Aircraft 62-1787 Data

“This C-130E aircraft (serial number 62-1787) participated in one of the greatest feats of airmanship during the Southeast Asia War on April 15, 1972. Operating under the call sign Spare 617, the aircrew consisting of Capt William Caldwell, pilot; Lt John Hering, co-pilot; Lt Richard A. Lenz, navigator; TSgt Jon Sanders, flight engineer; and loadmasters TSgt Charlie Shaub and A1C Dave McAleece attempted to airdrop ammunition to surrounded South Vietnamese troops at An Loc. While approaching the drop zone, Spare 617 received heavy enemy ground fire that killed Sgt Sanders and wounded Lts Hering and Lenz, damaged two engines, ruptured a bleed air duct in the cargo compartment, and set the ammunition on fire. Sergeant Shaub jettisoned the cargo pallets, which exploded in midair. Despite receiving severe burns from the hot air escaping the damaged bleed air duct, Shaub extinguished a fire in the cargo compartment. Meanwhile, Capt Caldwell decided to head for Tan Son Nhut Air Base, which had the best medical facilities. Even though his engineer was dead and his co-pilot wounded, Caldwell closed the damaged bleed air duct, and he shut down the two damaged engines. As Caldwell prepared to land with just two engines, the landing gear would not come down, and the wounded and badly burned TSgt Shaub directed A1C McAleece as he hand-cranked the landing gear down using the emergency extension system. Even though a third engine lost power, Caldwell managed to land Spare 617 safely. For their efforts, Capt Caldwell and TSgt Shaub received the Air Force Cross, the US AIr Force’s second highest award for valor. Shaub also received the William H. Pitsenbarger award for heroism from the AF Sergeants Association.” (copied from Air Force Museum placard)

This aircraft was delivered to the Air Force Museum on 18 Aug 2011. This was it's last flight. I was on this crew.