C-130 Hercules - United States Air Forces in Europe

The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. The C-130 fulfills a wide range of operational missions in both peace and war situations.

Using its aft loading ramp and door the C-130 can accommodate a wide variety of oversized cargo, including everything from utility helicopters and six-wheeled armored vehicles to standard palletized cargo and military personnel. In an aerial delivery role, it can airdrop loads up to 42,000 pounds or use its high-flotation landing gear to land and deliver cargo on rough, dirt strips.

The flexible design of the Hercules enables it to be configured for many different missions, allowing for one aircraft to perform the role of many. Much of the special mission equipment added to the Hercules is removable, allowing the aircraft to revert back to its cargo delivery role if desired. Additionally, the C-130 can be rapidly reconfigured for the various types of cargo such as palletized equipment, floor-loaded material, airdrop platforms, container delivery system bundles, vehicles and personnel or aeromedical evacuation.

The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and will replace aging C-130E's. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology to reduce manpower requirements, lower operating and support costs, and provides life-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to older C-130s, the J model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance.

The MC-130H Combat Talon II, operated by the 7^th Special Operations Squadron out of RAF Mildenhall, provide infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces and equipment in hostile or denied territory. Secondary missions include psychological operations and helicopter air refueling.

The the 67^th Special Operations Squadron MC-130P Combat Shadows - RAF Mildenhall - fly clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters, and infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories. The MC-130P primarily flies missions at night to reduce probability of visual acquisition and intercept by airborne threats. Its secondary mission includes the airdrop of leaflets.

MC-130H Combat Talon II - 86-1699 - 7 Special Operations Squadron - United States Air Forces in Europe

Photos per serial

08-8601

08-8602

08-8603

08-8604

08-8605

08-8606

08-8612

08-8613

62-1847

63-7825

63-7834

63-7840

63-7865

63-7884

63-7885

63-7887

63-7897

64-14854

64-18240

65-0992

66-0215

66-0220

68-10935

69-5825

69-5826

69-5828

69-5832

70-1264

70-1271

70-1274

86-1699

87-0023

87-0024

88-0195

88-1803

MC-130H Combat Talon II - 7 Special Operations Squadron - United States Air Forces in Europe

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Other C-130 Hercules operators

- Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Royal Air Force
- Algerian Air Force
- Austrian Air Force
- Belgian Defence - Air Component
- Brazilian Air Force
- Chilean Air Force
- Egyptian Air Force
- French Air Force
- Hellenic Air Force
- Italian Air Force
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force
- Norwegian Air Force
- Pakistan Air Force
- Polish Air Force
- Republic of China Air Force
- Romanian Air Force
- Royal Jordanian Air Force
- Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Royal Air Force of Oman
- Spanish Air Force
- Tunisian Air Force
- Turkish Air Force
- United Arab Emirates Air Force
- United States Air Force
- United States Coast Guard
- United States Marines
- United States Navy

C-130 Hercules squadrons

- 7 Special Operations Squadron
- 37 Airlift Squadron
- 67 Special Operations Squadron

Reports including

C-130 Hercules - 08-8604
- Texel Airshow 2012
C-130 Hercules - 63-7825
- Royal International Air Tattoo 2009
C-130 Hercules - 63-7865
- NATO ELINT Symposium
C-130 Hercules - 63-7887
- NATO ELINT Symposium
C-130 Hercules - 64-14854
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
- Royal International Air Tattoo 2009
C-130 Hercules - 65-0992
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
C-130 Hercules - 66-0215
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
- Royal International Air Tattoo 2010
C-130 Hercules - 66-0220
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
C-130 Hercules - 68-10935
- NATO ELINT Symposium
C-130 Hercules - 69-5825
- Royal International Air Tattoo 2006
C-130 Hercules - 69-5828
- 60 years Operation Market Garden
C-130 Hercules - 70-1271
- NATO ELINT Symposium
C-130 Hercules - 70-1274
- Royal International Air Tattoo 2006
C-130 Hercules - 86-1699
- 60 years Operation Market Garden
C-130 Hercules - 87-0024
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
C-130 Hercules - 88-0195
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG
C-130 Hercules - 88-1803
- RAF Mildenhall - 352nd SOG