RCAF & Canadian Armed Forces Lockheed C130 Hercules 1960s-1990s Service History – Photo History
Photos by Dr. John Blatherwick (unless otherwise stated)
Write up by Henry Tenby
Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130323 at CFB Namao September 1973
The venerable Lockheed C130 Hercules has been faithfully serving the air forces the world over since the type first went into service with the US military in the mid 1950s. The RCAF has operated the type without interruption since the very early 1960s through present. The very first C130 Hercules entered RCAF service on October 28, 1960 when four C130B models were delivered to 435 Squadron. Follow on aircraft were in the form of the larger C130E model which provide domestic and global trooping and cargo services for the Canadian government and military agencies.
Several C130E aircraft operated out of CFB Winnipeg with the Air Navigation School back in the 1980s, prior to the delivery of Dash-8 Air Navigation aircraft in the late 1980s. In the 1980s the Canadian Armed Forces took delivery of even larger C130H models to feed growth in the air arm and replace aircraft lost in accidents. One of the most tragic Canadian Forces C130 accidents occurred when two aircraft collided with each other while setting up for final approach to the airfield.
Today the Canadian Armed Forces operate an updated fleet of C130J models which will remain in service for decades to come, resulting in the C130 achieving the distinction of serving the country possibly upwards of 100 years! Time will tell, but the C130 had proven to be a successful and efficient cargo transport for the past 60 years.
We hope you enjoy the Canadian Forces C130 Hercules images taken by Dr. John Blatherwick which span from the 1960s to the late 1990s. Thank you very much for visiting this page, and enjoy!
I am looking to purchase 35mm Kodachrome aircraft slide collections. Please contact me: henrytenby at gmail dot comRCAF Royal Canadian Air Force C130 Hercules 10304 possibly at Calgary June 1961.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130318 at CFB Namao August 1974.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130318 at CFB Namao August 1974.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 10316 at Vancouver May 1969.RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force C130 Hercules 10322 at CFB Edmonton circa 1967.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130311 at Vancouver May 1973.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130323 at CFB Namao September 1973Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130336 at London August 1987.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130335 at Vancouver July 1987.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130308 at Edmonton April 1986.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130333 at Abbotsford August 1982 (Henry Tenby slide).Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130314 at CFB Edmonton May 1973.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130318 at CFB Edmonton September 1973.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130323 at CFB Namao September 1973.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130342 CFB Namao July 1993.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130311 at Yellowknife NWT SEP 3 1993 (Henry Tenby slide).Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130341 July 1992.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130327 at CFB Trenton November 1979.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130325 at CFB Trenton November 1979.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130333 at CFB Namao April 1977.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130327 CFB Trenton June 1996.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130327 CFB Comox 1999.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130311 CFB Trenton June 1999.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130317 CFB Trenton June 1999.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130308 CFB Trenton June 1999.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130305 CFB London June 1998.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130307 CFB Trenton June 1996.Canadian Armed Forces C130 Hercules 130334 CFB Trenton June 1996.
