By Mortz C. Ortigoza
One of the 47 soldiers and civilians who died in a reconditioned C-130 Hercules cargo plane was Technical Sergeant Donald Peroy Badoy (extreme left photo).
He was with the 220th Airlift Wing responsible in the engineering maintenance of the 1987 made four turbo prop's engines giant plane - a part of the P2.5 billion procurement of two refurbished C-130 (Type H) of the Philippine government in the United States.
When I asked Air Force Staff Sergeant Danny Porras (photo extreme right) of Lower Inas, M'lang, Cotabato about TSGT Peroy-Badoy, this what he told me:
"TSG Badoy sir. Siya ang Flight Engineer. Taga M'lang ni nanay niya sa Brgy Labo. Peroy iya middle name".
He told me the deceased used to visit M'lang during the family's reunions.
KUWENTONG C-130s. The plane I had rode since I was in elementary grade. The other air force's aircraft I rode with my air force's father from military bases all over the country were World War 2's vintage C -47, Fokker, and Nomad. Helicopter lang ang di ko pa nasakyan.
***
Ganito rin ako noong bata pa ako pipila rin ako dito sa likod ng mga soldiers - as based on the Manifest or list of passengers - to enter the back of the C-130 for my Cotabato City to fly to then Nichols Air Base in Pasay City.
Pag minalas sa steel na floor kmi naka upo o naka tayo because of our cheek by jowl situation for our three hours ride with stop overs in Zamboangga- to get some coffins in casket and even an armored personnel carrier - and Mactan, Cebu.
ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL ON BOARD CRASHED PAF C-130H 5125 ACCOUNTED FOR:
47 dead
49 injured
There were 96 military personnel on board the aircraft per manifest.
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES:
3 dead
4 injured
***
Pag Officers may upuan at lamesa sa C-130. Pag Non- Officer, sila and Civilians nakatayo o naka upo sa sahig. This was an old practice I saw when I first rode the Hercules in 1979.
Photo: Mostly military passengers of the ill fated C-130 Hercules unwary about the plane would overshoot the runway of a military air base in Sulu that killed more than half of the 96 of its passengers many charred by the burning American made cargo plane.
FROM PINOY AVIATOR:
The down Air Force C-130H Hercules medium lift turboprop military aircraft with tail number 5125 was a former United States Air Force (USAF) C-130H aircraft and was built in 1987.
This former USAF C-130H aircraft with Serial number: 382-5125 was delivered by USAF pilots from the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guards to the Philippines on 29 January 2021.
This C-130H Hercules is not a “Whiskey” model because the last “Hotel” model was built in 1988. All C-130Ws were built in 1991. This former USAF C-130H was only reconfigured as Whiskey model for the USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in 2016.
The Philippine Air Force acquired two refurbished Lockheed C-130H "Hercules" four-engine turboprop military transport/cargo aircraft in 2019 to add to its existing fleet of four (4) C-130s under the 222nd Airlift Squadron of the 220th Airlift Wing.
The sale of the two C-130s is part of the US government's commitment to help the Philippines develop its territorial defense and maritime security capabilities, as well as enhance its ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief emergencies, which routinely occur in the Philippines.
The cost of acquisition for the two C-130s is PHP2.5 billion. The two former USAF C-130s were co-financed by the Philippines who contributed PHP1.6 billion and the US through Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program worth PHP900 million.
The US FMF program provides grants and loans for the acquisition of US defense equipment, services, and training.
PAF Hercules 5125 served the country for almost five months only.
The 222nd Airlift Squadron of the 220th Airlift Wing currently operates four (4) C-130 Hercules aircraft, and another one (1) former USAF C-130H is also expected to be delivered before the end of 2021.
In flying status:
• C-130H with tail number 4704
• C-130T with tail number 5040
• C-130H (former USAF coming soon)
Grounded Philippine Air Force C-130s:
• C-130T with tail number 5011
- Hercules 5011 is in Portugal undergoing IRAN (Inspect Repair As Necessary).
• C-130B with tail number 3633
- Hercules 3633 is still grounded undergoing DLM (Depot Level Maintenance) in Mactan, Cebu.
Damaged beyond repair:
• C-130H with tail number 5125
- C-130H “Hercules” #5125 took off from Villamor Air Base in Manila (RPLL) to Lumbia Airport(RPML) and subsequently ferried military personnel to Jolo Airport (RPMJ) where it crashed in a village in the mountainous town of Patikul in Sulu province with 92 soldiers on board, including three air force pilots and five crew members while the others were from the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at around 1100 (11am) on 04 July 2021.
• C-130H with tail number 4726
- C-130H “Hercules” #4726 aircraft caught fire while about to take off from Clark Air Base in March 2019. (4726 is no longer in service and was cannibalized for parts.)
It was in 1973 when the Philippines acquired some brandnew C-130 “Hercules” military aircraft.
Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of flight 5125 that crashed in the mountainous town of Patikul in Sulu province on 04 July 2021.
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