsible for
delivering USAF aircraft to customers outside the USAF such as foreign governments that
were to receive MAP aircraft (see http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/441/237.xml). On
the other hand, the USAF Assignment Records preserved at Maxwell AFB also indicate this
type of transfer for C-130As assigned to the 817th TCS9 (which was not involved in the
CIA’s Tibetan airlift) and even for C-130As of the 21st TCS at times when the CIA’s Tibetan
airlift was not active.10 And then, the complete history of all C-130As assigned to the 21st

9
Some examples of C-130As of the 817th TCS temporarily transferred to the 4440 th ADG are: 55-036 to 4440th
ADG on 61281; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 62135; 55-037 to 4440th ADG on 14 July 60; back to 817th TCS,
Naha, on 60309; 55-037 to 4440th ADG on 61243; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 61352; 55-038 to 4440th ADG
on 61030; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 61079; 55-041 to 4440th ADG on 61070; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on
61116; 55-042 to 4440th ADG on 60251; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 60355; 55-043 to 4440th ADG on 61057;
back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 61100; 55-044 to 4440th ADG on 61312; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 62051; 55-
045 to 4440th ADG on 61146; back to 817th TCS, Naha, on 61192.
10
C-130As of the 21st TCS temporarily transferred to the 4440 th ADG at times, when the Tibetan airlift was
inactive are: 57-469 to 4440th ADG on 12 May 60; to 21st TCS, Naha, on 30 August 60 (60243); 57-477 to
TCS, Naha between 1959 and 1962 reveals that almost each year, all C-130As made a trip to
WRAMA (Warner Robins Air Materiel Area), Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the big
USAF supply depot – apparently for heavy maintenance – and in some cases, a short stay at
other stations (e.g. Nellis AFB) was also included in the journey. Delivery to and from
WRAMA was managed by the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley. In the list of C-
130As given above, all maintenance times are marked gray. In some cases, discrepancies in
the delivery details may indicate a use by the CIA:
C-130A 57-474 went to the 483rd TCW, Naha on 1 October 58, then was transferred to
Ashiya on 13 May 59, but left the 483rd TCW for its trip to WRAMA from Naha (!) on 8
January 60; this might indicate that the aircraft was with the CIA between 13 May 59 and 8
January 60
C-130A 57-476 went to 483rd TCW, Naha, on 13 May 59, but then left the 483rd TCW for its
trip to WRAMA from Ashiya (!) on 6 October 59, then was officially transferred to the 483rd
TCW, Naha, on 8 October 59 and finally left Naha for its trip to WRAMA on 18 October 59;
this might indicate that the aircraft was – unofficially – with the CIA from 13 May 59 to 18
October 59
C-130A 57-467 went to the (21st) Troop Carrier Wing, Naha on 27 January 60, but was
officially gained by the 483rd TCW, Ashiya only on 27 March 60, i.e. 2 months later and was
then officially transferred to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 27 June 60; this might indicate that the
aircraft was with the CIA from 27 January 60 to 27 June 60

However, more C-130As than just these 3 aircraft were needed to operate the CIA flights
to Tibet as described above. Interestingly, for the period in late 1961, when “Doc” Johnson
flew the 4 C-130As that he identifies in his log book, the USAF Assignment Records do not
indicate anything special in the career of these specific 4 aircraft. This makes believe that any
C-130A of the 21st TCS could be used on a CIA mission to Tibet during the period between
mid-1959 and mid-1962. This may also explain why in the records of nearly all of these C-
130As a note indicates that a C-130A that had already been with the 21st TCS for several
months, was again assigned to the 21st TCS, Naha, PAF (Pacific Air Force), OL48/Naha, on
31 July 62 (62212), without indicating another unit it may have been with before that date.
So, this may be the date when the entire 21st Troop Carrier Squadron was withdrawn from
(temporary or partial) CIA control and again placed under the total control of the USAF,
Pacific Air Force. As the late Brigadier General Harry (“Heinie”) Aderholt had once told the
author, many different C-130As were used on the Tibetan airlift11 – and this probably meant
that all C-130As of the 21st TCS, Naha, could be used on these missions if needed.

4440th ADG on 3 June 60; to 21st TCS; Naha, on 22 October 60 (60296); 57-475 to 4440th ADG on 9 June 60;
to 21st TCS, Naha, on 28 October 60 (60302); 57-474 to 4440th ADG on 14 June 60; back to 483rd TCW, Naha,
on 11 October 60 (60285); 57-478 to 4440th ADG on 22 June 60; to 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 November 60
(60315); 57-472 to 4440th ADG 20 Aug. 60 (60233); back to 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 Nov. 60 (60315); 57-473 to
4440th ADG 13 Sept. 60 (60258); back to 21st TCS, Naha, on 14 Dec.60 (60349); 57-483 to 4440th ADG 19
Sept. 60 (60263); back to 21st TCS, Naha, on 20 Dec.60 (60355); 57-471 to 4440th ADG 29 Oct.60 (60303);
back to 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 Jan.61 (61022); 57-467 to 4440th ADG 7 Nov. 60 (60312); back to 21st TCS,
Naha, on 6 Feb.61 (61037); 57-479 to 4440th ADG 11 Nov.60 (60316); back to 21st TCS, Naha, on 16 Feb.61
(61047); 57-480 to 4440th ADG 21 Dec. 60 (60356); to 21st TCS, Naha, on 15 April 61 (61105); 57-482 to
4440th ADG 22 Dec. 60 (60357); to 21st TCS, Naha, on 11 April 61 (61101).
11
Fax dated 14 June 2000, kindly sent to the author by Brigadier General Aderholt.
II) Military cargo missions flown into Laos in 1961:
On 26 August 1960, three C-130As, later joined by a 4th C-130A, all belonging to the 21st
TCS were transferred to a special detachment within the 21st TCS, which is marked “SF” in
the official USAF Assignment Records, preserved at the AFHRA at Maxwell AFB, AL.
According to Bowers, four or five C-130As from the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, being part
of the 315th Air Division, were based at Naha, Okinawa, for supply missions into Laos. When
the B-26 fleet of Project Mill Pond was built up at Takhli, Thailand, in April 61 in order to
bomb the Plain of Jars, there were also four C-130As based at Takhli (T-05), Thailand, for
CIA scheduling. They were to be used for close air support of an invasion of the Plain of Jars.
But when the strike was called off by Washington on 17 April 61, the C-130As remained at
Takhli, and in late April and May 61, those 4 USAF C-130As were used to ferry two
volunteer Thai artillery batteries to Seno (L-46), Laos, to help repel the Pathet Lao advance.
And for several weeks military supplies were flown into Wattay airport, Vientiane. On these
missions, the C-130As were flown from Takhli into Laos by “CIA crews”, which certainly
means by Air America crews. And in late 1961, the remaining two of these aircraft may have
formed the first nucleus of the E-Flight which was established within the 21st TCS on
Okinawa at that time.12 The C-130s used for military cargo missions into Laos in 1961 were:

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin___________

SF aircraft of the 21st TCS, Naha, probably based at Takhli (T-05):
Lockheed C-130A 56-490 3098 26 Aug. 60 ex 4440th Aircraft Del.
Group, Langley
Service history: to the 21 TCS, Naha, on 16 August 60; transferred to the 21st TCS
st

SF, Naha, supposed to stand for “Special Flights”, on 26 August 60.

Fate: transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB,
Virginia, on 21 August 61; no longer in the Far East after that date.

Lockheed C-130A 56-491 3099 7 April 61 ex 4440th Aircraft Del.

Group, Langley
Service history: transferred to the 21 TCS SF, Naha, supposed to stand for “Special
st

Flights”, on 7 April 61.

Fate: transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB,
Virginia, on 21 August 61; no longer in the Far East after that date.

Lockheed C-130A 56-493 3101 26 Aug. 60 ex 483rd TCW, Naha

st
Service history: to the 21 TCS, CA-service (combat support) on 25 June 60;
transferred to the 21st TCS SF, Naha, supposed to stand for “Special Flights”, on 26
August 60.
Fate: transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB,
Virginia, on 2 November 61; no longer in the Far East after that date.

Lockheed C-130A 56-497 3105 26 Aug. 60 ex 483rd TCW, Naha

Service history: to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 30 June 60; transferred to the 21st TCS SF,
Naha, supposed to stand for “Special Flights”, on 26 August 60.
Fate: transferred to the control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB,
Virginia, on 9 November 61; no longer in the Far East after that date.

12
Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia. Tactical Airlift, pp. 441 and 448/9; Hagedorn / Hellström, Foreign
Invaders, p. 134.
III) Air America’s “Project” C-130s:
From the end of 1961 until the second half of 1965, the authorization to use C-130s into
Laos, given by President Kennedy in March 61, was seldom translated into action. In late
1961, E-Flight was established within the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron / 315th Air Division at
Naha, Okinawa, probably with the two C-130As remaining from the cargo missions flown
into Laos in 1961, that is 56-493 (msn 3101) and 56-497 (msn 3105), which left the Far East
on 2 and 9 November 61 respectively. The 21st TCS had officially been attached to
Detachment 1, Headquarters, 315th Air Division, between 25 June 60 and 20 October 64, to
the 6315th Operations Group between 20 October 64 and 7 August 66, and to the 374th TCW
since 8 August 66.13 The first real E-Flight C-130As were probably 57-470 (msn 3177) and
57-471 (msn 3178), which returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 5 November 61 and on 22
January 61 respectively. Unlike other C-130As of the 315th AD, the four or five E-Flight C-
130As were uncamouflaged. They had very small USAF insignia, and had skate-wheel rollers
installed on the cargo-compartment floor over which cheap wood pallets could be moved.
That made handling easier at locations without forklifts and made it unnecessary to recover
the pallets. In September 65, 4 C-130As were staged to Don Muang Royal Thai AFB,
Bangkok, to become Detachment 4, 315th Air Division. They had to conduct shuttle
operations within Thailand. In August 66 this number was reduced to 3 C-130As.14 The 5 C-
130As temporarily based at Kadena, Okinawa, however, were not E-Flight, but High Gear
aircraft. This was a group on continuous ground alert for the airlift of nuclear weapons in the
event of a general war.15 However, E-Flight was not only responsible for deliveries into Laos,
but E-Flight aircraft and crews also flew cargo missions over the western Pacific and often
made deliveries at intermediate points during ferry flights from Okinawa to Takhli. So not all
four or five E-Flight aircraft were used by Air America, and between 1961 and 1965, no C-
130s seem to have been flown by Air America crews at all.
In June 1965, however, the CIA and the US Embassy at Vientiane recommended that C-
130s should be used for deliveries from Takhli (T-05) into Laos. So, 4 five-man Air America-
crews (including a navigator) were trained to fly the C-130. From the second half of 1965 to
the spring of 1971 Air America used USAF C-130As from Takhli, Thailand to fly large
supplies of ammunition into “forbidden territory under cover of darkness”.16 Those flights
ended at Long Tieng, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Sam Thong, Pakse, Savannakhet, or
Saravane. In 1965 the Takhli-Long Tieng service (CIA logistic support pipeline) was
opened.17 Since 1967 at least one of the two C-130As at Takhli flew into Laos every day; and
since 69, C-130 missions from Udorn to Luang Prabang were added.18 For more details about
the C-130A missions flown into Laos by Air America crews since 17 August 1965, see the
file Air America in Laos II – military aid, Part I within my History of Air America that can be
found at http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/history/Laos2Part1.pdf .
But un-fortunately, the “Aircraft status reports” regularly published by Air America do not
list project aircraft, and the official USAF Assignment Records, preserved at the AFHRA at
Maxwell AFB, AL, in most cases do not indicate squadrons or smaller units like E-Flight. As
to the number of “Project” C-130s actually flown by Air America, the following is known:
Robbins quotes Jim Parrish, who states that in the mid-sixties, Air America started with four
13
See the official squadron history at: http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/wwwroot/sqs/0021as.htm.
14
1966 History of the 315th Air Division, p. 49, in: microfilm no. 23820, preserved at the AFHRA.
15
1966 History of the 315th Air Division, pp. 34/35+64, in: microfilm no. 23820, preserved at the AFHRA
16
Robbins, Air America, p. 126.
17
The 1965 history of the 315th Air Division contained in microfilm 23820 preserved at the AFHRA at
Maxwell AFB states (p. 6) that in September 1965, 4 USAF C-130As were based at Don Muang airport, but “as
many as five users were forwarding requests for airlift”; one of these on-call customers may have been Air
America.
18
Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia, pp. 441 + 448-50; Robbins, Air America, pp. 126-33.
C-130-crews; Bowers states that in 1967 the Company operated two ships out of Takhli; and
a Memorandum by James A. Cunningham, dated 10 October 70, notes that “we also operate,
on a bailed basis, C-130 project aircraft – up to two at a time”.19 So the only way to identify
the actual E-Flight aircraft, which were uncamouflaged, scheduled and used entirely
separately from the other planes of the larger unit and even outside squadron control (as the
squadron commander exerted direct supervisory authority), is by observation or by looking
for those aircraft which did not participate in the activities of the others like in periodical
rotation. In the early days most Naha-based C-130As rotated to Tachikawa AB, Japan, or to
Robins AFB, GA. Between 1967 and 1971 most Naha-based C-130As rotated between Naha,
Cam Ranh Bay, and Ubon. And the only way to identify the C-130As bailed to Air America
is by photos or by entries in the log books of those pilots who flew the aircraft.
Possibly Air America started with four C-130-crews in 1965 instead of two, because two
of these crews were supposed to fly the two C-130Es which had been transferred to the CIA
in December 64 (64-0506 and 64-0507). Those aircraft were seen all black in Laos in May 69
and were both reported to have been written off in South East Asia in February 70.20 Other
reports say that those two C-130Es belonged to Project Heavy Chain, which was based at
Norton AFB, California, but operated out of Nha Trang after they had been modified with
special electronics equipment to allow them to operate at low level at night in higher threat
areas.21 In 1965 there seems to have been even an electronic reconnaissance C-130B-II leased
to Air America, as 59-1531 was officially being worked on at Air Asia’s maintenance facility
at Tainan for no less than 9 months. This was the only C-130B-II ever to be officially
maintained by Air Asia, and in those early days USAF aircraft bailed to Air America more
than once appeared as “out for maintenance at Tainan” in the USAF Assignment Records, but
it is not known if any Air America crews were involved.
These C-130As that may have been used by Air America, but probably were not flown by
the Company, but by other CIA-related organizations were:

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________

Lockheed C-130E 64-0506 3990 mid-1965? USAF 64-0506

Service history: transferred by the USAF “to outside the USAF” on 31 December 64;
reportedly used by Air America and seen in Laos in May 69, all black (CIA?); but it is
more likely that they were part of Project Heavy Chain and used out of Nha Trang,
South Vietnam, after having received special electronic equipment (E-mail by Sam
McGowan dated 29 August 2003, kindly forwarded to the author); reportedly written
off in South East Asia in February 70, when flown by Air America (Denham, World
directory of airliner crashes, p. 114); but this seems to be wrong. In his e-mail dated
15 November 2004, Mark Sublette reports to have seen 64-0506 and 64-0507 at
Norton AFB in 1971/2, where they were tested by the 1198th Operational Evaluation
& Training Squadron; at that time, the 1198th OETS was involved in testing C-130
electronic modifications out of Lockheed Air Services, Ontario CA; then, in mid-

19
Robbins, Air America, p. 126; Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia, p. 448; Memorandum “Air America
Share of Flying”, dated 10 October 70, by James A. Cunningham, in: UTD/CIA/B29F4.
20
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 50; Denham, World directory of airliner crashes, p. 114.
21
E-mail dated 29 August 2003 by Sam McGowan, kindly forwarded to the author. In June 1968, a C-130 from
Norton AFB flew to Charbatia Air Base, India (“Oak Tree”) and picked up a CIA-owned nuclear sensor that had
been on one of the mountain tops of the Indian Himalayas to “listen” into the Red China for details about the
Chinese atomic program (Conboy / Kohli, Spies in the Himalayas, p. 184). On 17 May 69, under the command
of RoCAF Major Huang Win-lu, a C-130 belonging to a joint CIA-RoCAF project departed Takhli for a 13
hours flight around China’s nuclear testing sites at Lop Nor (ib., pp.192/3); although the text called that
operation “Heavy Tea”, it might have been a “Heavy Chain” aircraft.
 1972, both aircraft were seen again at Hurlburt and Duke Fields with 711th SOS as
MC-130Es, now wearing the serials of 2 C-130s documented to have been lost in
South East Asia many years before, that is 62-1843 (which had crashed into a hill on
approach to Tuy Hoa on 20 December 1965) and 63-7785 (which had exploded over
the South China Sea on 17 June 1966); 64-0506 became “62-1843” (e-mail dated 28
February 2005, kindly sent by the author by Bob Daley).
Fate: current with the AFRC at Eglin Field 3 in 2005 (e-mail dated 28 February 2005,
kindly sent by the author by Bob Daley).

Lockheed C-130E 64-0507 3991 mid-1965? USAF 64-0507

Service history: transferred by the USAF “to outside the USAF” on 26 December 64;
reportedly used by Air America and seen in Laos in May 69, all black (CIA?); but it is
more likely that they were part of Project Heavy Chain and used out of Nha Trang,
South Vietnam, after having received special electronic equipment (E-mail by Sam
McGowan dated 29 August 2003, kindly forwarded to the author); reportedly written
off in South East Asia in February 70, when flown by Air America (Denham, World
directory of airliner crashes, p. 114); but this seems to be wrong. In his e-mail dated
15 November 2004, Mark Sublette reports to have seen 64-0506 and 64-0507 at
Norton AFB in 1971/2, where they were tested by the 1198th Operational Evaluation
& Training Squadron; at that time, the 1198th OETS was involved in testing C-130
electronic modifications out of Lockheed Air Services, Ontario CA; then, in mid-
1972, both aircraft were seen again at Hurlburt and Duke Fields with 711th SOS as
MC-130Es, now wearing the serials of 2 C-130s documented to have been lost in
South East Asia many years before, that is 62-1843 (which had crashed into a hill on
approach to Tuy Hoa on 20 December 1965) and 63-7785 (which had exploded over
the South China Sea on 17 June 1966); 64-0507 became “63-7785” (e-mail dated 28
February 2005, kindly sent by the author by Bob Daley).
Fate: current with the AFRC at Eglin Field 3 in 2005 (e-mail dated 28 February 2005,
kindly sent by the author by Bob Daley).

Lockheed C-130B-II 59-1531 3579 1 Feb. 65 ex 41st AD, Yokota

Service history: electronic reconnaissance aircraft, which had been delivered to the
6091st Reconnaissance Squadron, Yokota, in May 61; officially for maintenance at
Air Asia, Tainan, between 1 February and 25 October 65 (41st AD, Yokota, GF to
AAI TTF WQPC on 65032, back to 41st AD, Yokota, on 65298), possibly leased to
Air America; possibly used for missions along the coast of mainland China to collect
SIGINT (for these missions see Fu/Pocock, The Black Bats, p.89).
Fate: returned to the 41st AD, Yokota, on 25 October 65; used as a ground trainer at
the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Kelly AFB, TX, in 1994; 59-1531 now
stored at Lackland AFB TX, may be put on display, No longer with IAAFA. (e-mail
dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author by Bob Daley)
Air America’s “Project” C-130s used for military cargo flown into Laos
1965-71 – the “CIA Pipeline”:

An E-Flight C-130A landing at Takhli, possibly prior to use by Air America; the aircraft still
has small USAF insignia and a standard USAF tail number (“0-”)
(USAF photo by Sgt. Jack Gurner; with the permission of the photographer submitted by Bob
Vaughn)

A) The C-130As used during the second half of 1965:

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________

The beginning of the “CIA pipeline” Takhli-Long Tieng in July 1965

(Page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book kindly supplied by his son James on 10 August 2013)

The “CIA-Pipeline” from Takhli to Long Tieng began on 17 July 1965 and involved E-
Flight C-130As of the 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, like the one depicted above. Normally,
the C-130A would come to Takhli, where it would be “sanitized”; then, the Air America crew
would pick it up for the mission. Thanks to the log book of “Doc” Johnson, we are quite well
informed about the beginning of the CIA-Pipeline from Takhli to Long Tieng. After several
days of training at Naha, Okinawa (6-13 July 65) with C-130As “70469” (= 57-469,
“(4)70470” (= 57-470), “(4)70472” (= 57-472), “75045” (= 55-045), and “50047” (= 55-047)
all belonging to the 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, Air America pilot “Doc” Johnson took C-
130A “50047” (= 55-047) from Kadena, Okinawa via Clark to Takhli (“Ranch”) on 15 July
65 in an 8.4 h flight. On 17 July 65, he began the “CIA pipeline” flying Takhli-Long Tieng-
Takhli (“Ranch” local) shuttles for 6.3 hours, and on 18 July, he repeated the same route
pattern, but added the leg Takhli-Bangkok at the end (making a total of 6.4 hours), so that on
19 July, he could return the aircraft from Bangkok to Naha.
Probably, these 5 C-130As were the aircraft in use on the CIA pipeline during the second
half of 1965. Although there is no way to prove this from the USAF Assignment Records as
they do not note which C-130As were E-Flight aircraft, it is likely. For at that time, the “CIA
Pipeline” from Takhli to Long Tieng was considered to be very secret covert flying, and it is
unlikely that USAF people outside the small E-Flight group were allowed to know about civil
CIA flyers using USAF C-130As for training. But from the USAF Assignment Records one
would think that only C-130A 57-470 was a real E-Flight aircraft, while the other 4 aircraft
sooner or later returned to regular USAF service out of Naha.

Lockheed C-130A 55-047 3074 23 June 65 USAF Naha

Previous service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 1 June 60; to the 817th TCS,
Naha, on 25 June 60; left the 817th TCS, Naha, on 14 April 61 (61104); returned later
in 1961; transferred to the 315th AD, Naha, on 31 October 62 (62304); to Robins
(WRAMA) on 25 January 63 (63025); returned to the 315th AD, Naha, on 20 June 63
(63171); another time returned from WRAMA/Robins to the 315th AD, Naha, on 3
June 64 (64155); current on 30 June 64 (64182); 55-047 of the 315th AD, Naha, was
transferred to the Facility Checking Squadron (FSC), St. Petersburg, on 18 March 65
(65077); back to the 315th AD, Naha, on 23 June 65 (65174);
Service history: returned from the Facility Checking Squadron (FSC), St. Petersburg,
on 23 June 65 (65174); on 11 July 1965, C-130A 55-047 was used for training “Doc”
Johnson on flights out of Naha; on 15 July 65, Air America pilot “Doc” Johnson took
C-130A “50047” (= 55-047) from Kadena, Okinawa via Clark to Takhli (“Ranch”) in
an 8.4 h flight. On 17 July 65, he began the “CIA pipeline” in this aircraft, flying
Takhli-Long Tieng-Takhli (“Ranch” local) shuttles for 6.3 hours, and on 18 July, he
repeated the same route pattern, but added the leg Takhli-Bangkok at the end (making
a total of 6.4 hours), so that on 19 July, he could return the aircraft from Bangkok to
Naha (Page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book kindly supplied by his son James on 10
August 2013);
Fate: The special status of C-130A 55-047 probably ended in early 1966, when, like
other regular Naha-based C-130As, 55-047 was transferred to the 51st Fighter
Interceptor Wing, Naha, on 13 February 66 (66041), and to the 374th TCW, Naha, on
16 August 66 (66228); between 1966 and 1970, C-130A 55-047 was in regular USAF
service, i.e. like most of the Naha-based C-130As, it commuted frequently between
Naha, Cam Ranh Bay, and Ubon according to a 15 or 30 day schedule; C-130A
55000047 of the 374th TAW rotated until 19 April 70 (70109); then it was transferred
to Van Nuys

Lockheed C-130A 55-045 3072 1 July 64 (?) USAF Naha

Previous service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 1 June 60; to the 817th TCS,
Naha, on 25 June 60; left the 817th TCS, Naha, on 61146 for maintenance by
WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned to the 817th TCS, Naha, on 61192; transferred to the
315th AD, Naha, on 31 October 62 (62304); to Robins (WRAMA) on 63140; back to
315AD, Naha, on 64020; current on 30 June 64 (64182);
Service history: C-130A 55-045 returned from WRAMA/Robins to the 315th AD,
 Naha, on 1 July 64 (64183); there were short maintenance periods at Naha with LOO
LAICI after 29 October 64 (64303) and from 22 to 25 January 65 (65022-25); C-
130A 55-045 was used for training “Doc” Johnson on flights out of Naha on 13 July
1965 (Page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book kindly supplied by his son James on 10
August 2013);
Fate: left the 315th AD, Naha, to the Facility Checking Squadron (FSC), St.
Petersburg, on 31 January 66 (66031); returned to the 315th AD, Naha, on 23 May 66
(66143); to the 374th TCW, Naha, on 16 August 66 (66228); since that time, C-130A
55-045 was a regular C-130A that – like most of the Naha-based C-130As –
commuted frequently between Naha, Cam Ranh Bay, and Ubon in 1967-69; unlike
other C-130As, 55-045 was transferred to the 18th FTG Wing, Kadena, on 8 January
70 (70008), to Naha on 6 February 70 (70037), and to Tan Son Nhut on 9 February 70
(70040); it may have participated in the Air America’s refugee airlifts between 8
January and 6 February 70; after that, it returned to regular service; in 1970, C-
130A 55000045 rotated until 3 August 70 (70216); then it left for Hayes Aircraft
Industries, Birmingham, AL.

Lockheed C-130A 57-469 3176 29 Aug. 64 (?) USAF Naha

Previous service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 25 September 59; left the 483rd
TCW, Naha, on 12 May 60 for maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned to
the 21st TCS, Naha, on 30 Aug 60; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 3 March 61 for
maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 16
September 61; transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62;
Service history: C-130A 57-469 returned from maintenance with LAICI to the 315th
AD, Naha, on 29 August 64 (64242); C-130A 57-469 was used for training “Doc”
Johnson on flights out of Naha on 13 July 1965 (Page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book
kindly supplied by his son James on 10 August 2013); a couple of days later, on 21
July 65 (65202), C-130A 57-469 of the 315th AD, Naha, was sent to the Facility
Checking Squadron (FSC), St. Petersburg, and came back to the 315th AD, Naha, on
21 September 65 (65264);
Fate: when 57-469 returned from St. Petersburg on 21 September 65, it probably
became a regular C-130A; since that time, C-130A 57-469 was a regular C-130A that
– like most of the Naha-based C-130As – commuted frequently between Naha, Cam
Ranh Bay, and Ubon in 1966-70; between 13 February 66 (66041) and 16 March 66
(66075), C-130A 57-469 was with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, possibly
for maintenance; to the 374th TCW, Naha, on 16 August 66 (66228); in early 1970,
57-469 still rotated; on 21 May 70 (70141), it came back from Cam Ranh Bay to
Naha; but 25 June 70 (70176), it came back to Naha again, this time from LXEZ
(Kadena); it may have participated in the Air America’s refugee airlifts in late May-
25 June; after that, it returned to regular service, i.e. was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay
on 1 July 70 (70182); on 6 January 71 (71006), C-130A 57000469 left the 374th
TAW, Naha, and was transferred to Mitchell.

Lockheed C-130A 57-470 3177 Nov. 61 (?) USAF Naha

Previous service history: to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 6 October 58; left the 483rd
TCW, Naha, on 30 March 60 for maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned to
21st TCS, Naha, on 17 August 60; left the 21st TCS, Naha, on 4 September 61 for
maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 5
November 61; probably to E-Flight in November 61; transferred to 315th AD
Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; current on 1 July 64; between 1961 and 1965,
 all maintenance had been done at Naha, but on 11 January 65, the ship was transferred
to Lockbourne and to the USAF’s Facility Checking Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL, on
9 February 65, from where it returned to the 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 12
May 65;
Service history: C-130A 57-470 was used for training “Doc” Johnson on flights out
of Naha on 8 and 9 July 1965 (Page from “Doc” Johnson’s log book kindly supplied
by his son James on 10 August 2013); believed to have been used by Air America
from the second half of 1965 to early 1966; transferred to the 51st Fighter
Interceptor Wing, Naha, for maintenance on 10 February 66; returned to the 315th
AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 16 March 66; transferred the USAF’s Facility Checking
Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL, on 21 May 66; the Wing became the 374th TCW, Naha,
on 16 August 66; believed to have been used by Air America from May 66 to June
67; leased to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, for maintenance, between 5 and
20 June 67; the Wing became the 374th TAW, Naha, on 31 December 67; reportedly
with 35th TAS/374th TAW, Naha, using tailcode “YJ”, possibly since mid-1968,22 but
this was probably an error; from 18 June to 6 November 68, 57-470 was at the
Lockheed Martin Aircraft Center, Greenville, SC, for overhaul and returned to 374 th
TAW, Naha, on 20 November 68; probably to E-Flight/21st TAS/374th TAW, Naha;
became 57000470 in 68 (?); bailed to Air America in 1969 as 704, flying out of
Takhli (T-05) in January, February, April, June, and October 69; transferred to
the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between 4 and 19 December 69 for
maintenance; to F2-service, that is probably Air America on 30 June 70 (70181).
Fate: delivered to Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, for IRAN on 28
November 70 (70332); worked on since 1 December 70 (70335); did not return, but
was transferred to 95th TAS, General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, WI, in 71; to the
Fuerza Aérea Peruana as FAP 396/OB-1395 in 1987; current in June 90.

Lockheed C-130A 57-472 3179 19 June 65 USAF Naha

Previous service history: to the 483 TCW, Naha, on 1 October 58; left the 483rd
rd

TCW, Naha, on 29 January 60 for maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB; returned

to the 483rd TCW, Naha, on 26 May 60; to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60; left the
21st TCS, Naha, on 18 August 60 for maintenance by WRAMA, Robins AFB;
returned to the 21st TCS, Naha on 10 November 60; transferred to the 315th AD
Headquarters, Naha, on 31 October 62; current on 30 June 64; C-130A 57-472
maintenance by LAICI OL48, Naha, back to the 315th AD, Naha, on 26 June 64
(64178); 315th AD, Naha, to LOO LAICI, Naha, and back to the 315th AD, Naha,
(WM) 30 October 64 to 15 November 64 (64304-64319); C-130A 57-472 of the 315th
AD, Naha, to the Facility Checking Squadron (FSC), St. Petersburg, and back to the
315th AD, Naha, 16 March 65 to 19 June 65 (65075-65170)
Service history: back from the Facility Checking Squadron (FSC), St. Petersburg, to
the 315th AD, Naha, on 19 June 65 (65170); C-130A 57-472 was used for training
“Doc” Johnson on flights out of Naha on 6 July 1965 for 4 hours (Page from “Doc”
Johnson’s log book kindly supplied by his son James on 10 August 2013); C-130A
57-472 to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between 10 February 66 and 16
March 66 (66041-66075), probably for maintenance; to Hayes Aircraft Industries at
Birmingham, AL (= KHYR), for WK-maintenance from 29 April 66 to 14 July 66
(66119-95); transferred to the 374th TCW, Naha, on 16 August 66 (66228);
Fate: since that time, C-130A 57-472 was a regular C-130A that – like most of the

22
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 15.
 Naha-based C-130As – commuted frequently between Naha, Cam Ranh Bay, and
Ubon in 1966-70; in early 1970, 57000472 still rotated until 15 April 70 (70105); then
C-130A 57000472 was transferred to Van Nuys

B) Candidates of later years

Lockheed C-130A 57000471 3178 mid-65? ex 483rd TCW, Naha

st
Service history: to the 21 TCS, Naha, on 25 June 60 as 57-471; transferred to the
control of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia, on 30 October
60, possibly for modifications; returned to the 21st TCS, Naha, on 22 January 61;
possibly to E-Flight in November 61; transferred to a special service within the
21st TCS, Naha, on 31 July 62; transferred to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 31
October 62; current on 1 July 64; still used by the 21st TCS; between 1961 and 1965,
all maintenance had been done at Naha, but on 15 February 65, the ship was
transferred to the USAF’s Facility Checking Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL, from
where it returned to 315th AD Headquarters, Naha, on 24 May 65; believed to have
been flown with Air America since the second half of 1965 until early 1966;23
transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, for maintenance on 10
February 66; returned to the 315th AD, Headquarters, Naha, on 16 March 66;
transferred to the USAF’s Facility Checking Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL, on 21 June
66 for WK-maintenance; returned on 16 August 66 and transferred to the 374th TCW,
Naha, the same day; in the beginning of 1967, the ship commuted frequently between
Naha and Cam Ranh Bay; but since 19 April 67, it remained at Naha; between 17 and
28 July 67, the ship was transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, for
maintenance; the Wing became the 374th TAW, Naha, on 31 December 67; sent to
Lockheed Martin Aircraft Center, Greenville, SC, for overhaul on 2 December 68;
became 57000471 in 68 (?); delivered back to the 374th TAW, Naha, from Lockheed
Martin Aircraft Center, Greenville, SC, on 17 March 69, back in service (CA) with
them on 28 March 69; transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between
15 and 28 November 69 for maintenance; returned from F2-service, that is
probably from Air America, on 13 January 70 (70013), on 28 February 70
(70059), and on 8 June 70 (70159); transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing,
Naha, between 7 and 19 October 70 (70280-92) for VK-maintenance.
Fate: departed to the 142nd TAS, Greater Wilmington Airport, DE, on 5 April 71
(71095, that is much later than the other 374th TAW C-130As); used at Sheppard AFB
as maintenance ground trainer in October 89 and still in September 96.

Lockheed C-130A 56-473 3081 Dec. 65? ex FSC, St. Petersburg

Service history: 56-473 was transferred to 345th TCS, Naha, on 31 July 62; on 31
October 62 (62304), the unit was integrated into 315th AD, Naha; after several periods
of local WM-maintenance done by LOG LAICI, Naha, (13-16 September 62; 23
November to 1 December 62; 28 June to 2 July 63), 56-473 was sent for maintenance
to WRAMA / Warner Robins AFB, Georgia, on 20 April 64 (64110); it returned to
315th AD, Naha, on 8 June 64 (64160); it was still current on 30 June 64 (64182); but
since the second half of 1964, it was based outside Naha, until 56-473 returned from
FSC, St. Petersburg, to 315th AD, Naha, on 15 December 65 (65349); believed to
have been transferred to E-Flight/21st TCS on 15 December 65, as 56-473 had no
movements in 1966, while most of the other C-130As of 374th TCW, Naha, were

23
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 15: 21st TAS.
 assigned to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha; on 16 August 66, 315th AD
became part of the 374th TCW, Naha; this idle situation without movements continued
until 18 February 67 (67049).
Fate: Since March 67, 56-473 rotated between Naha and Ubon, Thailand, and in
1968, it rotated between Naha and Cam Ranh Bay, now being part of 35th TAS, Naha,
using tail-code “YJ”; in 68, it became 56000473, in 1970, it still rotated as part of 35th
TAS / 374th TAW, Naha, and on 21 February 71 (71052), 56000473 was transferred
to Minneapolis; in August 89, it was sold to TBM Inc., Redmond, OR, as N473TM;
current in October 96.

Lockheed C-130A 56-507 3115 25 Nov. 65? ex 317TCW, Lockbourne

Service history: transferred from the 317th TCW, Lockbourne, to the 315th AD, Naha,
on 25 November 65 (65329); possibly to E-Flight/21st TCS on 25 November 65;
sent to Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, on 20 December 65 (65354) for
IRAN; returned to 315th AD, Naha, on 16 March 66 (66075); believed to have been
transferred to E-Flight/21st TCS on 16 March 66, as 56-507 had no movements in
1966 – except for a period of VK-maintenance between 3 to 16 October 66 (66276-
89) –, while most of the other C-130As of 374th TCW, Naha, were assigned to the 51st
Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha; on 16 August 66, 315th AD became part of 374th
TCW, Naha; this idle situation without movements continued until 23 February 67
(67054).
Fate: Since March 67 and in 1968, 56-507 rotated between Naha and Cam Ranh Bay;
in 1971, it had returned to mainland USA; sold to Hawkins and Powers, Greybull,
WY, in May 89 as N8055R, reregd. N45S in June 90; then N4172Q; then N132HP in
November 90.

Lockheed C-130A 56000504 3112 19 Jan. 67? ex 374th TCW, Naha

Service history: 56-504 was transferred from 314th TCW, Sewart, to 345th TCS,
Naha, on 25 June 62 (62176); transferred to 21st TCS, Naha, for WM-maintenance
between 16 August and 16 October 62 (62228-289); became part of 315th AD, Naha,
on 31 October 62 (62304); current in June 63; WM-maintenance was done at Naha
between 16 and 31 October 62 (62289-304); transferred to a unit outside Naha in
1963/64; returned from the USAF’s Facility Checking Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL,
to 315th AD, Naha, on 10 January 65 (65010); WM-maintenance was done by
DYNYJ, Naha, between 14 January and 10 February 66 (66014-41); transferred to the
51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between 10 February and 16 August 66 (66041-
228) for maintenance; back to 315th AD, Naha, on 16 August 66 (66228); to the
USAF’s Facility Checking Squadron, St. Petersburg, FL, on 29 October 66 (66302);
returned to 374th TCW, Naha, on 19 January 67 (67019); possibly used by E-
Flight/21st TAS in 1967, as it did not rotate;24 transferred to the 51st Fighter
Interceptor Wing, Naha, for maintenance between 15 and 26 August 67 (67227-238)
and between 28 October and 21 November 67 (67301-25); to Lockheed Martin
Aircraft Center, Greenville, SC, for overhaul on 21 November 67 (67325); returned to
374th TAW, Naha, on 18 April 68 (68109); to 56000504 in 68; between 1968 and
1970, 56000504 of 374th TAW rotated between Naha, Cam Ranh Bay, Tan Son Nhut,
and Kadena, so was a regular 374th TAW aircraft.
Fate: transferred to 139th TAS, Schenectady County Airport, NY, on 3 March 71
(71062).

24
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 10, has no entry.
Lockheed C-130A 56000510 3118 27 Nov. 67 ex 374th TCW, Naha
Service history: 56-510 was transferred from 314 TCW, Sewart, to 345th TCS,
th

Naha, on 25 June 62 (62176); became part of 315th AD, Naha, on 31 October 62

(62304); to WRAMA/Robins AFB, Georgia, for IRAN on 3 July 63 (63184); returned
to the 315th AD, Naha, on 30 November 63 (63334); current in December 63; periods
of WM-maintenance by LOG LAICI at Naha were 8 to 11 October 62; 30 November
to 15 December 63; 10 August 64; 21 to 27 October 64 (64295-64301); and 15 to 18
January 65 (65015-18); transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha,
between 10 February and 11 July 66 (66041-192); VK-service (maintenance) from 11
to 18 July 66 (66192-99); became the 374TCW, Naha, on 16 August 66 (66228); in
the beginning of 1967, 56-510 rotated frequently between Naha and Cam Ranh Bay,
until it went to WRAMA/Robins AFB, Georgia, for IRAN on 8 September 67
(67251); returned to Naha, 374th TCW, on 27 November 67 (67331); most probably
to E-Flight/21st TCS/374th TCW on 27 November 67;25 most probably bailed to
Air America as 605 since November 67; the Wing became 374th TAW on 31
December 67 (67365); no further movements, except for local maintenance by
WRAAR, Naha, between 16 and 21 May 68 (68137-42); used by Air America out of
Takhli (T-05) in December 68 as 605; transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor
Wing, Naha, for maintenance, between 16 and 30 December 68 (68351-65); no more
movements in 1968; reserialled 56000510 with the 374th TAW, Naha, in 1969; for
maintenance (WJ) at Naha on 18 and 19 July 69, done by the squadron; used by Air
America out of Takhli (T-05) in April, June, and October 69 as 605; delivered to
Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, for IRAN, leaving Naha on 4 November
69 (69308), arriving there for work (WK) on 8 November 69 (69312); redelivered
from Hayes to the 374th TAW, Naha, on 12 January 70 (70012); entered service (CA)
with 374TAW, Naha, on 4 February 70 (70035); to F2-service, that is probably
bailed to Air America on 25 March 70 (70084); definitely transferred to Air
America (TL) on 9 April 70 (70099).
Fate: crashed into the 7500 foot level of the northwestern slope of Phou Bia mountain
range on approach to Long Tieng, Laos, on 10 April 70, while en route from Takhli,
Thailand, to Long Tieng (LS-20A), Laos, carrying fuel and ammunition, killing
Captain Kevin N. Cochrane, F/O Huey D. Rogers, Navigator Roger B. McKean,
Flight Engineer Milton E. Smart and Air Freight Specialists Gerald L. De Long and
Billy K. Hester (Memorial; Memorial file, in: UTD/LaShomb/B16F3; Board of
Review report, in: UTD/CIA/B34F4; List “Aircraft destroyed or lost”, in: UTD/CIA/
B49F2; Memorandum of 7 December 71, in: UTD/CIA/B19F1; UTD/Leary/B1 for 10
April 70). Additional info comes from Dan Gamelin: “What happened that day (April
10, 1970) is 2 of our Air America C-130 crews were in Takhli for our annual
Standardization-Evaluation tests and the first crew of guys that completed the tests in
the morning took the first C-130A with a load up to Long Tieng. I was on the second
C-130A out that morning with Kicker Cliff White and our captain was Don Wharton.
We took off to the East as all A/C did and turned South heading to Takhli. The
cockpit crew saw the other C-130A which was on their second trip off to the East of
us and 1 of them made mention – wondering why they were so far off to the East of
us. When we picked up our second load at Takhli and headed back to Long Tieng we
were informed that the other A/C had not shown up at Long Tieng yet and they had
AAM aircraft already searching for the missing C-130. Apparently the C-130 was a

25
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 11, notes: E-Flight/21st TAS.
 little too far to the East and started to descend before turning West to approach Long
Tieng. Normal takeoff from Long Tieng (LS20A) in the C-130 would be to turn South
immediately after clearing the Long Tieng bowl. Why the other C-130 was so far to
the East we do not know” (E-mail dated 1 February 2015, copy kindly sent to the
author by Dan Gamelin).

Lockheed C-130A 56000503 3111 14 June 67

ex 317TCW, Lockbourne
AFB, OH
Service history: transferred from the 317 TCW, Lockbourne AFB, OH, to the 374th
th

TCW, Naha, on 24 May 67 (67144); based at Cam Ranh Bay between 12 and 14 June
67 (67163-65); back to Naha on 14 June 67, most probably to E-Flight/21st TCS; to
REC2-service with the 374th TCW, Naha, between 21 June and 9 September 67
(67172-252), that is probably bailed to Air America on 21 June 67; on 31
December 67, the Wing became 374th TAW, Naha; to WRAAR, Naha, for overhaul
between 31 March and 11 April 68 (68091-102); transferred to the 51st Fighter
Interceptor Wing, Naha, for maintenance, between 28 May and 10 June 68 (68149-
62); possibly used by Air America out of Takhli (T-05) in December 68 as 605;
delivered to Lockheed Martin Aircraft Center, Greenville, SC, for overhaul on 18
April 69 (69108); arrived there on 22 April 69; redelivered from Greenville to the
374th TAW, Naha, on 24 July 69 (69205), reentering CA-service at Naha on 30
August 69 (69242); used by Air America out of Takhli (T-05) in November and
December 69; to E-Flight/21st TAS/F2-service, that is believed bailed to Air
America between 31 January and 10 June 70 (70031-70161); transferred for VK-
maintenance to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between 9 and 21 July 70
(70190-202); then back to the 374th TAW, Naha; no other rotations or movements in
1967-1970.26
Fate: transferred to 139th TAS, Schenectady County Airport, NY, on 19 April 71
(71109, that is much later than the other 374th TAW C-130As); to AMARC, Davis-
Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ, in December 91 as CF101; current in October 97.

Lockheed C-130A 56000542 3150 6 July 69 ex 374th TAW, Naha

Service history: in the first half of 1969, 56000542 was still one of the regular 374th
TAW aircraft, rotating between Naha, Tan Son Nhut, and Cam Ranh Bay until 6 July
69; on 6 July 69 (69187), it entered CA-service from Naha, rotating no longer; so,
most probably, it went to E-Flight/21st TAS/374th TAW, Naha,27 on 6 July 69; a
photo of E-Flight C-130A 56000542 can be found at
http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=122046; on 22
December 69, 56000542 entered VK-service (maintenance) from Naha, probably with
the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, to whom it was officially transferred between
1 and 8 January 70; on 8 January 70, it probably returned to E-Flight/21st TAS/374th
TAW, Naha, until 6 May 70 (70126); during this time, it was probably 604 with Air
America, used on the refugee airlifts; on 6 May 70, it was delivered to Hayes
Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, for IRAN; redelivered to 21st TAS/374th TAW,
Naha, on 22 November 70 (70326), where it entered service on 9 December 70
(70343).
Fate: transferred to the 142nd TAS, Greater Wilmington Airport, DE, on 11 February
71 (71042); given to the South Vietnamese Air Force in November 72; written off in
April 75.
26
Olausson has no entry.
27
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 13, notes: 21st TAS.
Lockheed C-130A 56000523 3131 11 April 70 ex 374th TAW, Naha
th
Service history: transferred to the 374 TCW in August 66; in 1969, 56000523 was
still one of the regular 374th TAW aircraft, rotating between Naha and Tan Son Nhut
until 2 January 70; on 18 January 70, it was delivered to Hayes Aircraft Industries,
Birmingham, AL, for maintenance; WK-maintenance was done by Hayes between 24
January and 2 April 70; on 2 April 70, it was redelivered to the 374th TAW, Naha,
reentering CA-service on 11 April 70; transferred to E-Flight/21st TAS/374th TAW,
Naha,28 probably on 11 April 70, as a replacement aircraft for the ill-fated 56000510,
which had crashed with Air America on 10 April 70; local maintenance was done by
WRAAR, Naha, between 21 and 22 July 70; to F-2 service, that is probably bailed to
Air America, on 22 July 70 (70203).
Fate: transferred to the 142nd TAS, Greater Wilmington Airport, DE, on 19 April 71
(71109, that is much later than the other 374th TAW C-130As); in 1972, it flew with
the 96th TAS, Minneapolis; transferred to AMARC, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson,
AZ, in March 90 as CF082; still there in October 97.

Lockheed C-130A 56000551 3159 27 May 70 ex 374th TAW, Naha

Service history: In 1967 with 40 TCS/317 TCW, Lockbourne; to 35th TAS/374th
th th

TAW, Naha, on 9 June 68 (68160); rotated between Naha and Cam Ranh Bay until 29
October 68 (68302); transferred to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha, between
17 November and 1 December 68 (68321-35) for maintenance; no entry for 1969;
374th TAW, Naha, to Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, on 20 January 70
for overhaul; redelivered to 21st TAS/374th TAW, Naha, on 8 May 70; in service on 9
May 70; to F-2-service on 70208, that is probably bailed to Air America on 27 July
70; local maintenance was done at Naha between 25 and 27 July 70; no other
movements.29
Fate: transferred to the 142nd TAS, Greater Wilmington Airport, DE, on 20 April 71
(71110, that is much later than the other 374th TAW C-130As); sold to the Chad Air
Force as TT-PAC before August 86; crashed landing in Chad on 16 November 87.

C) Confirmed service details while with Air America:

Lockheed C-130A “704” 3177 mid-65? 57000470 of E-Flight /
21st TAS / 374th TAW,
Naha
Service history: flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-01A”, i.e. local training
and flight check, on 4 and 5 January 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-02A” to Long Tieng
(LS-98), Savannakhet (L-39), Houei Ki Nin (LS-38) and Nam Lieu (LS-118A)
between 7 and 13 January 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2);
flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-09B” to the same destinations between 21
and 23 February 69 and on project “69-10B” to Moung Soui (L-108) and Luang
Prabang (L-54) between 24 and 26 February 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-21D” to the same
destinations from 9 and to 13 April 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-22D” to Moung Soui
(L-108) and Luang Prabang (L-54) between 22 and 24 April 69 and on project “69-
28
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 12, notes: E-Flight/21st TAS.
29
Olausson, Lockheed Hercules, p. 14, notes: E-Flight/21st TAS.
 24D” to Long Tieng (LS-20A/LS-98) between 25 and 30 April 69 (Log book of D. D.
Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-33F” to
Long Tieng (LS-30/LS-98) and Savannakhet (L-39) between 4 and 10 June 69 (Log
book of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Udorn (T-08) on
project “69-49K” to Long Tieng (LS-98) between 2 and 3 October 69 (Log book of D.
D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); also flown by Clifford A. Costa (e-mail dated
30 January 2006, kindly sent to the author by Cliff Costa). Although the serial is not
listed in Dan Gamelin’s Crewmember Duty Report for April 70, it is believed to have
been this aircraft that he flew out of Takhli (T-05) between 9 and 12 April 70 for
Projects 70-21D (PPG) and 70-20D (Ranch) (report kindly sent to the author by Dan
Gamelin on 3 February 2015).
Fate: delivered to Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, for IRAN on 28
November 70 (70332); worked on since 1 December 70 (70335); did not return, but
was transferred to 95TAS, General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, WI in 71; to the
Fuerza Aérea Peruana as FAP 396/OB-1395 in 1987; current in June 90.

Air America C-130A “605” at Takhli RThAFB, taken by Ken McClintick

(with the permission of the photographer submitted by Bob Vaughn)

Lockheed C-130A “605” 3118 27 Nov. 67 56000510 of E-Flight /

21st TAS / 374th TAW,
Naha
Service history: flown from Takhli (T-05) on project 68-47 between 17 December
68 and 21 December 68 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown
from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-20D” to Luang Prabang (L-54) and Moung Soui
(L-108) between 16 April 69 and 19 April 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); used on project “69-31E”, i.e. for local training from Okinawa
on 1 June 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from
Takhli (T-05) on project “69-34F” to Long Tieng (LS-30) and Nam Lieu (LS-118A)
between 23 June 69 and 24 June 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Udorn (T-08) on project “69-35F” to Vientiane (L-
08), Luang Prabang (L-54), Long Tieng (LS-98), Xieng Dat (LS-26) and Korat (T-13)
between 24 June 69 and 1 July 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flown from Takhli (T-05) on project “69-48K” to Long Tieng
(LS-98) and Savannakhet (L-39) between 6 October 69 and 10 October 69 (Log book
of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); flew Udorn-Naha, Okinawa, on 11
November 69 (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in: UTD/Wharton/B1F2); also flown by
Clifford A. Costa (e-mail dated 30 January 2006, kindly sent to the author by Cliff
Costa); uncamouflaged; leased from the USAF, E-Flight, 21st TAS, 374th TAW, Naha
AB, Okinawa.
Fate: crashed into the 7500 foot level of the northwestern slope of Phou Bia mountain
range on approach to Long Tieng, Laos, on 10 April 70, while en route from Takhli,
Thailand, to Long Tieng (LS-20A), Laos, carrying fuel and ammunition, killing
Captain Kevin N. Cochrane, F/O Huey D. Rogers, Navigator Roger B. McKean,
Flight Engineer Milton E. Smart and Air Freight Specialists Gerald L. De Long and
Billy K. Hester (Memorial; Memorial file, in: UTD/LaShomb/B16F3; Memorandum

The wreck of C-130A “605”, taken by Eugene Hasenfus

(submitted by Dan Gamelin, with kind permission from E. Hasenfus)

of 7 October 71, in: UTD/CIA/B19F1; UTD/Leary/B1 for 10 April 70). Additional

info comes from Dan Gamelin: “What happened that day (April 10, 1970) is 2 of our
Air America C-130 crews were in Takhli for our annual Standardization-Evaluation
tests and the first crew of guys that completed the tests in the morning took the first
C-130A with a load up to Long Tieng. I was on the second C-130A out that morning
with Kicker Cliff White and our captain was Don Wharton. We took off to the East as
all A/C did and turned South heading to Takhli. The cockpit crew saw the other C-
130A which was on their second trip off to the East of us and 1 of them made
mention – wondering why they were so far off to the East of us. When we picked up
our second load at Takhli and headed back to Long Tieng we were informed that the
other A/C had not shown up at Long Tieng yet and they had AAM aircraft already
searching for the missing C-130. Apparently the C-130 was a little too far to the East
and started to descend before turning West to approach Long Tieng. Normal takeoff
from Long Tieng (LS20A) in the C-130 would be to turn South immediately after
clearing the Long Tieng bowl. Why the other C-130 was so far to the East we do not
know” (E-mail dated 1 February 2015, copy kindly sent to the author by Dan
Gamelin).
Lockheed C-130 “503” 3111 14 June 67 56000503 of E-Flight /
21st TAS / 374th TAW,
Naha
Service history: flew Naha AB, Okinawa, to Takhli (T-05) on 17 November 69; used
to train Air America pilot Donald Wharton at Takhli (T-05) on 19 November 69
(project “69-58M”?); possibly also used on PPG (Peppergrinder) project “69-60M”
out of Takhli (T-05) from 1 December 69 to ? (Log book of D. D. Wharton, in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F2).
Fate: transferred to the 139th TAS, Schenectady County Airport, NY, on 19 April 71
(71109, that is much later than the other 374th TAW C-130As); to AMARC, Davis-
Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ, in December 91 as CF101; current in October 97.

Problem:
On 1 July 69 an unknown Air America “Project Aircraft”, believed to be C-130A “704”,
damaged Air America UH-34D H-44 while on landing roll out at Luang Prabang (L-54). I. R.
Gram, the Second in Command of H-44, received head injuries by contact with an unknown
object within the cabin of H-44 which was in process of shutting down in front of the
Customer warehouse. He was evacuated to Udorn on 2 July 69 after a first treatment in
Luang Prabang hospital (XOXO of 1 July 69, in: UTD/Hickler/B25F9).
IV) Air America’s refugee airlifts in 1970:
When, in early 1970, the situation became too dangerous in the Plain of Jars, Air America
made several refugee airlifts. One took place between 4 and 10 February 70. At that time 2
C-130s bailed to USAID flew a total of 65 sorties into and out of Ban Thang (LS-275) and
Lat Sen (LS-276), carrying some 10,000 refugees to Vientiane. On each flight, roughly 150
passengers were carried per C-130 plus their personal effects, which were estimated to
amount to about 12,000 to 15,000 pounds per trip. In the month of March the critical period
was between 17 and 20 March and again between 1 and 3 April 70. It was then that the
enemy moved in on Sam Thong (LS-20) and Long Tieng (LS-20A), requiring the evacuation
of refugees and the importation of troops along with the backhaul of critical USAID and -713
Customer material, much of which was of a highly classified nature. During this period, the
C-130s flew a total of 16 sorties, five of which were for the insertion of 751 troops to Long
Tieng and the backhaul of 183,000 pounds of cargo. Between 4 and 8 February 70, E-Flight
crews had to fly the C-130As of operation no. III because Air America's C-130 crews were
busy with operation no. IV.30

An unknown Air America C-130A taken at Vientiane during the refugee airlift in February
1970
(Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 3, 1970, p.3)

30
Air America Log, vol. IV, no.3, 1970; Report, dated 8 June 1970, regarding the organized refugee airlift of the
first months of 1970 and sent by Air America’s Vientiane Base Manager James A. Cunningham to Washington,
in: UTD/CIA/B29F4; Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia, p. 450.
Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________
C-130s used Air America’s refugee airlifts of 1970:

Air America C-130A “604” on the Plain of Jars in February 70

(Air America Log, vol. IV, no. 3, 1970, p. 7)

Lockheed C-130A “604” 3150 Feb. 70 probably ex 56000542 of

E-Flight / 21st TAS / 374th
TAW, Naha
Service history: used by Air America in February 70 to transport refugees from the
Plain of Jars; no markings, all silver; a photo was published in: Air America Log, vol.
IV, no.3, 1970, p. 7.
Fate: delivered to Hayes Aircraft Industries, Birmingham, AL, on 6 May 70 for
maintenance; redelivered to the 21st TAS/374th TAW, Naha, on 22 November 70
(70326), where it entered service on 9 December 70 (70343); transferred to the 142nd
TAS, Greater Wilmington Airport, DE, on 11 February 71 (71042); given to the South
Vietnamese Air Force in November 72; written off in April 75.
V) Air America’s C-130Es flown into Laos:
When, in the spring of 1971, that part of the 374th TAW which had used C-130As from
Naha, Okinawa, was deactivated, the responsibility for supply flights to Laos activities
shifted to the E-model wing at Ching Chuan Kang Airbase, Taiwan. So, on 31 May 71, one
of the squadrons based at Ching Chuan Kang AB was redesignated the 21st and included a
special flight to replace the old E-Flight. These C-130Es were left uncamouflaged but were
painted gray to retard corrosion.31 In June 71, five E-Flight C-130Es were bailed to Air
America: These aircraft flew under contract AID-439-342 since 1 July 71.32 Nevertheless,
only 3 and later 2 out of these 5 C-130Es were operated by Air America at any one time. At
the beginning, this matter was so secret that Air America was not even told the serial
numbers of those 5 C-130Es: Implementation Order no. 439-342-05/71 dated 29 October 71
notes that the aircraft were used since 1 July 71, but does not give the serials. On 12
November 71, Mollers’ of Hongkong, the company whose insurance was to cover these
aircraft, wanted to know their serials, but on 3 December 71, Air Asia, who was doing the
insurance business for Air America, had to reply that “until it [this matter] is resolved with
our Customer we are not able to provide the information as requested”. It was not until 13
January 72 that Air Asia could indicate the serial numbers of those 5 C-130Es to the
Insurance Company, and so, Implementation Order no. 439-342-05/72 of 15 March 72 finally
lists those 5 aircraft.33

Implement. Order dated 29 Oct.71, Letters to the Insurance Co dated 3 Dec.71 and 13 Jan.72
(all in: UTD/Bisson/B5 microfilm reel no. 29)

31
Bowers, The USAF in South-East Asia, p. 450.
32
See the Minutes of Meeting of the Executive Committee of Air America Inc. and Air Asia Co Ltd of 9 May
72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7.
33
All documents in: UTD/Bisson/B5 microfilm reel no. 29.
 Implementation Order no. 439-342-05/72 dated 15 March 1972
(in: UTD/Bisson/B5 microfilm reel 29)

The C-130Es were not only used to fly large amounts of military supplies into Laos, but also
to serve as troop carriers. In this role, they could carry Lao, Hmong or Thai troops between
their training camps in Thailand and places in Laos or transport Hmong Groupements
Mobiles within Laos, like reinforcements for MR II coming from the southern part of the
country. Finally they were also used to parachute Hmong Groupements Mobiles into Laotian
battle fields.34 Miles Lechtman recalls: “We just loaded them in until there was no more room
and closed up. The load was from 180 to 230, with troops.”35 For more details about Air
America’s C-130E operations see the file Air America in Laos II – military aid, Part II at
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/history/Laos2Part2.pdf .

An E-Flight C-130E, probably returning from service with Air America (note the small
USAF insignia next to the side door)
(with kind permission from Ward S. Reimer)

34
Parker, Covert ops, pp.1-4.
35
E-mail dated 16 January 2006, kindly sent to the author by Miles Lechtman.
An unknown Air America C-130E at An unknown Air America C-130E taken
Tha Tam Bleung in the early seventies by Tom Lum, probably at Udorn in the
(UTD/Walton/B3) early seventies
(photo no.VA024860, No Date, Allen
Cates Collection, The Vietnam Archive,
Texas Tech University, with kind
permission from Steve Maxner)

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________

C-130s used for operation number 5:
Lockheed C-130E “218” (21859) 3823 2 June 71 USAF 62-1859, used by
E-Flight, 21st TAS, Ching
Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan;
314th TAW, Ching Chuan
Kang, to 374th TAW,
Ching Chuan Kang, on 1
June 71 (71152); to GF on
2 June 71 (71153); no
further entries in the
USAF Assignment
Records
Service history: flown into Laos since 1 July 71 under contract AID-439-342
(Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 25 January 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7); on 1 July 72,
contract AID-439-342 became part of contract F04606-71-C-0002 (Price negotiations
for 1973, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F6); listed as assigned to contract F04606-71-C-0002
and based at Udorn at least 16-30 April 73 (F.O.C. of 16 April 73, in:
UTD/Kaufman/B1F14), 1 November-31 December 73 (F.O.Circulars of 1 Nov. 73
and 1 Dec. 73, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C), 1-28 Feb. 74 (F.O.C. of 1 Feb. 74, in:
UTD/CIA/B51F21), and 1 April-31 May 74 (F.O.Circulars of 1 April 74 and 1 May
74, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C); all known F.O.C.s of 1973 note: “Up to 2 aircraft
provided for daily operations”, and all known F.O.C.s of 1974 note: “One basic
aircraft provided for daily operations”; seen all grey in August 71 (Olausson,
Lockheed Hercules, p. 39); flew Pakse (L-11) - Ubon (T-19) - Udorn (T-08) on 1
October 71 (Log book of D. Keele, in: UTD/Keele/B1F6); flown into Laos at least
between 30 June 72 and 10 May 74 (Log book of L. H. Maxwell, in:
UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); on 19 August 72, “218”, crewed by Messrs. Nugent, Jackson,
Moon, Bond, Reber, and Winkle, flew Udorn (T-08) - Nam Phong (T-712) -
Phitsanulok (T-01), as directed by ASB-044, with centerline seats installed, so
probably carried Thai troops, as in the summer of 1972, the Hmong guerillas of
 Groupement Mobile 26 were trained at Nam Phong, and as close to Phitsanulok was
Camp Surat Sena nicknamed “Pitt’s Camp”, which served as garrison for the Thai
“Special Battalion” and as training camp for Lao troops, especially for SGUs from
MR III and IV as well as for Hmong Groupement Mobiles 21 and 22 (Vientiane daily
flight schedule of 19 Aug. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7; Conboy, War in Laos, pp. 58,
53, and 42; Conboy/Morrison, Shadow war, pp. 328, 331, and 98); on 12 September
72, C-130E “218”, crewed by Messrs. Seigrist, Jackson, Bond, Lechtman, King, and
Winkle, flew Udorn (T-08) - Seno (L-46) -Ban Xieng Lom (LS-69) - Udorn (T-08) -
Seno (L-46) -Ban Xieng Lom (LS-69) - Udorn (T-08) for ASB-044 with centerline
seats installed, so probably carried Thai troops (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 12
Sept. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 21 October 72, C-130E “218” flew Udorn (T-
08) - Nam Phong (T-712) - Pakse (L-11) - Udorn (T-08) - Luang Prabang (L-54) -
Udorn (T-08), for ASB-044 with centerline seats installed, so probably carried Thai
troops (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 21 Oct. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 17
November 72, “218” shuttled between Long Tieng (LS-20A) and Seno (L-46)
(Vientiane daily flight schedule of 17 Nov. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 7
January 73, “218” was used at Udorn on stand by for Peppergrinder operation (Udorn
daily schedule of 7 Jan. 73, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); “218” flew the following routes
out of Udorn on 2 March 73: 1) Udorn (T-08) - Vientiane (L-08) - Long Tieng (LS-
20A) - Vientiane (L-08) - Luang Prabang (L-54) - Udorn (T-08); 2) Udorn (T-08) -
Vientiane (L-08) as directed by “PPG” and 3)Vientiane (L-08) - Luang Prabang (L-
54)/Shuttles - Udorn (T-08) (Udorn daily flight schedule of 2 March 73, in:
UTD/Bonansinga).
Fate: returned to the 21st TAS, USAF, Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan, in 1974,
which still used it in January 89, now camouflaged; transferred in August 89 to the
167th TAS / West Virginia Air National Guard, Martinsburg, WV, and in April 96 to
the 192nd TAS / Nevada Air National Guard, Reno; in 2009 still flying with 62nd AS
Little Rock AFB (e-mail dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author by Bob
Daley).

Lockheed C-130E “404” (40497) 3981 April 71 USAF 64-0497 was used
by the 374th TAW, Ching
Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan,
in Sept. 71 and Sept. 73
and painted grey overall;
314th TAW, Ching Chuan
Kang, to 374th TAW,
Ching Chuan Kang, on 1
June 71 (71152); no
further entries in the
USAF Assignment
Records
Service history: not on the F.O.Circular of 1 July 71; but at Luang Prabang (L-54),
Laos, with Air America on 19 April 71 (Accident report for C-46 N9458Z, in:
UTD/Anthony/F3); on 21 April 71, C-130E “404”, piloted by Capt. D. Wharton and
his crew, struck a motorcycle immediately after touch down at Long Tieng (LS-20A),
killing one of the riders, and damaging two main gear tires and the left main wheel
well door and well; the aircraft was on Project no. 71-26D (XOXO of 21 April 71, in:
UTD/Hickler/B25F14); repaired; flown into Laos since 1 July 71 under contract AID-
439-342 (Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 25 January 72 in UTD/CIA/B9F7); on 1
 July 72, contract AID-439-342 became part of contract F04606-71-C-0002 (Price
negotiations for 1973, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F6); listed as assigned to contract
F04606-71-C-0002 and based at Udorn at least 16-30 April 73 (F.O.C. of 16 April 73,
in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14), 1 November-31 December 73 (F.O.Circulars of 1 Nov. 73
and 1 Dec. 73, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C), 1-28 Feb. 74 (F.O.C. of 1 Feb. 74, in:
UTD/CIA/B51F21), and 1 April-31 May 74 (F.O.Circulars of 1 April 74, and 1 May
74, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C); all known F.O.C.s of 1973 note: “Up to 2 aircraft
provided for daily operations”, and all known F.O.C.s of 1974 note: “One basic
aircraft provided for daily operations”; while maneuvering to park at the AB-1 ramp
at Udorn (T-08) on 25 December 71, the propeller wash damaged CASI C-47 N650K;
“404” was operating under contract 342 (XOXO of 25 December 71, in:
UTD/Hickler/B25F11; Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 11 January 72, in:
UTD/CIA/B9F7); flown into Laos at least between 1 April 72 and 27 May 74 (Log
book of L. H. Maxwell, in: UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); at Udorn on 18 April 73 (Udorn
daily flight schedule of 18 April 73, in: UTD/Dexter/F1); flew Udorn (T-08) -
Vientiane (L-08), then as directed for Peppergrinder and back to Udorn on 5 May 73
(Vientiane daily flight schedule of 5 May 73, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7; Crew member
duty report of H. F. Miller, in: UTD/Miller/B4F6); flew Udorn (T-08) - Nam Phong
(T-712) and then as directed by ASB-044 on 18 June 73, until it returned to Udorn (T-
08) the same day, probably flying back Thai troops volunteers; the same routes were
flown on 19 June 73 (Vientiane daily flight schedules of 18 and 19 June 73, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); flew Udorn-Vientiane-Long Tieng-Udorn with food on 28
April 74 and then Udorn-Pakse-Udorn and Udorn-Savannakhet-Udorn for the DAO
the same day (Udorn Flight Schedule of 28 April 74, in: UTD/Walker/B31F7).
Fate: returned to the 21st TAS, Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan, in 1974, which used
it in 75; still with the 374th TAW in Jan. 93; transferred in Sept. 93 to AMARC,
Davis-Monthan AFB, with storage number CF134; 64-0497 was broken up and
scrapped at AMARC (e-mail dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author by Bob
Daley)

C-130E 405 at Long Tieng in 1971 C-130E 405 accident at Seno on 30 Aug. 72
(UTD/Stuart) (UTD/Hitner/B2)

Lockheed C-130E “405” (40515) 3999 June 71 USAF 64-0515; had been
used by the 314th TCW,
Ching Chuan Kang AB,
Taiwan, in Dec. 65 and by
the 50th TAS, Ching
Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan;
 314th TAW, Ching Chuan
Kang, to 374th TAW,
Ching Chuan Kang, on 1
June 71 (71152); no
further entries in the
USAF Assignment
Records
Service history: leased from E-Flight, 374th TAW, Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan,
and seen all gray in Sept. 71 and Sept. 73; flew Udorn (T-08) - Luang Prabang (L-54)
on 28 March 71 (Log book of D. Keele, in: UTD/Keele/B1F6); a photo taken at Long
Tieng (LS-20A) in 71 can be seen in: UTD/Stuart, Sm. Coll. 5; flown into Laos since
1 July 71 under contract AID-439-342 (Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 25 January
72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7); on 1 July 72, contract AID-439-342 became part of contract
F04606-71-C-0002 (Price negotiations for 1973, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F6); listed as
assigned to contract F04606-71-C-0002 and based at Udorn at least 16-30 April 73
(F.O.C. of 16 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14), 1 November-31 December 73
(F.O.Circulars of 1 Nov. 73 and 1 Dec. 73, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C), 1-28 Feb. 74
(F.O.C. of 1 Feb. 74, in: UTD/CIA/B51F21), and 1 April-31 May 74 (F.O.Circulars
of 1 April 74, and 1 May 74, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C); all known F.O.C.s of 1973
note: “Up to 2 aircraft provided for daily operations”, and all known F.O.C.s of 1974
note: “One basic aircraft provided for daily operations”; flown into Laos at least
between 8 May 72 and 31 May 74 (Log book of L. H. Maxwell, in:
UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); on 30 August 72, C-130 “405”, crewed by Messrs. Wharton,
Hitner, Koch, Knop, Headlee and Feind, flew Udorn (T-08) - Seno (L-46) and then
shuttles to Luang Prabang (L-54) for ASB-044; during one of these flights, C-130
“405” suffered from a collapse of the right main landing gear at Seno (L-46), Laos, on
30 August 72, when operating under contract 0002; the aircraft landed on asphalt
runway 04, slowed down and commenced a 180 degree left turn around,
approximately 750 feet short of the runway end and the turn around area. After
approximately 160 degrees of turn, the right main gear broke thru the wet, partially
rock-stabilized runway shoulder and settled until the number 4 engine propeller
contacted the ground; no crew member was injured, but the right out board engine
propeller and the gear box were damaged (XOXO of 30 August 72, in:
UTD/Hickler/B27F2); a photo of that accident can be seen in: Yearbook 1984 (in:
UTD/Wharton/B1F3, and, in: UTD/Hitner/B2); repaired and returned to service
(Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 12 September 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7); flown from
Seno (L-46) to Udorn (T-08) on 1 September 72, by an Air America crew (Messrs.
Nugent, Hoff, Cordova, and Lechtman) (Udorn daily flight schedule of 1 Sept. 72, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 5 October 72, C-130E “405” apparently shuttled Hmong or
Lao troops for ASB-044 between Pitsanulok (T-01) and Pakse (L-11), with centerline
seats installed, before returning to Udorn (T-08) (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 5
Oct. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); flew Udorn (T-08) - Nam Phong (T-712) and then
as directed by ASB-044 on 18 June 73, until it returned to Udorn (T-08) the same day,
probably flying back Thai troops (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 18 June 73, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 19 June 73, “405” flew from Udorn (T-08) to Vientiane (L-
08) and on to Saigon (V-01), apparently for the Requirements Office, and then back
the same way (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 19 June 73, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 3 May 74, C-130E “405” carried the remains of the ill-fated
DHC-6 N389EX back to Udorn (XOXO of 3 May 74, in: UTD/Hickler/B25F14).
 Fate: returned to the USAF, flying with the 21st TAS, Ching Chuan Kang AB,
Taiwan, in 74; current with the 135th TAS, Baltimore, in 1996; 64-0515 still flying
with 198th AS PRANG San Juan in 2009 (e-mail dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent
to the author by Bob Daley)

Lockheed C-130E “786” (37868) 3938 2 June 71 USAF 63-7868; had been
used by the 464th TCW,
Pope AFB, North
Carolina, in Dec. 65, was
used by E-Flight, 21st
TAS, Ching Chuan Kang
AB, Taiwan, in Sept. 71
and Sept. 73 and painted
gray overall; 314th TAW,
Ching Chuan Kang, to
374th TAW, Ching Chuan
Kang, on 1 June 71
(71152); to GF on 2 June
71 (71153); no further
entries in the USAF
Assignment files
Service history: flown into Laos since 1 July 71 under contract AID-439-342
(Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of 25 January 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7); on 1 July 72,
contract AID-439-342 became part of contract F04606-71-C-0002 (Price negotiations
for 1973, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F6); listed as assigned to contract F04606-71-C-0002
and based at Udorn at least 16-30 April 73 (F.O.C. of 16 April 73, in:
UTD/Kaufman/B1F14), 1 November-31 December 73 (F.O.Circulars of 1 Nov. 73
and 1 Dec. 73, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C), 1-28 Feb. 74 (F.O.C. of 1 Feb. 74, in:
UTD/CIA/B51F21), and 1 April-31 May 74 (F.O.Circulars of 1 April 74, and 1 May
74, in: UTD/Hickler/B8F7C); all known F.O.C.s of 1973 note: “Up to 2 aircraft
provided for daily operations”, and all known F.O.C.s of 1974 note: “One basic
aircraft provided for daily operations”; flew Udorn (T-08) - Pakse (L-11) on 14
September 71 (Log book of D. Keele, in: UTD/Keele/B1F6); flew Udorn (T-08) -
Seno (L-46) - Pakse (L-11) - Seno (L-46) shuttles for ASB-044 on 24 May 72, with
centerline seats installed, so probably carried Thai troops (Vientiane daily flight
schedule of 24 May 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 15 August 72, “786”, crewed by
Messrs. Welk, Knop, Hoff, Gamelin, Cordova, and Lavin, flew shuttles between
Udorn (T-08) and Khang Kho (LS-204) for ASB-044 (Vientiane daily flight schedule
of 15 Aug. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 17 August 72, “786”, crewed by Messrs.
Welk, Bond, Hoff, Gamelin, Reber, and Winkle, flew Udorn (T-08) - Pakse (L-11)
and on as directed by ASB-044, with centerline seats installed, so probably carried
Thai troops (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 17 Aug. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7);
on 18 August 72, “786”, crewed by Messrs. Welk, Jackson, Gamelin, Bond, Reber,
and Winkle, flew Udorn (T-08) - Pakse (L-11) - Keng Ka Boa (LS-235) as directed by
ASB-044, again with centerline seats installed, so probably carried Thai troops
(Vientiane daily flight schedule of 18 Aug. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); flew Udorn
(T-08) - Long Tieng (LS-20A) - Nam Phong (T-712) shuttles for ASB-044 on 1
September 72, with centerline seats installed, so probably carried Thai troops (Udorn
daily flight schedule of 1 Sept. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 2 September 72,
“786”, crewed by Seigrist, Jackson, Stone, Moon, Reber, and Winkle, was used on
 arms flights out of Udorn (T-08) for Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily flight schedule of
2 Sept. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 3 September 72, C-130 “786”, crewed by
Messrs. Wharton, Jackson, Moon, Stone, Reber, and Winkle, first carried Thai troops
for ASB-044 from Udorn (T-08) to Ban Xieng Lom (LS-69) and back, with centerline
seats installed, then, the same day, “786” carried arms out of Udorn (T-08) as directed
by Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily schedule of 3 Sept. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7);
on 4, 5 and 6 Sept. 72, “786” again shuttled arms out of Udorn (T-08) as directed by
Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily flight schedules of 4, 5, and 6 Sept. 72, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 21 October 72, C-130E “786” flew Udorn (T-08) - Nam
Phong (T-712) - Pakse (L-11) - Udorn (T-08) - Luang Prabang (L-54) - Udorn (T-08),
for ASB-044 with centerline seats installed, so probably carried Thai troops
(Vientiane daily flight schedule of 21 Oct. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 11
November 72, “786” shuttled troops for ASB-044 between Udorn (T-08) and Ban
Xieng Lom (LS-69), with centerline seats installed (Vientiane daily flight schedule of
11 Nov. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 17 November 72, “786” flew 2 trips
between Pakse (L-11) and Nong Saeng (T-338) for ASB-044, and then shuttled
between Long Tieng (LS-20A) and Seno (L-46) (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 17
Nov. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); flown into Laos at least between 25 April 72 and
30 March 74 (Log book of L. H. Maxwell, in: UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); flew Udorn (T-
08) - Luang Prabang (L-54) on 8 January 73 for Air America (Crew member duty
report of H. F. Miller, in: UTD/Miller/B4F6); flew Udorn (T-08) - Vientiane (L-08)
on 26 January 73 (Udorn flight schedule of 26 Jan. 73, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7).
Fate: returned to the USAF in 1974; in service with 143rd TAS/Rhode Island Air
National Guard (Quonset Point, RI) since August 89. 63-7868 still flying with 62nd
AS Little Rock AFB in 2009 (e-mail dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author
by Bob Daley); “Air America C-130E 63-7868 made its final flight on 6 September
2011 from Little Rock AFB to Robins AFB. The aircraft's final assignment was to
the 62nd Airlift Squadron, 314th Airlift Wing at LRAFB. On 21 September 2011, the
aircraft was moved from the flight line to the Museum of Aviation, an Air Force field
museum, where the aircraft has been on public display” (e-mail dated 18 August 2014
that Mike Rowland, Curator, Museum of Aviation, kindly sent to Paul Oelkrug, who
forwarded it to the author).

Lockheed C-130E “787” (37879) 3950 2 June 71

USAF 63-7879; had been
used by the 346th TAS,
Dyess AFB, Texas, in
Sept. 69, was used by the
21st TAS (E-Flight),
Ching Chuan Kang AB,
Taiwan, in Sept. 71 and
Sept. 73 and was painted
gray overall; 314th TAW,
Ching Chuan Kang, to
374th TAW, Ching Chuan
Kang, on 1 June 71
(71152); to GF on 2 June
71 (71153); no further
entries in the USAF
Assignment Records
Service history: a photo of E-Flight C-130E “787” taken by Chris O. Buswell
 between 1971 and 1973 can be found at the site
http://www.spectrumwd.com/c130/image2/c130_590.jpg; flown by Air America into
Laos since 1 July 71 under contract AID-439-342 (Minutes ExCom-AACL/AAM of
25 January 72, in: UTD/CIA/B9F7); on 1 July 72, contract AID-439-342 became part
of contract F04606-71-C-0002 (Price negotiations for 1973, in:
UTD/Kaufman/B1F6); listed as assigned to contract F04606-71-C-0002 and based at
Udorn at least 16-30 April 73 (F.O.C. of 16 April 73, in: UTD/Kaufman/B1F14), 1
November-31 December 73 (F.O.Circulars of 1 Nov. 73 and 1 Dec. 73, in:
UTD/Hickler/B8F7C), 1-28 Feb. 74 (F.O.C. of 1 Feb. 74, in: UTD/CIA/B51F21), and
1 April-31 May 74 (F.O.Circulars of 1 April 74, and 1 May 74, in:
UTD/Hickler/B8F7C); all known F.O.C.s of 1973 note: “Up to 2 aircraft provided for
daily operations”, and all known F.O.C.s of 1974 note: “One basic aircraft provided
for daily operations”; flown into Laos at least between 5 July 72 and 26 March 74
(Log book of L. H. Maxwell, in: UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); flew Udorn (T-08) - Long
Tieng (LS-20A) - Vientiane (L-08) for ASB-044 on 2 August 72, and then, the same
day, shuttles between Vientiane (L-08) - Long Tieng (LS-20A) and drop zone Alpha,
before it returned to Udorn (T-08) (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 2 Aug. 72, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 28 Aug. 72, “787” crewed by Messrs. Seigrist, Hoff, Bond,
Lechtman, Cordova and Fiend, flew arms shuttles out of Udorn as directed by
Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 28 Aug. 72, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 13, 14, and 15 Sept. 72, “787” again flew arms out of
Udorn as directed by Peppergrinder, and again on 3 and 4 October 72 (Vientiane
daily flight schedules of 13, 14, and 15 Sept. 72 and of 3 and 4 Oct. 72, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 5 October 72, C-130E “787” apparently shuttled Hmong or
Lao troops for ASB-044 between Pitsanulok (T-01) and Pakse (L-11), with centerline
seats installed, before returning to Udorn (T-08) (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 5
Oct. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 7 October 72, “787” flew out of Udorn (T-08),
first as directed by ASB-044, then by Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily flight schedule
of 7 Oct. 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); on 9 November 72, “787” shuttled arms out of
Udorn as directed by Peppergrinder (Vientiane daily flight schedule as of 9
November 72, in: UTD/Severson/B1F7); flew Udorn (T-08) - Pakse (L-11) on 12
December 72 for Air America (Crew member duty report of H. F. Miller, in:
UTD/Miller/B4F6); on 23 August 73, an Air America crew consisting of Messrs.
Seigrist, Melich, Houston, Walter, Bonessa and Seymour, flew “787” from Udorn (T-
08) to Long Tieng (LS-20A) and back to Vientiane (L-08) for ASB-044, then again to
Long Tieng, from where it shuttled to point “A” for ASB-035, until it returned to
Udorn (T-08) the same day (Vientiane daily flight schedule of 23 August 73, in:
UTD/Severson/B1F7).
Fate: returned to the USAF in 1974; in service with the 36th AS, 374th TAW
(Yokota AFB, Japan) in December 95. 63-7879 Stored at AMARC CF0299 (e-mail
dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author by Bob Daley)

Lockheed C-130E 63-7770 3836 March 73? USAF 63-7770; leased

from 463rd TAW, Dyess
AFB, Texas
Service history: used by Air America between 23 March 73 and 25 March 73 for
flights into Laos (Log book of L. H. Maxwell, in: UTD/Maxwell/B1F6); probably a
replacement aircraft for another Air America C-130E out for maintenance.
 Fate: probably returned to the USAF in March 73; current with the 815th AS in
December 96; 63-7770 stored at AMARC CF0288 (e-mail dated 26 October 2009,
kindly sent to the author by Bob Daley).

VI) Air America’s L-100-20 Hercules:

In November 1968 L-100-20 Hercules N7951S was bought new from Lockheed Aircraft,36
and it was immediately leased to Southern Air Transport. This aircraft was owned by Air
America all the time between November 68 and February 74 and was leased to Southern Air
Transport during the whole period.

Type registration / serial c/n (msn) date acquired origin____________

Lockheed L.100-20 N7951S 4301 20 Nov. 68 bought new
Service history: leased to Southern Air Transport, Miami, from Air America upon
delivery from Lockheed on 20 November 68; registered to Air America on 4
December 68; the original lease agreement dated 15 November 68 was to last until 31
December 70; on 15 May 70, N7951S was sold to Southern Air Transport, Miami,
and registered to them on 20 May 70, but on 15 June 70, this sale was annulled by
mutual agreement of both parties; bought again by Air America on 20 June 70 and
registered to them on 13 July 70; on 6 April 71, the lease to Southern Air Transport
was extended to 31 December 71; on 30 March 71 and 18 May 71, Air America
contracted with Lockheed for certain modifications of the aircraft, and on 30 August
71, the modification to L.100-30 was completed; on 28 December 71, the lease to
Southern AT was extended to 31 December 72, on 29 December 72, it was extended
to 31 January 73, and on 29 January 73, it was extended to 30 June 74 until sooner
terminated; on 1 February 74, it was definitely sold to Southern Air Transport (Status
of 5 April 74, in: UTD/CIA/B56F4); so although owned by Air America all the time
between November 68 and January 74, it was never flown by Air America, but only
by Southern Air Transport.
Fate: sold to Southern Air Transport, Miami, on 1 February 74 (Minutes BoD-AAM
of 19 February 74, in: UTD/CIA/B4F4; Summary of aircraft sales, in:
UTD/CIA/B40F6); deregistration was requested on 13 February 74 (Letter of SAT
dated 29 January 74, in: UTD/CIA/B17F1; Letter by Clyde S. Carter dated 13
February 74, in: UTD/CIA/B17F3); sold by Southern to Saturn Airways as N23ST on
1 February 74; to Trans International Airlines in December 76; to Transamerica
Airlines in October 79; leased to Southern Air Transport, Miami, in November 86;
bought by them in March 88 and reregd. as N923SJ; current in 1996; not current in
March 2004 (request submitted to the FAA on 13 March 2004 at
http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/); in 2009 flying for Transafrik Airlines as S9-CAV
(e-mail dated 26 October 2009, kindly sent to the author by Bob Daley)

VII) Errors:
- Several publications report that there was an Air America C-130 “Graybird” serialled
“636”, and some even guess its identity to be “61-2636”. This is an error that goes back to a
photo taken in late 1972 or 1973 and published in Conboy, War in Laos, p. 60. The photo
depicts 2 Air America Chinooks, and a tail bearing the serial “636” can be seen behind these
two helicopters. The text says: “The aircraft in the background is a USAF C-130 Graybird

36
Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors of Air America Inc. of 17 September 68, in: UTD/CIA/B3F6.
(636), on loan to Air America”. The presence of the Chinooks makes clear that the photo was
taken in late 72 or in 73. At that time, all C-130s operated by Air America appeared in the
Flight Operations Circulars, and there were none but the C-130Es mentioned in chapter V.
But, between 1968 and 1973, Air America had C-123K “636” (msn 20085 ex USAF 54-
0636), and this was the mysterious tail that can be seen behind the two Chinooks on that
photo, creating the myth of a C-130 serialled “636”.
- an Air America C-130A “625” has also been reported as seen at Long Tieng in 1971; the
error goes back to my own mis-reading of a photo preserved in: UTD/Stuart (Sm. Coll. 5),
where the serial was not clearly visible; a new look taken in 1998 at the original photo with a
better lens showed it to be “405” (msn 3999).
- it has been reported that Air America operated C-130Es to support Phnom Penh in 1974/5.
This is an error. There was no such Air America C-130E airlift into Phnom Penh (e-mail
dated 21 February 2005 kindly sent to the author by Henry Melich; e-mail dated 1 March
2005, kindly sent to the author by Jack Knotts), and the report that stated that there was one
simply confused it with the C-130s operated into Phnom Penh by Bird Air.

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