148321

Bilstein_00405 Lockheed LC-130F 148321 Hercules VX-30 (mfr RL 901)

from SDASM Archives

• Kerry Taylor said:

  Info from Joe Baugher's website. 148321 21 Lockheed UV-1L Hercules MSN 282-3567. Originally ordered as a C-130B for USAF as 59-5925. Redesignated C-130BL in 1962 and later redesignated LC-130F. Assigned to VX-6, 1961 to 31 December 1968. Code JD-18 Assigned to VXE-6, 1 January 1969 to 1971. Code XD-03. Named Phoenix. After unloading a French traverse team on December 4 1971, the pilot made a JATO take-off to return to McMurdo 750 nautical miles away. At an altitude of about 50 feet, two JATO bottles separated from the left-hand side of the fuselage and struck the inboard engine and propeller. With the gearbox and propeller torn off and the outboard propeller damaged by flying debris, the aircraft was seriously damaged on impact. The ten man crew were uninjured but had to live in survival shelters for 80 hours until the weather improved enough to allow a rescue plane to land. Recovered after being buried by snow for 17 years in Antarctica. Returned to VXE-6 from 1993 to 31 March 1999. In 1996 ownership was transferred from the US Navy to the National Science Foundation. To AMARC as CF0193 Mar 29, 1999. SOC Apr 2, 1999. Has been restored and now with VX-130. Back to AMARC as 2G0025. SOC Jul 8, 2003. Still on AMARC inventory Jan 15, 2008 as CF0193. There is a picture of this aircraft at McMurdo Sound with VX-6 coded 21 on the nose in 1960. This link gives the story of the recovery from the snow. www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/c-130-toughest-pla...