The 17th Special Operations Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, began its conversion to the MC-130J Commando II Special Operations tanker/airlifter on 18 July 2013, with the departure of an MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker on its retirement flight to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. With nearly 19,000 flying hours, the aircraft (Air Force serial number 69-5825) had a long history in both the European and Pacific theaters and was flown on both Special Operations and rescue missions. The aircraft was flown in the evacuation after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo near Clarke AB, Philippines, in June 1991. At that time, this aircraft was designated as an HC-130N King personnel recovery aircraft.
