The C-119 Flying Boxcar

The C-119 Flying Boxcar was a significant asset to the U.S. Air Force operations around the world beginning in the early 1950s. The planes, manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft, totaled 1,183 built, two of which are still airworthy in Alaska.

The C-119 was initially a redesign of the C-82 Packet built between 1945 and 1948. The C-82 had performance limitations which were corrected in the C-119. More powerful engines were added, the cockpit was moved to enable the aircraft to carry more cargo, the fuselage was widened and the airframe was strengthened. The aircraft at 86 feet 6 inches long and 26 feet 4 inches in height, weighs 39,982 pounds and can carry up to 34,018 pounds.

The C-119 was a valuable aircraft during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was used to transport equipment and troops. Because of the amount of cargo it could carry, it earned the nickname "Flying Boxcar."

From 1955 to 1973, the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command had the Flying Boxcars in service. During this time the aircraft performed many aerial recoveries, including retrievals of balloon-borne instrument packages. The aircraft also retrieved film capsules for the Corona spy satellite program on Aug. 19, 1960. The C-119 was the first in history to perform a mid-air recovery of a space capsule. This was also the first successful recovery of film or an object returning from a satellite orbiting Earth. The aircraft dropped supplies to besieged French forces while flying through heavy combat during the siege at Dien Bien Phu in 1953 when the CIA secretly loaned the C-119s to French forces in Vietnam.

On Nov. 5, 1985, the Hill Aerospace Museum acquired a C-119G Flying Boxcar, donated by Hawkins and Powers of Greybull, Wyo., manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft and which was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force at the end of 1954. After serving at several base locations throughout Canada, it was sold to Hawkins and Powers for use as in firefighting efforts. The aircraft is painted in the colors of the Reserve 733rd Troop Carrier Squadron to resemble the original "State of Utah" C-119 and the name "Maj. Rex A. Hadley" is painted beneath the pilot window to memorialize Hadley's honorable service to the squadron and his commitment to the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah.

Maj. Gen. Rex A. Hadley served the military for 40 years in such assignments as logistics manager, maintenance officer, flight commander, line pilot, operations officer, instructor pilot, command pilot and group commander of the Reserve 945th Military Airlift Group at Hill Air Force Base, this being his last flying assignment. As a command pilot he accumulated more than 7,000 hours flying various aircraft, one of those being the C-119. After he retired, he wasn't finished with his exceptional service. In 1983, he joined the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, holding the position as the foundation chairman from 1986 to 1994. As chairman and in partnership with the state of Utah, he was able to gain funds for the Visitor's Center and Aircraft Gallery, which now are part of the Hill Aerospace Museum.