The US Air Force's last four MC-130E Combat Talon I Special Operations aircraft were flown on a final training mission from Duke Field, Florida, on 15 April 2013. The Talons, assigned to the 919th Special Operations Squadron, the Air Force Reserve Command unit at Duke Field, were officially retired in ceremonies on 25 April and then flown to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The 25 April date marked the thirty-third anniversary of Desert One, the attempt to free American hostages held in Iran. Several MC-130Es that were flown on that mission were later assigned to Duke Field. The MC-130E was first flown operationally in 1966 and took part in every major US conflict since.
