09/08/2026
AC-130A 53-3129 at USAF Armament Museum in 2018. Was first production C-130 in 1953. Converted to AC-130A in 1968. Flew combat in Vietnam.
History from https://www.crouze.com/baugher/usaf_serials/1953.html
3129 (MSN 182-3001) 3/10/55: Factory rollout as first production C-130A. 4/7/55: First flight. 4/14/55: Suffered serious damage while returning from test flight when engine fire broke out; after landing the entire left wing burned off after crew evacuated. Underwent lengthy repairs. 10/28/58: TOS USAF. converted to JC-130A by Temco Division at Majore Field, TX Sep 1959. 10/59: Cambridge Air Research Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 7/61: 6515th Test Squadron, Patrick AFB, FL. 8/62: 6550th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, FL. Flew missions for NASA over the Air Force Eastern Test Range. 3/68: 4413th Combat Crew Training Squadron, England AFB, LA. Converted from JC-130A to AC-130A Dec 2, 1968. This configuration included four M-61 20mm cannons and four GAU-2B 7.62mm miniguns.
3/27/69: Damaged by anti-aircraft shell.
2/19/70: Damaged by anti-aircraft shell.
4/18/70: Damaged by anti-aircraft shell.
11/71: Named "First Lady."Hit by 37mm shell March 26, 1971, returned to USA for repairs. 5/71: At Ling-Temco-Vought, upgraded with Surprise Package configuration which deleted two of the 7.62mm miniguns, two 20mm cannons and added two 40mm Bofors cannons. 1971: 415th Special Operations Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL. Assigned for training gunship crews. 7/25/75: 711th Special Operations Squadron, 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRES), Duke Field, FL. Ca.1981: Upgraded from 3-bladed propellers to 4-bladed ones. 9/94: Participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti 9/28/95: Last operational flight. Flown to Air Force Armament Museum Sep 10, 1996 and put on display at USAF Armaments Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida, painted in Vietnam-era camouflage.
