C-130 Hercules

by Martin W Bowman

  Honduras

  During 1986-89 the Fuerza Aérea Hondurena received an ex-USAF C-130D (57-0487) and four ex-USAF C-130As. The C-130D crashed near Wampusirpi, Honduras on 14 August 1986, while one of the C-130As was withdrawn in 1991. The Escadrilla de Transporte operates the three remaining C-130As at Tocontin Airport, Tegucigalpa.

  Indonesia

  In 1958-59 the Angkatan Udata Republik Indonesia received ten C-130Bs diverted from Tactical Air Command’s production allocation for that year and these entered service with No. 31 Squadron at Jarkarta-Halim, Java. T-1307 was lost on 3 September 1964 when it crashed in Malaya and T-1306 was lost a year later, on 21 September 1965, when it was believed to have been ‘frightened down’ by an RAF Javelin. Two C-130Bs were modified to KC-130B. In September 1980, 32 Squadron received the first stretched C-130H-30 (4864) from the production line. C-130H-MP (TNI-AU/4898) crashed into volcano Sibyak on 21 November 1985. Some of the L-100-30 models were leased or sold to Pelita Air Service. The Tantara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udare (TNI-AU) still operates most of the total of twentyfive Hercules it has received. 31 Squadron at Jakarta-Halim operates the survivors of the sixteen C-130Bs delivered in 1960 and 1961, 1975 and 1979 and also the L-100-30, while 32 Squadron at Malang flies the remaining H and H30 models (TNI-AU/4927 crashed after takeoff from Halim-Perdanakasuma, Jakarta, on 5 October 1991).

  On Tuesday 30 June 2015 an Indonesian C-130 was carrying more than 120 people when it crashed near a residential area. Military personnel and their family members, students and other civilians were among those on board the C-130 that went down shortly after takeoff in Medan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The transport had 122 people aboard 110 passengers and twelve crew members when it took off from Soewondo Air Force Base in Medan, according to Supriatna. No survivors were found. Engine trouble might have been to blame. Major General Fuad Basya, an Indonesian military spokesman said that the aircraft, built in the United States in the 1960s, had been inspected and cleared to fly before it took off from Medan. The plane was carrying people and logistical supplies to bases on other Indonesian islands. It began its multi-stop journey Tuesday in Jakarta, the capital and had made two stops along the way to Medan, in Pekanbaru and Dumai. Sometimes, Indonesian civilians also hitch rides on military flights to get to islands which might otherwise be inaccessible. The C-130 hit a busy road that connects Medan with the highland tourist resort of Brastagi. The crash site is about five kilometres (3 miles) from the air base.

  Iran

  Beginning in 1962, the Nirou Havai Shahanshahiye Iran (Imperial Iranian Air Force, IIAF) took delivery of four C-130Bs, 28 C-130Es and thirty-two C-130Hs (the last two being delivered in May 1975) making it the third largest user (with 64 aircraft) of the Hercules after the US and the RAF. The C-130Bs were used for about four years with 5 Air Transport Squadron at Mehrabad before being purchased by Pakistan pending delivery of seventeen C-130Es in 1965-66 (eight) and 1968 (nine). C-130E 107/4118 was destroyed following a lightning strike on 18 April 1967. C-130E 5-112/4154 crashed while simulating two-engines out in Shiraz on 7 April 1969. In 1970-71, eleven more C-130Es were delivered. In the mid-1970s, five C-130Es were subsequently disposed of, again to Pakistan. Four IIAF C-130Hs were modified for covert signal monitoring and electronic reconnaissance along the Iranian border with the Soviet Union, as part of the Ibex ELINT-gathering network; the electronic equipment was installed in pods carried outboard of the outer engines. Following the Islamic revolution, the arms embargo imposed on Iran has taken a toll of the remaining fleet and only a handful are believed to be still flyable (since February 1974, seven Iran Air Force C-130s have been lost).

  India

  On 28 March 2014, Indian Air Force C-130J-30 KC-3803 crashed near Gwalior, India, killing all five personnel aboard. The aircraft was conducting low level penetration training by flying at around 300 feet when it ran into wake turbulence from another aircraft in the formation, which caused it to crash. IAF ordered six 13 C-130Js in early 2008, exercising options to buy six more aircraft in July 2012 and six more on 20 December 2013.

  Iraq

  The IAF ordered six C-130J-30s in July 2008.

  Israel

  During 1971-72 the Heyl Ha’Avir (Israeli Defence Force/Air Force, IDAF) acquired twelve C-130Es - all recently disposed of by the 313th, 316th and 516th Tactical Airlift Wings, USAF - and gave them dual military/civil registrations to disguise their military purpose. Starting in October 1971 and ending in September 1976, the IDAF took delivery of ten C-130Hs and two KC-130H tankers. After the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, twelve more ex-USAF C-130Es were delivered.

  Ten C-130Hs are still in use on transport duties and are operated by 103 ‘Elephant’ Squadron and 131 ‘Yellow Bird’ Squadron at Nevatim. (4X-FBD) is known to have been lost in a crash at Jebel Halal on 25 November 1975 and others have been placed in storage.

  The Israeli Government placed orders for four C-130Js with options for a further five.The Israeli Air Force is to purchase nine C-130J-30s.

  C-130H (L-382) of the Jordanian Air Force.

  Kōkū Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defence Force or JASDF) C-130Hs in formation. (JASDF)

  Italy

  The Aeronautica Militaire Italiana’s 50th Gruppo of the 46 Aerobrigata at Pisa-San Giusto continues to fly the Hercules on strategic airlift duties, using twelve C-130Hs from a batch of fourteen delivered in 1972. In June 1978 three were used on fire-fighting duties. 46-10 (4492) was lost when it flew into Monte Serra 9 miles east of Pisa on 3 March 1977. In 1980, 46-14 was cannibalized for spares (subsequently used for C-130H 46-09) on 23 January 1979 when it jumped its chocks during an engine run-up at Milan-Malpensa and hit a tree. Ten C-130J-30 aircraft were delivered between 2002 and 2005.

  Japan

  The fifteen C-130Hs of the Koku Jietai (Japan Air Self-Defence Force, JASDF) have been operated since entering service in 1984 by the 401st Hikotai (Squadron) of the 1st Tactical Airlift Group at Komaki AB. Some of the aircraft have been fitted with a locally produced Naval minelaying system.

  Jordan

  The Al Quwwat Almalakiya (Royal Jordanian Air Force) initially received four ex-USAF C-130Bs in 1973, followed by four C-130Hs acquired in 1978 and an HC-130H (not confirmed). Two of the C-130B models were sold to Singapore and the remaining aircraft are flown by 3 Squadron from Amman-Ling Abdullah.

  Kuwait

  The Kuwait Air Force originally took delivery of two L-100-20s in 1970; N7954S was destroyed on 5 September 1980 when it crashed near Montelimar in southeast France after a lightning strike and the other (4412) was sold back to Lockheed - it was used as a high technology test bed (HTTB) and was subsequently lost on 3 February 1993 when it crashed during a high-speed ground-test. Four L-100-30s were acquired from 1983; 4949/KAF322 (N4107F) was hit by ground fire at Kuwait City Airport on 2 August 1990 during the Iraqi invasion and flown to Iraq - where it was hit by a bomb which badly damaged the centre fuselage. It was transported by road to Kuwait in March 1995 but was not repaired. 4951/KAF323, 4953/KAF324 and 4955/KAF325 were evacuated to Saudi Arabia on 2 August 1990 and flown by 41 Squadron at Kuwait International Airport. The Kuwait Air Force signed a contract for three KC-130J air refuelling tankers in May 2010 with an option to purchase three more.

  Liberia

  The former RAAF/Bob Geldof C-130A (N22FV) was briefly registered in Liberia as EL-AJM in April 1986 during varied and frequent changes of ownership, carrying the name Wizard of Oz. The Liberian Air Force was officially declared null and void in 2005.

  Libya

  Eight of the sixteen C-130Hs ordered for the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force were received between 1970 and 1971, the others being embargoed in 1973 and placed in storage at Marietta. 4401 was destroyed by fire at Entebbe, Uganda on 8 April 1979. Seven of the aircraft remain in service, supplemented by L-100-20s and -30s operated by Libyan Arab Air Cargo. L-100-30 4992 eventually ended up at AFI International Ltd ‘for oil exploration in Benin’ and was delivered to Libya in May 1985. It was
hijacked by a Libyan crew to Egypt in March 1987 and was returned to Libya. L-100-30 (5000) was sold to AFI International Ltd, registered to Benin as TY-BBU (not used) and obtained by Jamahiriya Air Transport, Libya in May 1985. The Libyan Air Force has two C-130J-30s on order for the Free Libyan Air Force.

  Malaysia

  The Tentar Udara Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Air Force) has received six C-130Hs (FM2401/6), delivered between 1976 and 1980; of these, FM2403/4674 crashed whilst landing at Sibu, Sarawak, on 25 August 1980, while FM2401/4656 was put into storage in April 1997. It also has three C-130H-MPs and six C-130H-30s. Nos. 14 and 4 Squadrons at Kuala Lumpur-Subang Fly the four C-130H and three C-130H-MPs respectively, in joint maritime and transport duties; the latter are distinguished by an overall light grey finish. No. 20 Squadron operates the six C-130H-30s.

  Mexico

  The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana has received a total of nine ex-USAF C-130As and one RC-130A since 1987 for use by Escuadrón Aéreo Transporte Pesado 302 at Santa Lucia. The RC-130A was briefly operated under a civil registration on Presidential Flight duties. Four of the C-130As were written off in 1997. An L-100-30 was sold to Protexa in September 1994.

  Mongolia

  The Mongolian Air Force is planning to buy three C-130Js.

  Morocco

  A total of seventeen C-130H transports were delivered to the Force Aérienne Royal Morocaine (Al Quwwat Ali Jawwiya Almalakiya Marakishiya, Royal Maroc Air Force) in three batches between 1974 and 1981, the last being two C-130Hs (4888 N4162M/CNA-OP and 4892 CNA-OQ) in August 1981 with an SLAR (sideways-looking airborne radar) on the left main undercarriage fairing for use in detecting Polisario infiltrations in the Western Sahara. Two KC-130Hs were also delivered in November-December 1981. Polisario rebels shot down 4537/CNA-OB over the Sahara on 4 December 1976 and 4717/CNA-OH at Guelta Zemmour in West Sahara on 12 October 1981. Several aircraft at Kenitra were fitted with under-wing Chaff and flare pods, two were equipped with an SLAR pod for surveillance work and 4875/CNA-OM has been modified to carry MAFFS equipment for locust spraying. Civilian-style registrations are worn, with the aircraft construction number on the fin.

  C-130H (L-382) CNA-OK L-382 of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF).

  Nigerian Air Force C-130-H30 (NAF 918) arriving at Marshalls of Cambridge for overhaul. (Samuel Pilcher)

  Netherlands

  The Koninklijke Luchtmacht received the first of two C-130H-30s in 1994 (G273 Ben Swagerman and G2775 Joop Mulder), to become the newest European Hercules operator. The aircraft are flown by 334 Squadron at Eindhoven as part of the recently expanded transport office.

  Niger

  The small Escadrille Nationale du Niger (Force Aérienne Niger) took delivery of two C-130Hs (5U-MBD/4829 and 5U-MBH/4831) at Niamey in 1979. 5U-MBD was put into storage during 1986, but was returned to service in 1988. It was lost on 16 April 1997 when, with two engines on fire, it crashed at the village of Sorei on its approach to Niamey.

  Nigeria

  The Federal Nigerian Air Force received six C-130Hs delivered in two batches of three between September 1975 and February 1976; also three ‘stretched’ 130H 911/4624 crashed after take-off from Lagos, Nigeria, on 26 September 1992 when three engines failed because of contaminated fuel. The eight remaining aircraft are operated from the base at Lagos-Murtala Muhammed.

  Norway

  Six C-130Hs were delivered to the Kongelige Norske Lufforsvaret in June and July 1969 and are still flown by Skvadron 335 based at Gardermoen. They are: 68-10952 BW-A Odin; 68-10953 BW-B Tor; 68-10954 BW-C Balder; 68-10955 BW-D Froy; 68-10956 BW-E Ty; and 68-10957 BW-F Brage. Frequently assigned to the United Nations, they consequently often bore prominent ‘UN’ titling. LC-130J 10-5630 (c/n: 382-5630) crashed into the western wall of Mount Kebnekaise on 15 March 2012. The aircraft disappeared from radar over the Kebnekaise mountain range near Kiruna in Sweden. All five on board were killed. It was the last of four acquired by the Norwegian military between 2008 and 2010 and was named Siv. The Royal Norwegian Air Force ordered four C-130J-30s in 2007 to replace six aging C-130Hs in need of additional repairs. One of these was lost in March 2012.

  C-130J Super Hercules (5698) for 16 Squadron of the Silāḥ al-Jaww as-Sulṭāniy ‘Umān (Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) conducting a test flight at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Georgia on 8 August 2012. (Lockheed Martin)

  Left; The Royal Norwegian Air Force (Luftforsvaret) C-130Hs are frequently assigned to tasks on behalf of the United Nations and are consequently seen bearing prominent ‘UN’ titling. C-130H (68-10956) Ty is pictured at Sheremetyevo 1 Airport, Moscow, on 14 August 1992. (MWB)

  Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa) or PoAF C-130H 16803, which was delivered in April 1978 and is one of six C-130H/H-30s that equip Esquadra 501 ‘Bisontes’. On September 2004 this C-130H ran off the runway at Kabul Airport, Afghanistan after what was thought to be because of brake failure. No injuries were reported.

  Pakistani Air Force C-130E 64-144, specially painted to highlight the sacrifices of Pakistani people and the Armed Forces in Operation ‘Zarbe-Azb’ (during the 2005 Pakistan earthquake) which not surprisingly won the Concours D’ Elegance trophy at Air Tattoo 2016 at RAF Fairford.

  Oman

  The Sultan of Oman’s Air Force acquired three C-130Hs in 1981 for use by 4 Squadron from their base at Muscat-Seen Airport. Two more C-130s were ordered in August 2010. Oman has ordered three C-130J-30s.

  Pakistan

  A mixed force of thirteen Hercules remains in service with 35 (Composite) Air Transport Wing of the Pakistan Fiza’ya; this is from a total of thirteen C-130Bs (five of which were ex-USAF and four ex-Imperial Iran Air Force), five C-130Es (all ex-IIAF) and two L-100s (bought by the Pakistan government for PIA, but operated by the PAF) delivered at various times. Seven of the twenty aircraft (five C-130Bs, one C-130E and one L-100) were lost or written off between 1965 and 1988. C-130B 62-3494/PAF 23494 crashed on 17 June 1988 after take-off 4 miles north of Bahawalpur airport, Pakistan, en route to Rawalpindi. President Zia-ul-Haq and many senior officers were killed. The remaining aircraft, which includes the world’s last unmodified L-100, are operated mainly by 6 Tactical Support Squadron at Chaklala AB, Rawalpindi.

  Peru

  The Fuerza Aérea Peruana (Peruvian Air Force) has operated a total of sixteen Hercules since 1970, having received six ex-USAF C-130Bs, two ex-USAF C-130Ds (both of which were scrapped in August 1993) and eight L-100-20s. Two of the C-130As were converted to tankers, one of which was withdrawn from use in 1997. Only three C-130As remain in service. Of the eight L-100-20s, three were written off in crashes: 4364/FAP394 suffered an engine shutdown on take-off from Tarapoto on 19 February 1978. 4450, delivered to the FAP in April 1972 and coded 396, made an emergency landing at night with no fuel near San Juan on 24 April 1981 and was written off. 4708, delivered in December 1976, crashed at Puerto Maldonado, southern Peru on 9 June 1983. The remaining Hercules in the FAP inventory are operated by Escuadrón 841, Grupo Aéreo de Transporte 8, from Jorge Chavez Airport, Lima.

  Philippines

  The Philippine Air Force acquired an ex-RAAF C-130A (later sold) and seven ex-USAF C-130Bs, four of which were either withdrawn from use between 1996 and 1997, or were rendered non-operational. L-100 (N1130E), the ex-Lockheed demonstrator, was acquired by the Philippine government in 1973 and issued to the Air Force after long storage in Manila. The Philippine government also acquired four L-100-20s, two of which were for the Air Force. One L-100-20 was withdrawn from use in 1991. Three new-build C-130Hs were acquired in the period 1976-97 and issued to 222 Heavy Airlift Squadron at Mactan. The third aircraft (4761) crashed into Mount Manase 155 miles south-east of Manila on 15 December 1993 during descent towards Naga airport.

  Portugal

  Força Aérea Portuguesa acquired five C-130Hs, delivered from August 1977 to June 1978. Two were subsequently modified to C-130H-30 configuration. A new-build C-130H-30 was added in October 1991. Esquadra de Transporte 501 at Montijo
Air Base Operates all six aircraft, all of which can be equipped with the MAFF system for fire-fighting.

  Qatar

  Qatar ordered four C-130J-30s in October 2008 for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

  Romania

  The Romanian Air Force acquired four ex-USAF C-130Bs, which were delivered from Ogden Air Logistics Center to Romania in 1996-97 and equipped 90 Airlift at Otopeni near Bucharest. In 2004 the former |Italian Air Force C-130H MM61991.

  Saudi Arabia

  The first Hercules of the Al Quwwat Ali Jawwiya Assa’udiya (Royal Saudi Air Force) were nine C-130Es delivered between 1965 and 1968. Losses were 4128/RSAF453, which suffered and engine fire and crashed taking off from Medina on 14 September 1980 and 4136/RSAF454 which crashed at Le Bourget, Paris, on 1 January 1969. The C-130Es were followed by thirty-seven C-130Hs beginning with two in December 1970 and including eight delivered between October 1991 and March 1992, plus eight KC-130Hs (delivered in 1973-74, 1977 and 1980-81) and two VC-130Hs (delivered in July 1980). One of the KC-130Hs (4872) crashed landing at Riyadh on 24 February 1985. Three of the C-130Hs were modified to hospital aircraft; one was reconfigured as a VC-130H for the royal family, while 4756 and 4754 were lost in crashes on 27 March 1989 and 21 March 1991 respectively. Six L-100-30s were acquired. One (4954) was sold to Sheikh Ibrahim, a Saudi VIP and the other five (4950, 4952 - configured as a dental clinic - 4956/57 and 4960) were modified for use as airborne hospitals and operated by Saudia. In 1992 and 1993 respectively, 4950/HZ-MS05 and 4957/HZ-MS10 were demodified to L-100-30 designation and their hospital equipment was removed. Three C-130H-30s were delivered, the first in 1984 and the other two in 1992; the first of these (4986) being converted to a hospital aircraft and operated by Saudia. The standard transport aircraft are flown by Nos. 4 and 16 Squadrons at Jeddah/Prince Abdullah AB. The single VIP-configured L-100-30 and the three VC-130Hs operate from King Faisal AFB, Riyadh, alongside the three C-130H hospital aircraft and the three medically configured L-100-30s and one medically configured C-130H-30. Two KC-130Js were delivered in 2016