Expert: James Bell - 9/22/2007

Question
Sir, First I would like to say that you are an inspiration to me and thanks! I pray my career can be as exerted as yours. Well, Im 19 years old, 1A211 right now. I'm in Altus for BLM and we are turning in our 'dream sheets' Monday. Now I already know I'm going to end up with C-130s because I'm second from the lowest ranking. I'm totally cool with that but what I was wondering is what kind of missions and deployments do c-130s hit up. I'm curious because if somebody wants to trade and they have an AOR that I would like, then I'll trade them in a heartbeat. I'm thinking I'll get Little Rock because nobody has gotten that in a while and plus we are the LAST BLM class at Altus AFB. Everything is moving down to the CENTER OF EXCELLENCE LACKLAND AFB. That kinda sucks because going from Texas to Washington to Florida to Altus was awesome. But I made it. Sorry for the run-on but I asked a question before and I hadnt gone threw BMT yet and plus now I can understand half the stuff your talking about. Oh yea, and rank. But yea, I was just wondering if you knew how the 130s ran. Deuces (something us Airman say to represent the best afsc in the enlisted Air Force)

Answer
Greetings Airman Jones -

(Hey, I'm retired now, you can call me James ... and I can call you by your first name)  I remember filling out my dream sheet.  I put in for C-130's on the East Coast, and naturally got C-5's on the West Coast (go figure ... it's got to be a government thing).

As it so happens, the C-130 is one plane I have no personal assignment experience with, although I had flown on several over the years while heading from point to point.  I also have several friends who have served on them.

With that little information, I can tell you this ... jets are (mostly) permanently stationed stateside (C-5, C-17), while the C-130's are stationed all over.  This means you have an increased potential to land an overseas tour on your first assignment.

 Alaska (considered overseas) ... cold.
 Azores ... windy.
 Japan ... nice.
 Germany ... awesome.
 England ... out of sight.
 Hawaii ... the motherload.

In today's post-9/11 environment, everyone goes to the desert and spends time there ... lots of time.  I have known C-130 units that spend just as much time there as tankers and other planes.  One friend, now retired, was over there for six months, although this was during the initial buildup for Desert Storm in 1990-91.  He showed me video of his plane weaving through oil well fires at only 500 feet in 1991.  He's now retired and is suffering from the "Gulf War Syndrome", no doubt having something to do with breathing those smoke fumes for so long.

Another friend served on AC-130 gunships at Hurlburt.  He has many stories to tell, although he seems to get fuzzy when asked about the specifics of locations and events.  Something to do with that word "Classified."  He was in Panama in late 1989.  Gee ... what was happening in Panama in early 1990?

Remember that John Levitow, the youngest enlisted man ever to receive the Medal of Honor, was a loadmaster on AC-47 gunships.  I met him at a convention in 1998 (picture at http://64.41.64.113/home/pictures/AF2-3-02.jpg).

When I was on C-5's, we didn't do airdrop, and the C-141's at Travis were the only wing that was NOT airdrop certified.  Airdrop can be a lot of fun ... opening the doors and kicking things out at 300 feet.  I had another friend who was SOLL II at Charleston ... 200 feet at 200 knots ... he says it was a real kick in the ass.

Another friend was in the desert of Iran as the rescue attempt for the Hostages went afoul in 1979.  He had scars on one eye from night vision goggles when the helicopter exploded and the intense light burned his eyes.

I don't know what else I can tell you about the venerable Herk.  It's been around since before I was born and will definitely be still flying long after you have retired.  It was the hero of the Raid on Entebbe and has been involved in more operations, both famous, infamous and those you don't speak of, since it first flew.

One last thing ... trivia question ... who was the Air Force Test Director for the C-130 flight testing of the Fulton Recovery System at Edwards AFB and Pt Magu in 1966?  Answer: Captain J. David Bell ... my father (Herk: Her of the Skies, by Joseph Earl Dabney, c.1979, page 221 ).  I got to take a ride in the harness under the balloon ... I was 6.

I hope this gives you a little more inspiration.  Have fun and keep in touch ... I'd love to hear how you progress in your career.

Sincerely,
James Bell
KC10Engr@aol.com