Son Tay Raider Retired

Posted 22 June 2012

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Photo by TSgt. Samuel King, Jr.

The MC-130E Combat Talon I Special Operations airlifter that was the lead aircraft on the 21 August 1970 raid on the North Vietnamese Son Tay prisoner of war camp was retired on 22 June 2012 after more than 23,500 flight hours and forty-seven years of service. For the final flight, the crew used the same radio call sign, Cherry 1, as was used during the raid. The MC-130, nicknamed The Godfather, was flown from Duke Field, Florida, where it had been based, to Cannon AFB, New Mexico, for static display. It is one of four Combat Talons that will be retired in 2012 by the 919th Special Operations Wing, the Air Force Reserve Command unit at Duke Field.

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