1970's Antarctic Hercules Crash

[Dave Homewood]

Some really interesting old photos have been posted on my forum by our good mate TurboNZ (Chris). They were taken by his Dad back in the 1970's. There is a crashed Hercules on the ice in a couple of shots.

We are curious as to the circumstances of this incident and I also thought you chaps and ladies may find the photos of interest, so here's the link.

http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi? ... 1130328677

Feel free to make comments or add details to the thread. Cheers

[treadigraph]

Can't see the pics (our accursed IT policies!), but is this the C-130 that was repaired and flown out several decades after its prang? I didn't dream that happening did I?

Cheers

Julian

[Originalboxcar]

By the looks of it, I doubt this aircraft was ever repaired. Tail code in photo was JD "8318".

regards,

t~

[TimAPNY]

I don't think the Navy flys LC-130 anymore. I'm pretty sure that they gave them up in the 1990's. Its my understanding only the Air Gaurd Unit (109th AW) out of the Ablany NY area is flying them.

http://www.vaq34.com/vxe6/vxe6vxe6.htm

[RickH]

I saw the LC-130 that was repaired ( finally ) and flown out shortly after it arrived at AMARC. It was most definitely NOT the aircraft in the pics.

The repaired aircraft was in the snow for about 18 years if I remember correctly. It was a very low time aircraft as it was pretty new when they walked away from it. Tim Horne, the Navy Director at AMARC said it was pristine inside and looked brand new. Regular time capsule. I understand she has been returned to service but I'm not sure where.

[TimAPNY]

On the link I posted for VXE-6 (Un-OFF site) they have the picture of the LC-130F that was dug out of the snow drift, very different than the shots posted above.

I worked with a Guy the was part of the 109th AW and he said they received several of the aircaft from the Navy and that they were a mess (I do believe that, I've seen some nastie navy a/c in my day) and the web site comfirms some of the a/c went to NYAG.

[treadigraph]

Ah much worse state was it? I'll have a look at the pics when i get home tonight!

Couple of days ago I saw a pic of the C-121 that was buried in a snowdrift there - does that still exist?

Cheers

Treadders

[TimAPNY]

It wouldn't look so great if it were a B-29, let along a C-130. Its torn up pretty bad from what I can see, you can tell its a C-130 because of the tail.

[RareBear]

I believe VXE-6 was dis-established in 1999.

Walt

[BrianB]

Someone must be using ski equipped C-130s extensively. The hydraulics company that I run just received a "request for quote" to maufacture a large quantity of NLG ski bungee assemblies. The last time that we made them was in the early 1990's.

[Voodoo]

As mentioned above, the only unit flying ski-Herks these days is the 109th AW from Schenectady, who now fulfill the Arctic/Antarctic flying role. Their aircraft are regular performers every year at the Geneseo airshow.

Martin

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks all. The details of this crash have now been answered byu posters on other forums I put the same message on too, and I've added the relevant posts and links to the thread on my forum.

VXE-6 did disband or at least are no longer at Harewood, Christchurch, doing the US Antarctic work. When the US Navy moved out they were replaced by a unit from another service, Marines amybe. Hercules, and bigger things like Galaxy and Globemaster (?) still operate from Harewood supporting the US Antarctic mission.

The RNZAF also operate our Hercules down there still every summer, supplying our own Scott Base.

Here's an interesting link about the US military flights from Harewood
http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr26-67.htm

The ice is a place where you should be looking for wrecks guys, there are lots of preserved wrecks down there. Getting permission to remove them is another thing though.

[turbo_NZ]

I have a whole stack of photos from the ice that Dad too back then, but these were the "aviation-orientated" pics that were taken.

Some of the big Caterpillar photos are quite cool too.

That Herk definitely looks like it was burnt out to me.

Interesting seeing the old S-61(?) choppers there too. Would they have come from an icebreaker's deck?

Cheers
Chris

[tom d. friedman]

what's with the holes in the herc's tail?? polar bears with rifles??

[turbo_NZ]

Got asked the same question over at Flypast.

Apparently, the holes were made by personnel trying to get good pics of themselves !!!