Lockheed C-141B Starlifter
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Lockheed C-141B Starlifter
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
The 6th Military Airlift Squadron is the oldest airlift squadron in the U.S. Air Force, having served with distinction since 1 October 1933. The squadron made airlift history during World War II when, in October 1942, it was transferred to Port Moresby, New Guinea. Then flying C-47s, the 6MAS became the first personnel transport squadron to fly in the Pacific. It was during this assignment that the squadron earned the nickname Bully Beef Express, as it carried tons of boiled beef to allied combat troops in Australia and New Guinea. The French called it "boujili boef', and the Americanization of the term has continued to this day to be the squadron's emblem. The 438th Military Airlift Wing (438th MAW) replaced the 1611th Air Transport Wing at McGuire AFB, New Jersey in June 1966, equipped with Lockheed C-141 Starlifters. The 6th MAS conducted resupply missions in support of scientific stations in the Antarctic during Operation Deep Freeze from, 1971-1974. It evacuated Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon, April-June 1975. It has also supported U.S. forces in Grenada, October-December 1983, during the invasion of Panama, December 1989-January 1990, and during the liberation of Kuwait, August 1990-March 1991. The original Starlifter model, designated C-141A, entered service in April 1965. It could carry 154 passengers, 123 paratroopers or 80 litters for wounded with seating for 16. It was soon discovered that the aircraft's volume capacity was relatively low in comparison to its lifting capacity; it generally ran out of physical space before it hit its weight limit. To correct the perceived deficiencies of the original model and utilize the C-141 to the fullest of its capabilities, the entire fleet of 270 in-service C-141As were stretched, adding needed payload volume. These modified aircraft were designated C-141B. It was estimated that this stretching program was equivalent to buying 90 new aircraft, in terms of increased capacity. The aircraft remained in service for over 40 years until the USAF withdrew the last C-141s from service in 2006.
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January 29th, 2012
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