Turns out the plane was on its last flight to the bone yard at DM, it was a 60yr old Herc. Reports make it sound like it lost power or was being flown too slow, it stalled and pancaked into the highway. Will need to wait for the crash investigation to find out why.
Has anyone seen a tail number or model? I read 60 years old but I don't think it was that old. Active duty ditched the E-Models (early 1960s) a while back. Quick search and PR ANG flies the WC-130H. H-Models are not 60 years old.
The 1-507th wants to express our condolences to the families and friends of our friends we lost in the tragic incident yesterday. The crew that was lost yesterday in the C-130 crash outside of Savannah has been confirmed as the crew that not only served multiple paradrop missions with us, but the same crew that flew in another retired C-130 from the fleet for the Airborne School. We will do our best to honor their memory and place their names on the outside of this future hulk trainer. The crew signed the aircraft as its last crew both on the nose and inside the aircraft. Hopefully we can isolate that piece of the aircraft and get it back to the wing, the families and the people of Puerto Rico. Rest In Peace, and we can only hope that pain and grief experienced by the families; both blood and in uniform is assuaged by memories of better days.
The bird that our fallen crew helped get to Fort Benning, and some of their signatures on the exterior of the aircraft. The navigator did sign the fuselage so we will cut that piece out and send it back to Puerto Rico. We will frame the other photo of the rest of the crew’s signatures in a plaque for the air wing and families.
MAJ José R. Román Rosado: Pilot with 18 years of service.
MAJ Carlos Pérez Serra: Navigator with 23 years of service.
1LT David Albandoz: Co-Pilot with 16 years of service.
SMSgt Jan Paravisini: Mechanic with 21 years of service.
MSgt Jean Audriffred: 16 years of service.
MSgt Mario Braña: Flight Engineer with 17 years of service.
MSgt Víctor Colón: 22 years of service
MSgt Eric Circuns: Loadmaster with 31 Years of Service.
SRA Roberto Espada: Three years of service.
Rest In Peace gentlemen, until we loadout again on high.
I heard it was an H model 50 years old? But that was local news here. Which would be possible, I think the Hotel model was a late 60’s early 70’s model?Has anyone seen a tail number or model? I read 60 years old but I don't think it was that old. Active duty ditched the E-Models (early 1960s) a while back. Quick search and PR ANG flies the WC-130H. H-Models are not 60 years old.
I heard it was an H model 50 years old? But that was local news here. Which would be possible, I think the Hotel model was a late 60’s early 70’s model?
Being NG, and Puerto Rico, my guess would be ‘65. And that is probably “new” to them.The H Models I remember were from the 70s. I read Lockheed built the H from 64-96. The 5 digit tail numbers only give the last digit of the year of manufacture, so the aircraft (thanks for the pic, Wild Deuce) could be a 65, 75, 85, or 95.
Edit: please note this is the C-130H Hercules, not the H Farmall
The Hurricane Hunters at Keesler went to J Models quite a while back. 6-bladed props make them easy to spot.
Being NG, and Puerto Rico, my guess would be ‘65. And that is probably “new” to them.
Yes, although the GWOT has sped up fielding of newer equipment to the NG and ARmy Reserve, they still use old and leftover Big Green Army/ Big Blue AF equipment. SomeArmy Reserve MP units still had 141’s (Jeeps) into the 90’s and didn’t receive M9’s until almost 2000.Is that common with National Guard units... having equipment that old?
Yes, although the GWOT has sped up fielding of newer equipment to the NG and ARmy Reserve, they still use old and leftover Big Green Army equipment.