(1972) Brussels Melsbroek (Belgium), July 1972

” A very interesting part of the Belgian Air Force and an integral part of NATOs  Ace Mobile Force is the 15th Transportation and Communication Wing, which has its homebase on Brussels International airport.

As the phasing-out of the aging fairchild C-119G Packet (after 20 years of service) is already in full progress, a FLASH team hurried to Melsbroek to give you some impressions.(…)  By the time of our visit (Friday, 28 July in the late afternoon) two C-119s were on their way to Solenzara and a DC-6 to Northolt. On the flightline we observed  some 12 Packets, from both nr. 20 and nr. 40 squadron. Belgium originally received 46 C-119Fs and Gs. About 15 are in store at Koksijde; the last of the”Flying Boxcars” will have disappeared from the inventory of the 15th Wing around June 1973, as we were told. The first of the 12 C-130H Herculesses (replacement for the Packets) arrived at Melsbroek on the 25th of July 1972, we found her glimmering amidst the Packets. The aircraft flew from Marietta (Georgia) via Gandir and Shannon to Brussels in 12 hours. The remaining 11 aircraft will be delivered every 2 or 3 weeks. As we were asked not to publish photographs of the first Hercules yet, you will have to do with a description. The aircraft is camouflaged just like her USAF sisters and brothers, with the registration CH-01 (Cargo Hercules) painted in black on nose and tail and the blue insignia of no. 20 sqn on her nose(…)

The Pembrokes and DC-6 aircraft will remain in service for several years, the C-47 Dakotas (3 of which were reported to be still going strong, we observed only one though, OT-CND) will be withdrawn in the near future, while all DC-4s are out of use already.”

Quote from a 1972 FLASH Magazine article by F. Klaassen and J.A. Engels

[View with PicLens]