Lockheed C-141A/B Starlifter 86MAS, Travis AFB, CA

The 86th Military Airlift Squadron (86th MAS) was assigned to the 60th Military Airlift Wing (60th MAW), Military Airlift Command, stationed at Travis AFB, California. The 86th MAS upgraded to C-141 Starlifter in 1967 and routinely flew cargo and personnel to and from Travis AFB to aerial ports in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. After the US withdrawal from Southeast Asia in 1975, the 86th MAS flew C-141s on a worldwide basis. The squadron was inactivated in 1978 during the post-Vietnam USAF drawdown; however, it was reactivated in 1979, continuing C-141 airlift missions. 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. See more.