On Saturday 24 August 2024 the 37SQN (RAAF) Association hosted a function at the Royal Hotel, Richmond NSW to celebrate the squadron’s 25 years of C-130J-30 operations combined with Lockheed Martin celebrating the 70th Anniversary since the inaugural test flight of the Hercules prototype, the YC-130, from the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, CA on 23 August 1954.
The function was attended by approximately 120 current and former C-130 aircrew, maintenance personnel and support staff who have contributed to the safe operation of the RAAF’s Hercules operations since the arrival of the first C-130A in December 1958.
Attendees included WGCDR [Retd] Robyn Clay-Williams, the RAAF C-130J-30 Project Test Pilot, GPCAPT [Retd] James Blagg, the C-130J-30 Project Test Flight Engineer, WGCDR [Retd] Ken McLeod, the C-130J-30 Project Resident Engineering Officer, all of whom were embedded at the Hercules production plant in Marietta, GA USA, along with pilots, loadmaster and maintenance personnel who trained in the USA to ferry the C-130J-30s to Australia after Hercules acceptance off the production line.
The convivial atmosphere enabled the attendees to reminisce with their former colleagues many who reconnected after more than 35 years separation from their flying / maintenance duties at 37SQN and 486SQN.
The function was proudly sponsored by Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions (AMMM) Marietta with Australian LMCO representatives Mr Andy Doyle [GPCAPT Retd] and Ms Nicole Davidson attending.
