Golden Bear carries legacy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The C-141 tail number Starlifter 63-8088, or Golden Bear, sits on display at "the bottom of the hill," what Travis locals refer to as the busy intersection of Burgan Blvd. and Travis Ave.

This retired aircraft sits separated from the static displays of aircraft at the Heritage Center museum and is surrounded by enough plaques and memorials to signify its prominence to passing drivers and pedestrians.

"This airplane has such distinctive history that it deserves to be preserved, and all that supported its flight deserve to be honored," said Terry Juran, Travis Heritage Center director.

The side of this Starlifter is marked with the yellow, cursive words Golden Bear, although there is no record behind the origin of this nickname.

"The C-141 Golden Bear most likely attained this nickname because it was the first operational C-141 and was first assigned location was Travis with the 44th Air Transport Squadron," said Mark Wilderman, 60th Air Mobility Wing historian. "Since the California Golden Bear is the state animal and appears on the state flag, the nickname was probably derived from there."

The moment the Golden Bear arrived on Travis it made history. After a month of being operational, the Golden Bear accomplished a flight across the Pacific from Travis to Yokota Air Base, Japan in May 1965. In nine hours and 20 minutes the Golden Bear completed the flight across the Pacific, a feat previously unaccomplished by any C-141A.

In addition, the Golden Bear was a crucial component to Operation Deep Freeze, an annual resupply airlift effort that continues to this day. The operation supports the National Science Foundation's research and exploration program in Antarctica. It includes a 12 to 14 hour flight and aircraft must have the capability to land on ice runways.

When the United States began to withdraw troops from Vietnam, many of the prisoners of war flew back to the U.S. on the Golden Bear during Operation Homecoming from February to April 1973. It was on the Golden Bear that remains of servicemen were transported from Vietnam and Cambodia to their resting places in the United States as well.

"I recall standing in the Golden Bear and the realization hits me that I'm standing in the same place where there were POWs," Juran said. "POWs who were on their way home but still didn't believe that they were going to make it away from the war, and that somehow they would be pulled back in. You can imagine the eruption of joy and relief when the Golden Bear lands and they descend from the aircraft."

Following a devastating storm to Majura Atoll in the Marshall Islands in December 1979, the Golden Bear along with other Starlifters provided humanitarian relief. More than 300 tons of relief supplies such as food and communications devices as well as more than 200 relief personnel were transported to support the islanders.

Among these missions were more and nearly countless accomplishments. As the placard in front of the aircraft states, "Since the late 1960s the Golden Bear flew in almost every major military contingency and humanitarian operation in which Travis participated in." The Golden Bear ceased flight in 1996 when all C-141s were retired.

Juran, who is also a senior master sergeant in the 349th Reserve Wing, formed a group and began working on the preservation of the aircraft in the fall of 2004. Prior to this point, the Golden Bear had been neglected and desolate on the runway. By September 2005, a dedication ceremony was held for the Golden Bear.

"I definitely feel sentimentality for this airplane and to be a part of its preservation and recognition is one of the major highlights of my career," he said.

In addition to the historical information placard, there are two poems displayed in accordance with the Golden Bear, "High Flight," by John Gillespie Magee Jr. and "Remembering the Forgotten Mechanic" by an unknown author.

"These poems were purposefully chosen to bring recognition to both the operations and the maintenance personnel," Juran said.

Today the Golden Bear is displayed next to the enlisted members wall that bears the oath of enlistment and ends with the words lest we forget who we are.

It's an appropriate memorial affixed next to the Golden Bear, lest Airmen forget the trials and accomplishments Travis has faced in the past, Juran said.