This site is about the "Transport and Airlift" Squadrons and aircrew members that flew the C-141 during the aircraft's operational years from 1964 – 2006. In addition, it has C-141 history, aircrew first-hand stories, a tab "First, Last, and Significant Accomplishments: in the C-141 aircraft, a final flight order tab, and a directory of Pilots, Navigators, Flight Engineers, Loadmasters, and other crew members that flew the C-141 Starlifter, etc.
Most viewed tabs (Click to view)
C-141 Crew Member Listings, C-141 First, C-141 Starlifter, C-141 Squadron Patches, C-141 Final Flight Orders, C-141 Starlifter Memorial, C-141 Fatalities
First C-141 Starlifter Assigned to Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- On Oct. 19, 1964, some 3,000 people were on hand at Tinker Air Force Base to witness the turnover of the first C-141A (63-8078, production number 9) all-cargo jet plane to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft was assigned to Tinker because it was the home station of the 1707th Air Transport Wing (ATW). The 1707th ATW conducts all flight training for the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) (later renamed Military Airlift Command (MAC)). The C-141 will be flown by the 1741st Air Transport Squadron (later to be redesignated as the 57th Military Airlift Squadron) to train all crew positions for the C-141 fleet. This aircraft could move the Army's troops anywhere in the world; the new jet gave the United States an instant response capability when it began operational missions in 1965. The C-141 was the first jet transport from which U.S. Army paratroopers jumped and the first to land in the Antarctic.
The new “Starlifter” arrived from Dobbins AFB, Georgia, at 11:15 a.m., piloted by Maj: Gen. Charles H. Terhune Jr., the Air Force Systems Command’s Aeronautical Systems Division commander. General Terhune taxied the aircraft up to the podium and waiting crowd. He presented Gen. Howell M. Estes Jr., the MATS commander, with a model of the plane to symbolize turning the C-141 over to the training wing.
Called the “Spirit of Oklahoma City,” the new cargo aircraft could cruise at 550 miles per hour and carry a load weighing 35 tons, 4,163 miles non-stop. As the speeches ended, a second “Starlifter” arrived from Edwards AFB, California, fully loaded. It, too, taxied up near the podium so that everyone could witness unloading and loading techniques utilizing the 436L cargo system.
Civic and military leaders in attendance included Brockway McMillan, undersecretary of the Air Force; Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Gerrity, deputy Air Force Chief of Staff for Systems and Logistics; Maj. Gen. Melvin F. McNickle, Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area commander; Col. Emil G. Beaudry, 1707th ATW commander; Sen. A.S. “Mike” Monroney; Gov. Henry Bellmon; Rep. Tom Steed; Oklahoma City Mayor George Shirk William V. Montin, president of the Chamber of Commerce; and Stanley Draper.
The 1741st Air Transport Squadron assigned to the 1707th Air Transport Wing (ATW) at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, was the first squadron to fly the C-141 aircraft (In January 1966, the 1741st was redesignated 57th Military Airlift Squadron).
C-141 Instructor Pilots (IP) assigned to the 1741st ATS
Capt. Arthur L. (Art) Dickinson, Jr.
Capt. Albert E. (Skeet) Combs
Capt. Joseph C. (Joe) Narlo
Capt. George R. (George) Mizell
Capt. Norman B. (Norm) Woodbury
Capt. Fred W. Luethke, Jr.
Capt. Jack E. King
Capt. Thomas T. King became a TALO with the 5th SFG in Vietnam, Presidential Aircrew, and retired as a Lt Colonel in 1976. He spent two tours as a Command Pilot with the 41st MAS at Charleston AFB, with almost 20,000 hours in the air. Via: JT King.
The first four pilots were from McGuire. Two of the last four were from Dover, and two were from Charleston. It is believed that Woodbury and Luethke were from Dover, but I can't confirm. The first four from McGuire were also Initial Cadre for the C-135B, the first Cargo/Pax jet for MATS.
THE FIRST FLIGHT ENGINEERS CHOSEN TO FLY THE C-141
C-141 Instructor Flight Engineers (IFE) assigned to 1741st ATS
MSgt Donald V. Birdsall
MSgt Jack Remington
MSgt Vance E. Woodard
MSgt Ralph W. Anderson, Jr.
MSgt James W. Tobias
Visit each squadron to learn about its history and lineage (family tree).
If you served/worked (Military or Civil Service) in a C-141 flying squadron, submit your information, and I will add you to the C-141 directory (See C-141 Crew Members Listing Tab).