Foreign C-130 Squadrons page 1

Algeria The Algerian Air Force operates ten C-130Hs and eight C-130H-30s at Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jaza'eriya. They received their first C-130's in 1981. The aircraft are shared among the 31, 32, 33 and 35 Escadrilles (squadrons). Deliveries began in 1981 and all had arrived by 1984 except for one which was delivered in 1990. The first batch of C-130Hs were delivered as an acknowledgement by the US of Algeria's mediating role in the release of the Tehran Embassy hostages. All the air force aircraft retain their civil registrations and most still wear the grey/white scheme with a green stripe, along with roundels and Algerian Air Force titles in English and Arabic on opposite sides of the fuselage. WAP 18

Argentina The Escuadron 1 de Transporte ,

part of Grupo 1 de Transporte Aereo at El Palomar, Buenos Aires operates the Argentine Air Force's Hercules. They received their first delivery of three C-130Es (TC-61, 62, 63) in 1968. Two of these were subsequently lost, one (TC-62) from a bomb beside the runway at Tucuman on 28 Aug 1975 and another (TC-63) shotdown by a Harrier on 1 June of 1982. The last C-130E was converted to C-130H specifications. They also received five C-130Hs (TC-64-68) between 1971 and 1975. They acquired two KC-130Hs (TC-69 and 70) in 1979. In 1981, they obtained a one time Lockheed demonstrator L-100-30 (registered as LV-APW and operated in civil markings) to replace (TC-63). During the 1982 Malvinas/Falklands War, Great Britain declared a total blockade to the islands from May 1st to June 14th, date on which cease fire took place. During 44 days, the airlift was carried out under precarious conditions. However, 435 tons of cargo were carried, of which 17.5 tons were dropped, 514 persons were taken to the Islands and 264 wounded were evacuated. All this was made by means of 31 landings. The last take-off took place on 13 June at 9 PM in the midst of threatening ground and air dangers. The C-130 was also used in the exploration role, trying to find the British ships; during one of this missions (TC-63) was shot down by sidewinder and cannon from a British harrier. More reinforcements arrived in the form of five ex-USAF C-130Bs in 1992.

Official Argentine Air Force page (Spanish)

Australia The Royal Australian Air Force was the first overseas customer for the Hercules, buying 12 C-l30As (A97-205 to A97-216) in 1958. These served with No. 36 Squadron, featuring a 36 sqn crest

prancing horse badge. The aircraft's natural-metal finishes were kept in excellent condition, allowing close examination of the C-130s panel details. The original 12 C-130As were withdrawn from use in 1978 being replaced by 12 C-130Hs deliveries starting in 1978 (A97-001 to A97-012) to No. 36 Sqn. A handful of the A's returned to service briefly in 1986 and others found their way to Chad. Twelve C-13OEs (A97-159, 160, 167,168, 171,172,177,178, 180,181, 189 and 190) were delivered starting in 1966 to serve with No.37 37 squadon crest

Squadron. Both squadrons are based in Richmond , New South Wales under the 86th Wing. No.37 Sqn's aircraft are tasked with long-range transport duties and wear a smart grey/white paint scheme. No.36 is the dedicated tactical unit. In 1989, No.36 Sqn won the International Airlift Rodeo hosted by the USAF. Some of No.36 Sqn's aircraft can also be fitted with MAFFS (Modularized Airborne Fire Fighting System). The RAAF currently has received 12 C-130J-30s to replace the aging C-130Es the first one arrived 7 Sep 99 and serve with No. 37 sqd. 36 Sqd is operating 12 C-130H.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Home Page
Australian Bicentennial patch
486 Squadron, RAAF patch (image courtesy of Neil Miller)
36th Squadron round patch (patch donated by D. Furr)
37 Squadron C-130J-30 patch Donated by Colin Tigwell
37 Squadron 50th Anniversary patch (image courtesy of Tony Hazel)
37 Squadron round patch (image courtesy of Lee Spain)
Australia's Big Bird patch (patch donated by D. Furr)

Belgium The Belgian Air Force received 12 C-130Hs that were delivered between 1972 and 1973. They are flown by the 20 Smaldeel (squadron), 20 squadron patch

part of the Groupement de Transport/No. 15 Wing, at Brussels-Melsbroek. Their motto is "Tenacity". One aircraft (CH06) was lost July 15, 1996 in a crash in Eindhoven (Netherlands). The Belgian C-130H fleet has been a vigorous supporter of United Nations operations such as flying famine relief duties with the Red Cross in Ethiopia and the Sudan. In the light of this experience, all 11 aircraft will be fitted with flare dispensers. Belgian C-130s are also involved in the Open Skies treaty verification program and have overflown Poland and Russia carrying the Lockheed-developed SAMSON sensor pod, housing a panoramic camera and a FLIR. Patch above donated by Ludo De Beuckeleer

Unofficial Belgian AF site (includes acft serial/tail number info)
The Unofficial Belgian C-130H Page
Belgian Air Force SANEVAC (image courtesy of Bob Mebane)
Belgian AF Humane Rescue 20 Sqd (image courtesy of Bob Mebane)
20 Squadron round patch
20 Squadron C-130 Hercules patch
20 Squadron flying hours patches (image courtesy of Ludo De Beuckeleer)
20 Squadron 10,000 flying hours patch (image courtesy of Ludo De Beuckeleer)
Baka Kamina patch; for operations in Zaire (image courtesy of Ludo De Beuckeleer)
C-130 Belgian Air Force patch
Belgian AF-Medivac, 15 Wing
15 Wing patch with white background

Bolivia:The Escuadron 710 part of the Grupo Aereo de Transporte 71, La Paz; bol710.jpg (9291 bytes)

The Bolivian air force's Transporte Aero is operated on a peacetime basis as an internal domestic airline, but also doubles as the main tactical support element of the military forces. Their equipment has included ex-USAF C-130As (all have been withdrawn from use or scrapped), 3 C-130Bs, and a C-130H (crashed in Zambia June 10, 1998) their operational fleet currently consist of the three B models.WAP 18, 31

Patch images courtesy of Luis Perez

Transporte Aero Militar, Bolivia

Brazil Brazil's air force has taken delivery of 19 C-130s of various types since 1965. The Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, or FAB) currently operates a fleet of 12 C-130s that consists of five C-130Es, five C-130Hs and two KC-130H tankers. In March 2001, Brazil purchased an additional 10 C-130Hs that formerly belonged to Italy. The first six of these were due to be delivered in spring 2001 and the remainder by November 2002. The aircraft were first flown by the 1 -1 GTT

1º/1º GT (1st Squadron, 1st Transport Group) - the "Gordo" Squadron. It was the first FAB unit selected to receive the C-130E aircraft in the second-half of 1964, but they were used operationally only after 18 February 1965. In 1986 the squadron received three new C-130H aircraft. One of the H models, aircraft 2468 crashed into the sea in December of 1987 on approach to Fernando de Noronha island. In the same time period 1º/1º GT also received KC-130Hs previously operated by the 2º/1º GTT (2nd/1st Troop Carry Group). The squadron thus assumed the in-flight refueling role. The year 1988 also saw the squadron operating SC-130Es previously used by the 1º/6º Grupo de Aviação and 2º/1º GTT. The 1º/1º GT also supports the Brazilian Antarctic Research Program.

1º/6º GAV, Grupo de Aviação (1st Squadron, 6th Aviation Group) "Carcará." In 1968, replaced B-17s with three SC-130 aircraft. They wore distinctive SAR orange bands, as well as a stylized logo in the fin, representing the numbers "1" and "6". The SC-130s were used until 1987, when they were replaced by three reconnaissance R-35A Learjet aircraft.

2º/1º Grupo de Transporte de Tropas - 2º/1º GTT (2nd sqd/1st Troop Carry Group) "Cascavel." 2-1gtt. Have flown KC-130s and currently operate the C-130E.

Unofficial Brazilian Air Force homepage by Rudnei Dias da Cunha