Ramstein Air Base sends off last C-130E

The flight crew of the 37th Airlift Squadron’s last E-model C-130 cargo plane steps out to the aircraft en route to Poland on Monday from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The 36-year-old plane is being leased to Poland. Photo: Ben Bloker / Stars and Stripes.

With the wing and U.S. Air Forces in Europe shifting to the bigger, faster and stronger C-130J Super Hercules, 14 E-models were phased out this year.

...
The last to go, Tail No. 72-1299, saw initial duty in the Pacific, where it was first assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines to help shuttle American prisoners of the Vietnam war out of Hanoi. It later was assigned to Yokota Air Base in Japan, and most recently, Ramstein. It participated in Operations Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, among other airlift and airdrop missions over the years, military officials at Ramstein said.

Full story at Stars & Stripes.