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A C-130E Hercules flew its final combat mission on 13 November—after forty-four years and more than 29,500 flying hours. On this final flight, the C-130 transported service members and cargo between bases in Iraq. The aircraft (serial number 63-7865), based at Ramstein AB, Germany, was last assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. While on a mission in Vietnam in 1972, this Hercules took several mortar rounds on takeoff. After a harrowing flight and an emergency landing, the Hercules required all four engines and both wings to be replaced. The aircraft was later awarded an honorary Purple Heart. After returning to Germany, from Iraq, 63-7865 was then flown to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, where it was retired.
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