NAVY BLUE AND GOLD

(USN C-130 at the Polar Plateau in Antartica, 13 Dec, 1965. US Navy photograph)

While the Navy's association with the HERCULES began when the Marines bought them for its tanker/transport squadrons, the seaborne service decided the turboprop on skis would be a good way to resupply its sites in Operation DEEP FREEZE sites in Antarctica. After the Air Force's ski-equipped C-130Ds proved highly successful in the Arctic, the Navy asked for them to try their hand in Antarctica as well. THE ICEMEN

In 1960 the Navy got its own ski-euipped C-130Bs, which were designated as C-130Bls at first, and later as the LC-130F. The Navy ski-birds were assigned to VXE 6, a special squadron bases at Qounset Point, Rhode Island. The Navy ski-transports began operating in support of DEEP FREEZE in August, 1960. Navy LC-130s have been the lifeline of the Antarctic mission ever since.

The Navy also at times used the Marine's KC-130s for various tasks. One of the most famous Navy experiments with the C-130 was when Lt. James Flatley landed a KC-130F on the carrier FORRESTAL in a test to determine if the Herk could be used to deliver supplies to the fleet at sea. While the landings and takeoffs were succesful, the Navy decided the airplane's wingspan was too wide for safe operations.

Another Navy use of the C-130 is to support the nuclear submarine fleet. An EC-130Q trails a long antenna for low-freuquency radio transmissions to the undersea fleet.

During the 1960s US Navy squadrons at McGuire AFB, New Jersey and Moffet NAS, California flew C-130Es with the Military Air Transport Service, participating in the same missions was their Air Force counterparts. Navy MATS crews were involved in the Dominican Airlift in the spring of 1965, as well as other military operations and exercises of the period. The Navy role in MATS ended with the creation of the Military Airlift Command in 1966.

U.S. Navy DC-130s are used to launch drones for various purposes.

Go to THE ICEMEN , the home page for Navy squadron VXE6, who fly the Antarctic support mission. Come Fly With Me! is another good site put up by a crewmember from the Navy mission.