Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 6, No. 1
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, January 9, 2015
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter receives a fresh coat of paint Jan. 7th, 2015, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The aircraft was stripped to bare metal and received coatings of primer prior to being painted its original white and grey colors.
Bridging history: C-141 receives fresh paint job Story and photos by Senior Airman Tom Brading 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Historical preservation on the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter at the Joint Base Charleston Air Park is currently underway and scheduled for completion within the next two weeks, weather permitting. The two-tone aircraft will be re-painted with the same grey and white paint scheme it sported while operational. The contracting company painting the aircraft is ensuring the paint scheme's historical accuracy by working closely with Stanley Gohl, 437th Airlift Wing historian, and looking through the aircraft's original Technical Orders. C-141s, strategic airlifters for the U.S. Air Force, were in operation from 1966 until 2000. The C-141 at the Air Base, along Arthur Drive, faces the flight line as if it is watching its successors, the C-17 Globemaster III's as they're dispatched on missions around the globe. For some, the static aircraft is just a memento of a different era. But, for many others, it's much more. It's woven into the Air Force culture and helps bridge the past into today's Air Force.
"For a lot of veterans within our military community, the C-141 represents their blood, sweat and tears," said Gohl. "They maintained it, cared for it and flew it on missions around the world." The aircraft revolutionized military airlift with its inflight refueling capability and ability to airlift troops over long distances, supply troops with equipment by land and air, and evacuating and transporting wounded troops from hostile areas. The C-141's importance to JB Charleston dates back to August 14, 1965, until the last one departed June 15, 2000. The aircraft on display today was retired Sept. 1993, with a formal ceremony after its final flight by Brig. Gen. Thomas Mikolajcik, who was the 437th Airlift Wing commander at the time. It was also the first C-141 to reach more than 40,000 flying hours. "It's vital for the Airmen of JB Charleston to see the aircraft at the Air Park for what they are," said Gohl. "They're a tangible piece of their culture. They can touch it and grasp the culture right in front of them, and preserving those aircraft is crucial to maintaining that bridge of history."
17th AS to inactivate as part of FY15 President's Budget From 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
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The 17th Airlift Squadron, one of Charleston's four activeduty C-17 Globemaster III flying squadrons, will inactivate in 2015 as part of the President's Defense Budget for FY15. The 10th Airlift Squadron, based out of Joint Base LewisMcChord, was also selected for inactivation in 2016. The Air Force plans to make adjustments over the next few years to the active duty, Reserve, and Guard components to ensure successful transitions to a leaner force that remains ready for future operations. The FY15 President's Budget converts 16 Air Mobility Command C-17s (eight from each base) from primary mission aircraft inventory to backup aircraft inventory, resulting in the inactivation of both airlift squadrons. These inactivations are not new actions, but additional detail on the previously announced budget submission released in March. Backup aircraft inventory are assigned with no manpower or flying hours. However, the wing will continue to receive funding needed to support weapon system sustainment. Converting 16 aircraft to BAI removes funding for the personnel and flying hours associated with those aircraft, for a savings of approximately $110 million per year. "In this fiscally constrained environment, we have to balance readiness, capability and capacity," said Major Gen. Michael S. Stough, AMC's Director of Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs. "To best preserve this capability, the intent is to fund these aircraft back into primary mission aircraft inventory in future years, and transfer them to the Reserve Component - and we're working with our Air
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National Guard partners to do that, perhaps even as early as FY16. We rely on our Total Force partners every day to meet our global mobility requirements; we couldn't do the mission without them. Our goal is to continue to leverage the unique strengths and characteristics of the active and Reserve components to meet current and future requirements with available resources." Here in Charleston, Air Force leaders reflected on the challenges of maintaining a superior military force in the present fiscal climate. "We understand the difficult choices our leaders have had to make in this fiscal environment and we support those choices," said Col. John Lamontagne, 437th Airlift Wing commander. Lt. Col. Paul Theriot, 17th AS commander, discussed the impact on his squadron. "The 17th Airlift Squadron has an outstanding record of
Where there’s smoke ...
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performance over many years," he said. "We received the news of the inactivation with heavy hearts as we have all come to identify ourselves with our beloved mascot, the Moose, and the rich heritage of the 17th. However, it isn't the number '17' that gets the mission done, it's the people. When the closure happens, we will continue accomplishing that awesome mission, just wearing different patches." Theriot underscored his squadron's determination to finish strong. "The next year will be very busy for us as we continue flying missions around the world, and we certainly will not be pulling the throttles back," he said. "On the contrary, we will continue to build on our legacy and finish on an extremely high note." Lamontagne took the announcement of the 17th AS's upcoming inactivation as a moment to reflect on the history and future of the C-17 and those who operate it. "The C-17 entered the airlift world in the 17th Airlift Squadron on July 14, 1993," he said. "Although the C17 will continue to fly for many years beyond the squadron's inactivation next summer, we will preserve the squadron's rich tradition for a long, long time. More importantly, we will continue to take care of our finest American Airman and their families, as they transition from one squadron to another."
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Partly Cloudy
Friday, Jan. 9
(0% precip)
High 51º Low 28º
Partly Cloudy
Saturday, Jan. 10
(0% precip)
High 46º Low 28º
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BLACK 01/29/08
PM Showers Sunday, Jan. 11
(30% precip)
High 55º Low 46º