The Lockheed C-130H Hercules is a Cold War era cargo plane still in use today.  The first C-130s began arriving for military service in 1956, the ‘H’ version of the Hercules began service in the mid-1970s.

1971: Prepping for our first ‘Space Available’ C-130E trip, Rhein Main AFB, West Germany. You might be able to make out my younger sister’s (Tina) head in lower right corner. Photo by William L. Hutchins.

In the early 1970s I got my first ride on a U.S. Air Force C-130E, flying from West Germany to Iran with my parents (part of the Space Available service offered by the USAF).

1977: My little brother, Ernie, enjoying his tour of a C-130 during the Edwards AFB ‘Open House’. Photo by William L. Hutchins.

In the mid-1980s I was an Iso-Dock Crew Chief for C-130Hs on Dyess Air Force Base, in Texas.  Even after my time in the USAF, as a California, and later a Idaho, Army National Guardsman I continued to catch rides on the C-130H.

Last ride on a C-130H, this time as a M1A2 TC with the Idaho Army National Guard, on the way back from a ‘friendly’ with Canadian armor in Alberta, 2002.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 10JUN2023.

In the above photo you see two types of C-130H; one is the older type used by the Kingdom of Morocco, the other is an upgraded type used by the United States. The older C-130H has four propeller blades per engine, the upgraded type has eight.

94th AW’s upgraded C-130H sits on the flightline of Kenitra AFB, Morocco. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jan K. Valle, 14JUN2023.

African Lion is the largest wargame on the African continent, involving the United States and other NATO members, as well as Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, from 13MAY-18JUN2023.

The 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, help show you how to setup a C-130 for medical evacuation. U.S. Air Force (USAF) video by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 07JUN2023:

Emergency medical treatment onboard a C-130H. USAF video by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 08JUN2023:

Moroccan C-130H cargo planes take part in para-drop during African Lion 2023, USAF video recorded by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 10JUN2023:

USA video by Sergeant Christian Dela Cruz, 10JUN2023:

U.S. Air Force Reserve’s Cold War era C-130H based on Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, flew all the way to Morocco to play in the dirt! USA video by Sergeant Christian Dela Cruz, 15JUN2023:

94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, USAF report by Senior Airman Jan Valle:

For all you happy taxpayers, African Lion wargames have been conducted since 2008.

African Lion 2023: ARTILLERY

SNAKE RIVER M1A2 SEP, BORESIGHT MOROCCO!

NATO Vehicle I-D, 2018:

U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Junior, 11JAN2018.

THAT’S NOT A C-130J, IT’S STILL THE OLD C-130H!

Kawaii, 2013: NORTH CAROLINA’S BABY C-130 GOBBLES-UP YOUR CHILDREN

My family’s connection to the old M4 Sherman tank:

My grandfather, O.G. Hutchins, on his newly arrived USMC Sherman, sometime before shipping out against the Japanese.

M4 SHERMAN, WW2 TO IRAN-IRAQ WAR