C-130E 63-7868 entered service in April 1964, participating in Operation Red Dragon, the deployment of Belgian paratroopers and the rescue of hostages from Stanleyville in the Congo in November that year. It then saw extensive use in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War by the USAF, and between 1971 and 1973 by Air America in Laos as '786'. On return to the USAF, operated for 16 years from Clark AB in the Philippines. Then to Rhode Island ANG and airlift units at Pope AFB, NC and finally Little Rock AFB, AR, being retired in September 2011 after 47 years of operation