The U.S. Air Force’s last four Lockheed MC-130E Combat Talon I’s spread their wings for a final mission from their home at Duke Field near Crestview, Fla., on April 15. The Talons will be officially retired in a ceremony at Duke Field April 25 and the aircraft will then be flown to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. April 25 commemorates the 33rd anniversary of the Desert One mission to free the Iranian hostages – several of the MC-130Es at Duke Field took part in that mission.
“This is an emotional and historic day for the airmen of the 919th Special Operations Wing,” said Col. Andy Comtois, 919th Special Operations Wing commander. “Since our inception, the 919 SOW has primarily been a C-130 wing and, for almost 20 years, a Combat Talon wing. We will miss these great war birds.”
The four Talons took off as two two-ships carrying more than 40 of the wing’s airmen who had a long association with the Talon I’s and wanted to be a part of the historic final flight.
For the complete story by Samuel King of DVIDS, click here.
