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Home of the KC130F, R, T and J Aircraft Used By The
United States Marine Corps
This airplane was manufactured at Lockheed in 1958. The Marine Corps acquired this plane on May 01, 1960. The plane was assigned to VMGR-152.
Gunny Black Cloud Sends This Picture of 147573 from Dong Ha 1966 - Shot out R/Main
March 18th 2006
I (Sgt Alan Stinar) was sent with Sgt. Kevin Moore on aircraft 147573 to Pattaya,
Thailand to troubleshoot aircraft 014 for a possible bad Pitch Lock Regulator,
our findings were correct so we replaced it. Funny thing was, somehow 573 ended
up having a bad nose wheel tire, so we had to leave it in Thailand and take 014
back home while 152 maintenance control had already sent a rescue mission for
573.
Alan Stinar
Jim Ballard, James Coffman and LtCol. Dwight Neeley Send this information on 573's Retirement
On 28 February 2008, the oldest aircraft
of any Type, Model, or Series in
the Navy or Marine Corps (KC-130F, Bureau Number 147573) was retired at
Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. As I write this email flying back to Okinawa
from Tucson, I can't help but wonder what stories aircraft "573" would tell
if it could. The aircraft came into service for the Marine Corps in 1961
and has been used as an Aerial Refueling and Assault Support platform by
VMGR-152 all over the world since then. I have been very excited telling
the stories I know about this aircraft's history from the Vietnam War to
U.S. involvement in Somalia to the countless Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief operations it flew in the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh and many other countries throughout the Western
Pacific Region.
The single most noteworthy importance of this aircraft which is still
lasting today, is simply that it provides a testament to the quality and
professionalism of hundreds if not thousands of Marines who over the past 47
years maintained it, fixed it, taken care of it, operated it, and loved it.
Lockheed Corporation built an aircraft in 1961 that would stand to fly over
28,000 flight hours providing the Marine Corps with an exceptionally safe,
forgiving, and quality product for our nations defense.
As we shut the aircraft down on the ramp at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson AZ, on
28 February 2008, all 8 Marine Corps Crewmembers were overcome with a
feeling of not wanting to leave it alone there in the boneyard. "573" will
remain in the hearts of all Marines, former and current, who touched this
aircraft in defense of our nation all across the world. We offer our
respect and appreciation to all those Marines.
The new KC-130J's are replacing the "Legacy" KC-130s throughout the Marine
Corps and currently performing exceptionally in Operations Iraqi and
Enduring Freedom, and throughout the Western Pacific supporting numerous
Bi-Lateral exercises and Humanitarian Assistance operations with our many
ally countries.
Pic #1 - 573 over Mt Suribachi Iwo Jima
Circa mid-1990s.
Pics #2 and #3 - 573 leading KC-130J
167926 (newest plane in the Marine
Corps) on 13 Feb 2008.
Pic #5 - 573 Portrait taken on 13 Feb 2008.
LtCol Dwight Neeley
VMGR-152 Commanding Officer
Tony Villa Sends This Picture of 147573 over Suribachi, Japan on 06 December 2006: Thanks Tony
Mike Box Sends This Photo of 147573 in Australia.
Here's a pic of 147573 we were working in Australia at Operation Pitch Black in 1990 from VMGR-152 in Okinawa.
Thanks Again Mike
This plane is due for strike in the year 2007. Any stories or other photo's for this plane can be posted on this page. Please submit your stories and photo's to Tom Nickols at Nick@KC130.Com