Saturday 30th August marked the final ever flight of a C-133 Cargomaster, with this particular example (N199AB ex 56-1999) rolling off the Douglas Aircraft on Dec. 26, 1957.
Cargomaster Inc who own this example were finding work available ever decreasing especially as they were only allowed to fly within Alaska on behalf of the government. They had been providing this service to the state for over 30 years since the aircraft was retired from the USAF.
The aircraft has been donated to the Travis Museum, one of this aircrafts former bases, and the transaction includes the two examples that have been stored at Mojave, CA for many years. These two examples are likely to be scrapped after donating parts and possibly a cockpit for use in the museum.
The C-133 was the Air Force's first true strategic airlifter and was capable of hauling cargo that included fully assembled ICBMs, and was replaced in the early 1970's by the C-5 Gallaxy.
The military markings were applied in Anchorage, but after the first test flight they had already started to peel off, probably due to the damp weather.
The ferry flight was done in 2 legs over two days... on 28th August from Anchorage, AK to McChord AFB, WA at an average speed of 260kts and taking 5 hours 23 minutes. And the final leg on 30th August to Travis AFB, CA a mere 2 hours and 23 minutes for an arrival during the Travis Air Expo Airshow. Even on these two legs the aircraft was put to use carrying a pair of C-133 Pratt & Whitney T34 engines - one bound for McChord and the other for Travis.
At the controls were pilots Mike Congdon and Tom Carlson with Ken "Ski" Kozlowski performing both the flight engineer and crew chief tasks.
Fittingly the aircraft was given the traditional arc of water from a couple of fire tenders, although the strong winds on the day made the effect difficult. So with 18,250 flight hours and more than 6,100 landing the old girl was shut down for the final time.
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Comments:8th May 2011 Cal Taylor
I had the great pleasure of viewing and filming 61999 at McChord AFB. I had not heard a C-133 since my last flight in 1971, when I was a navigator in the 84th MAS. I became much more knowledgeable than I ever thought I would, during the process of writing Remembering an Unsung Giant: The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and Its People. As part of the process, I set up the C-133 web site at http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/c133bcargomaster/home.html. The airplane will be the centerpiece of the new Travis museum, outside the west gate to the base.
10th January 2011 Jerry Cole
I was stationed at travis AFB from nov 69 to june 70 in the 601 oms. we did all the maintenance and such for theses monsters. I was just out of school at Shepard AFB and was trained on c-130's these made them look small. I remember many a helicopter full of holes stuffed in the back coming back from Saigon. also one time was a apollo capsule along with the quarentine trailer the astronauts had to stay in after touchdown. Would love to see one again. Thanks for the memories
2nd May 2010 Dave C
I was stationed at Travis from Feb 64 to Jan 66. I was a prop specialist, they were a nightmare. Did they change the prop, when I worked on them they were 19 ft diameter.
They should have had a Hamilton Standard prop and they may have been okay.
It is so nice to see that plane it is a beautiful aircraft. I used to get on a maintenance stand when someone was working on the edge of the wing and start a slow rythmatic push up, then let it down to puch it up again. I could get it rocking enough so that the guys inside it could feel the rocking motion. I was a kid having fun!
Thanks for the memories!
18th October 2008 Tom P
Sweet shots Paul - too bad the C-133 is gone for good - I know they could never keep one flying but still I'de love to see one hauling a national EAA or some such thing around the airshow circuit.
10th October 2008 Kathy Forster
Thanks for the great pictures. My son took my Dad , Stanley Forster, to see the landing. It was the last trip he took as he passed away Oct. 7 2008. He flew the first C-133 out to Dover AFB in 1957 or 58. The Capt on the flight was Col. Claude Smith. I remember that he was supposed to be on the flight that crashed in April 1958 but Col Smith took him off and our friend Ray Burn took his place. He also had a close call on the Jan 1965 crash. He survived WWII and the Berlin Airlift. He had alot of close calls but still lived to 88 years. He retired from Boeing in 2002. Looking at that plane brought up alot of good memories, all the families from the 39th used to be friends, it was like a big family. Thanks Kathy
5th October 2008 boeing 377 Mark
Great photos. That sunrise one is especially nice. Thanks!
See mine: http://boeing377.googlepages.com/c133
not high quality ($99 camera) but fun.
25th September 2008 Dennis Cadwell, MSgt
it is great to see this bird as i was a ground crew member during the early 1960's (four years) .. at the east coast site, Dover AFB, Delaware. I get to see the one i was last assigned to, 56-2008, now at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. These photos are well done; thanks so much for sharing.
22nd September 2008 RICK WARGO
Great Stuff!!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos!!!
Rick
St. Paul, MN
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