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StarLifter Fleet History
By Jeff Rhodes

The complete history of the C-141 would fill a book, but this chronology is a fairly complete look at the career of the world's first turbofan-powered transport. The dates come from a variety of sources, including the Lockheed Martin and Air Mobility Command archives; the well-researched and illustrated book Lockheed C-141 StarLifter by Frederick A. Johnson (Specialty Press, North Branch, Minnesota, 2005); and the ultimate StarLifter fan website, C-141 Heaven (www.c141heaven.com), developed and maintained by Mike Novak, a former C-141 pilot living in Arizona.

Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
61-2775 17-Dec-63 24-Feb-98 A 8,243
  History/Disposition:
Rolled out on 22 August 1963. Fifty-four-minute first flight came on the 60th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight; Takeoff at 12:45 PM; Aircraft redesignated NC-141 and served as a flight test asset, including as a tow plane for an F-106 during Project Eclipse 1997-98; Now on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Delaware.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
61-2776 12-Mar-64 7-Aug-98 A 9,607
  History/Disposition:
Test fleet aircraft; Aircraft used as a testbed for C-5 avoinics in February 1968; Redesignated NC-141; Modified in 1996 with power-by-wire/fly-by-wire flight control system and took part in a 1,000 flight hour demonstration program to gain reliability data on the all-electric control system; Redsignated NC-141, this aircraft was known as the Electric StarLifter; Last assigned base: Edwards AFB, California.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
61-2777 31-Mar-64 26-Sep-94 A 5,254
  History/Disposition:
Test fleet aircraft; Used in a series of tests in August 1968 to demonstrate the StarLifter's ability to land on steel mat and dirt runway tests; Later redesignated NC-141; Last assigned base: Edwards AFB, California.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
61-2778 6-May-64 21-Dec-01 C 39,412
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Dover AFB, Delaware (but soon reassigned to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma); Last assigned base: Memphis International Airport, Tennessee; Aircraft damaged beyond repair on the ground at Memphis International Airport as the result of a fuel tank overpressurization; Last C-141 hull loss.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
61-2779 30-Aug-64 1-Jan-93 A 5,815
  History/Disposition:
Test fleet aircraft; later redesignated NC-141 and modified as the Advanced Radar Test Bed, or ARTB; Last assignment: Edwards AFB, California; Now on display at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8075 15-Apr-64 4-Jun-93 A 42,419
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft; flown twelve hours a day for months in early testing; nicknamed Petunia Pig; First C-141 to reach 3,500 flight hours; First aircraft to pass 25,000 flight hours; Entered operational service at Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: Travis.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8076 7-Jun-64 12-May-03 B 41,418
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Dover AFB, Delaware; Last assigned base: McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Last of 270 C-141As to be modified to C-141B standard; Redelivered June 1982; While assigned to McChord AFB, Washington, aircraft was used in a daring Antarctic resupply mission in the middle of the astral winter (11 July 1999) to airdrop emergency medical equipment to the National Science Foundation station at the South Pole.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8077 29-Jun-64 28-Aug-73 A 14,372
  History/Disposition:
First/last assigned base: McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain on approach to Torrejon AB, Spain.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8078 13-Sep-64 12-Dec-95 B 40,122
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft; First aircraft delivered to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (19 October 1964); First aircraft delivered to the Air Force for crew training; nicknamed Spirit of Oklahoma City; Last assigned base: Altus AFB, Oklahoma.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8079 8-Oct-64 4-Jun-93 B 41,545
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft; Flown for an average of 21.5 hours per day in the month of March 1968; Later based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina, and nicknamed The City of Charleston (second aircraft to carry that name); First and last assigned base: Charleston, where it is now on display.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8080 24-Oct-64 24-Jan-03 C 37,823
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft;
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8081 6-Nov-64 6-Jul-00 B 38,492
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft;
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8082 24-Nov-64 18-Jan-02 B 39,146
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8083 5-Jan-65 10-Apr-96 B 37,320
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8084 6-Jan-65 31-Mar-04 C 41,496
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8085 22-Jan-65 14-Oct-03 C 37,602
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8086 29-Jan-65 19-Dec-97 B 41,177
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8087 5-Feb-65 22-Mar-99 B 38,764
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8088 18-Mar-65 21-Mar-96 B 41,473
  History/Disposition:
One of six Lead the Force aircraft; First aircraft delivered to Travis AFB, California (23 April 1965); First operational aircraft; nicknamed Golden Bear; First and last assigned base: Travis, where it is now on display.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8089 2-Apr-65 22-Oct-96 B 37,787
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
63-8090 8-Apr-65 7-Aug-96 B 42,017
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0609 16-Apr-65 23-Jul-97 B 34,678
  History/Disposition:
Used for first fit check of an LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0610 29-Apr-65 9-Dec-98 B 40,165
  History/Disposition:
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0611 30-Apr-65 15-Jan-02 B 41,729
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0612 13-May-65 1-Feb-00 B 41,210
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0613 21-May-65 24-Nov-97 B 42,363
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0614 4-Jun-65 28-Jan-04 C 37,186
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0615 9-Jun-65 2-Feb-00 B 39,583
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0616 25-Jun-65 5-Sep-00 B 42,801
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0617 29-Jun-65 15-Mar-96 B 33,518
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0618 2-Jul-65 4-Apr-01 B 41,469
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0619 15-Jul-65 30-Sep-04 B 41,204
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0620 14-Jul-65 14-Jan-06 C 37,165
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0621 15-Jul-65 5-Apr-00 B 39,338
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0622 20-Jul-65 28-May-03 C 38,244
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0623 31-Jul-65 14-Sep-99 B 39,818
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0624 20-Jul-65 12-Jul-84 B 27,379
  History/Disposition:
First aircraft delivered to Charleston AFB, South Carolina (14 August 1965); nicknamed City of Charleston; Last assigned base: Charleston; An engine exploded shortly after the aircraft took off from Signonella, Sicily, and aircraft crashed while trying to return to the runway.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0625 29-Jul-65 22-Oct-97 B 36,829
  History/Disposition:
First aircraft delivered to Dover AFB, Delaware (17 August 1965); nicknamed First State Airlifter
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0626 7-Aug-65 12-Mar-96 B 38,365
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Now on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Delaware.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0627 7-Aug-65 4-Mar-04 C 40,631
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0628 12-Aug-65 5-Dec-00 B 40,439
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0629 27-Aug-65 16-Feb-99 B 39,653
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0630 21-Aug-65 13-Nov-00 B 37,842
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0631 1-Sep-65 20-Dec-00 B 39,150
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0632 7-Sep-65 3-Dec-02 C 38,029
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0633 11-Sep-65 30-Sep-04 B 40,782
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0634 9-Sep-65 23-Apr-96 B 36,898
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0635 15-Sep-65 16-Jun-97 B 38,253
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0636 21-Sep-65 8-Jun-93 B 35,372
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0637 27-Sep-65 5-Jan-06 C 38,693
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0638 24-Sep-65 18-Jan-02 B 41,410
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0639 2-Oct-65 20-Jun-97 B 37,502
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0640 1-Oct-65 31-Mar-04 C 39,618
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0641 8-Oct-65 20-Mar-75 A 16,793
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Last assigned base: McChord AFB, Washington; An air traffic control error resulted in aircraft crashing into a mountain northwest of McChord shortly before midnight.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0642 12-Oct-65 20-Mar-96 B 32,509
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0643 18-Oct-65 17-Aug-00 B 44,006
  History/Disposition:
One of the last two aircraft based at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0644 18-Oct-65 11-Dec-00 B 41,452
  History/Disposition:
One of several Charleston, South Carolina-based C-141s used in support of President Richard Nixon's historic 1972 trip to Mainland China;
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0645 23-Oct-65 10-Sep-05 C 41,719
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0646 28-Oct-65 11-Feb-00 B 41,346
  History/Disposition:
First StarLifter to be used to transport Bob Hope Christmas Show to SE Asia (1965); First assigned base: Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: Charleston AFB, South Carolina.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0647 27-Oct-65 18-Sep-79 B 18,547
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Last assigned base: Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Aircraft caught fire and was written off after a landing mishap at its home airfield; Sections later salvaged and transported to Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri, and used as training aids.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0648 30-Oct-65 1-Jul-93 B 35,129
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0649 3-Nov-65 19-Jul-00 B 39,717
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0650 4-Nov-65 3-Oct-95 B 39,568
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0651 8-Nov-65 21-Nov-96 B 40,409
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0652 15-Nov-65 31-Aug-82 B 24,246
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Aircraft crashed into a mountain during a low-level special operations training mission between Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
64-0653 18-Nov-65 15-Apr-97 B 41,271
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0216 24-Nov-65 6-Oct-03 C 36,849
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0217 30-Nov-65 24-Jul-01 B 43,051
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0218 2-Dec-65 5-Sep-01 B 40,631
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0219 3-Dec-65 30-Jul-01 B 39,708
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0220 5-Dec-65 18-Jul-01 B 41,412
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0221 9-Dec-65 17-Jan-02 B 42,594
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0222 21-Dec-65 6-Jan-03 C 39,213
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0223 21-Dec-65 1-Oct-98 B 36,874
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0224 30-Dec-65 20-Aug-01 B 42,330
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0225 7-Jan-66 30-Jun-04 C 35,744
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0226 8-Jan-66 30-Mar-05 C 35,515
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0227 10-Jan-66 18-Sep-98 B 41,158
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0228 19-Jan-66 18-Apr-94 B 36,251
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0229 17-Jan-66 31-Mar-05 C 42,252
  History/Disposition:
First all-jet powered aircraft to land in Antarctica (14 November 1966); On this aircraft on 13 May 2004, Pvt. Jason Stewart becomes the last paratrooper to ever jump from a C-141 during a training mission at Fort Benning, Georgia; First assigned base: Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: March ARB, California.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0230 24-Jan-66 2-May-00 B 43,310
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0231 5-Feb-66 5-Apr-01 B 44,920
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0232 3-Feb-66 2-Sep-03 C 42,375
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0233 5-Feb-66 29-Jul-93 B 37,368
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0234 14-Feb-66 24-Feb-99 B 44,708
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0235 17-Feb-66 3-Jul-01 B 42,100
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0236 17-Feb-66 8-Sep-93 B 31,658
  History/Disposition:
One of three Norton AFB, California-based C-141s flown to Hanoi on the first flight of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of US servicemembers held as prisoners of war in North Vietnam on 12 February 1973; First assigned base: Dover AFB, Delaware; Last assigned base: Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Now in storage for eventual display at Scott AFB, Illinois.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0237 21-Feb-66 31-Mar-04 C 43,220
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0238 22-Feb-66 20-Jan-00 B 43,146
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0239 1-Mar-66 4-May-00 B 44,690
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0240 2-Mar-66 7-Nov-01 B 42,467
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0241 4-Mar-66 3-Feb-00 B 44,167
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0242 4-Mar-66 5-Apr-99 B 43,634
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0243 11-Mar-66 6-Apr-99 B 42,878
  History/Disposition:
One of three C-141s flown to Hanoi on the first flight of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of US servicemembers held as prisoners of war in North Vietnam on 12 February 1973
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0244 21-Mar-66 3-May-00 B 43,564
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0245 21-Mar-66 8-Oct-03 C 43,124
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0246 21-Mar-66 15-Jun-01 B 35,187
  History/Disposition:
First assigned base: Travis AFB, California; Last assigned base: Travis; Aircraft was directed to park in an usual location at its home airfield after a bomb threat on the passenger terminal; While taxiing, aircraft struck a light pole and resulting fire destroyed the left wing.destroyed by fire after a fuel tank explosion at its home airfield; Right wing salavaged and later attached to 67-0029, which was damaged in a landing accident.
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0247 23-Mar-66 15-Sep-95 B 41,429
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0248 30-Mar-66 19-Apr-05 C 40,589
  History/Disposition:
Last C-141 ever to go through programmed depot maintenance at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, Georgia
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0249 31-Mar-66 17-Nov-05 C 40,317
  History/Disposition:
Delivered to Travis AFB, California; 100th aircraft delivered
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost Model Flight Hours
65-0250 6-Apr-66 7-Nov-05 C 43,313
Serial Number First Flight Retired/Lost