Date: 03 Nov 2003
Time: 17:22
The final C-9A Nightingale air evacuation mission through Incirlik (Turkey) landed on 21st September 2003. The mission, which ended on 22nd September 2003, marked not only the last scheduled C-9 aeromedical evacuation flight in Europe but also the end of a 31-year European legacy.
The C-9A, assigned to the US 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany moved in 1972 to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In October 1993 it was re-designated as the 75th Airlift Squadron and was involved in almost every major US Air Forces in Europe and Central Command operation since its arrival..
Highlights of the European mission included the air evacuation of 52 American hostages in Iran in 1981; the pick up of those who were injured during the April 1983 US Embassy bombing in Beirut and the transportation of 28 sailors injured after the USS Cole terrorist attack in 2000 (for which the C-9 crew was awarded the MacKay trophy). C-9s also handled air evacuations for operations Anaconda (March 2002), Northern Watch (1997 to 2003) and Enduring Freedom.
Twenty C-9s worldwide are being retired as part of the 2004 Air Force realignments. Four of the five USAFE C-9s will be stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, Arizona. The fifth C-9A will be sent to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois to help support the 932nd Airlift Wing domestic aeromedical airlift mission.
Although C-9s are being retired, the aeromedical-evacuation mission will continue. The mission will become a requirements-based system using all passenger-capable aircraft in an effort to better meet patients’ needs.