Going out with a BANG!

The last AC-130W Stinger II (also named Spectre, which is also the unit's motto) to arrive at Tucson-Davis Monthan AFB (AZ) for storage, made its presence known by landing with a proper bang, leading to the left main tires blowing up.

The AC-130W in question, 90-1058 (msn 382-5241) of 16th SOS (Special Operations Squadron), part of the 27th SOW (Special Operations Wing), was the last one to arrive at 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group "The Boneyard" for storage, on 13 July 2022.

The unit is transferring to the new AC-130J Ghostrider, the first one of which arrived at Cannon AFB (NM), on 18 April 2022. We still await confirmation of that serial.