USAF's last four AC-130U Spooky gunships retired

摘要

US AIR Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has retired from service the last four operational AC-130U Spooky gunships operated by the 1st Special Operations Wing's 4th Special Operations Squadron 'Ghostriders' at Hurlburt Field, Florida. On June 3, a farewell flypast took place at Hurlburt involving three of the remaining four AC-130Us: 89-0510, 90-0164 and 90-0165. The remaining aircraft, 87-0128, named Big Daddy, made its last flight at Hurlburt on June 9; this aircraft will be preserved at Hurlburt Field's Memorial Air Park. On June 26, 89-0510 was the last to leave Hurlburt when it was flown to retirement to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for storage. The first AC-130U to be retired was 90-0163, which was stored at AMARG on September 22, 2015. Four more (89-0509, 89-0511, 89-0512 and 92-0253) were withdrawn in 2018, followed last year by another four (89-0513, 89-1052, 90-0166 and 90-0167). Disposals this year comprised 89-1054, delivered to AMARG on March 4, and 89-1056 on March 10.