News>Combat Talon ends career as historic monument
Photos
A crowd gathers around the MC-130E Combat Talon I prior to its official dedication ceremony May 6, 2011, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The Talon, known as "Wild Thing," had a 46-year Air Force career and 22,336.5 flight hours. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy salute during the national anthem at an MC-130E Combat Talon dedication ceremony May 6, 2011, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Chief Roy and General Schwartz, a former wing commander and Talon pilot at Hurlburt Field, saw the aircraft honored in its final resting place at the base's airpark. The Talon, known as "Wild Thing" around the 919th Special Operations Wing, made its final flight May 7, 2010, completing 21,336.5 hours of flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)
by Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.
919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
5/16/2011 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- Exactly one year after making its final operational flight, the MC-130E Combat Talon I 64-0567 reached the end of its 47-year journey with a stirring dedication ceremony here May 6.
The Talon, or as it came to be know by 919th Special Operations Wing Airmen, "Wild Thing," will now be a historic monument forever reminding future Airmen of what came before.
The dedication brought together reserve and active-duty Airmen, historians, aircraft aficionados and the Air Force's highest officer and enlisted leaders. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, a former Talon pilot and commander here, saw the aircraft honored.
"She was a good girl," said Chief Master Sgt. Ken Potter, with the 919th Maintenance Group. "The best flying aircraft we had."
Chief Potter and six other 919th maintainers were tasked with getting 567 prepared for "her" last flight from Gowen Field, Idaho, to Hurlburt Field last May.
At the end of that flight, Wild Thing had recorded 21,336.5 flight hours. Many of those hours were in support of vital American conflicts.
Aircraft 567 took fire in Vietnam in 1969. It was flown to Egypt to be a part of Operation Eagle Claw (Desert One) in 1980 and flew in Operation Urgent Fury in Granada in 1983. In 1990, during Operation Just Cause, 567 carried Manuel Noriega to Miami. It was assigned to the 919th in 1997.
In 2003, it was one of the first MC-130Es to operate in missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.
For its new Air Force role, it was given a new "Blackbird" camouflage paint scheme and outfitted with the Fulton Surface-to-Air-Recovery-System, which is used for retrieving persons on the ground. It was one of few fitted with the "Skyhook" system in 1966.
Guest speaker, Chief Master Sgt. Dale Berryhill, a 711th Special Operation Squadron loadmaster, told the large crowd about the eccentricities of flying the Combat Talon.
"Each one has a unique attitude and often quirky personality," he said. "I hope this mighty Talon enjoys its time in the sun and that all its crew members and maintainers, young and old stop by to visit their old friend. 64-0567 has served its crews and nation proudly."
Comments
5/17/2011 7:36:07 PM ET Was that one of the old 1st SOS birds that they sent to Duke? I arrived at Kadena just after the Talon II conversion. Stray Goose 95 through 97.
Darin, WA
5/17/2011 1:00:21 PM ET I was a Wild Thing crew chief from 94-98. I am proud that she was chosen to represent the Combat Talon I fleet at Hurlburt Field.
