Why I Chose the C-141
David Millican
How and why I ended up in the cockpit of the 141 may be unique in the
history of all the pilots who ever flew the plane.
My first flight in
a C-141 was in May, 1967 when I was aeroevac-ed from Da Nang to Yokota,
then on by helicopter to Yokosuka Naval Hospital for surgery. I was a
Marine enlisted man who had been wounded on Hill 881 North near Khe
Sanh on May 3, 1967. When I was ready, and well enough, to return to
the states, I flew non-stop on a C-141 from Yokota to Travis. As we
debarked from the plane I asked the stretcher bearers to let me down
close to the ground. I then kissed the soil of the USA.
I went back
to college, finished, then went to grad school. I got bored with the
civilian job I took after grad school, so I applied to USAF pilot
training with the express purpose of flying the C-141. I busted my ass
and finished at the top of the class. I was sweating bullets that no C-141
would be in our block. Sure enough there were two, one to McChord & one
to Norton. I chose Norton. I was recommended for a fighter assignment
by my IP's , and there were two F-4s in the block.
When my IP's found out
that I was choosing a "trash-hauler", they went nuts. They said they
were going to make me get my wings presented to me in a garbage can.
I never told anyone at my UPT base the real reason why I chose the 141.
It had brought me home safe and I always loved the plane because of
that. I wonder if any other pilot who ever flew the Lifter took their
first ride in the plane as a stretcher casualty.
Last Updated: Sunday, May 14, 2006 07:32 am