Although this classic 1968 aircraft had a Martinsburg tail flash for its final flight, it was part of the Westover fleet years ago, and MSgt. Needham had served as its crew chief for 19 years. He nicknamed 0211 "Miss Piggy", which stuck, and as it lumbered into the sky for the last time, he said under his breath, "She served her country well." (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

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Although this classic 1968 aircraft had a Martinsburg tail flash for its final flight, it was part of the Westover fleet years ago, and MSgt. Needham had served as its crew chief for 19 years. He nicknamed 0211 "Miss Piggy", which stuck, and as it lumbered into the sky for the last time, he said under his breath, "She served her country well." (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Although this classic 1968 aircraft had a Martinsburg tail flash for its final flight, it was part of the Westover fleet years ago, and MSgt. Needham had served as its crew chief for 19 years. He nicknamed 0211 "Miss Piggy", which stuck, and as it lumbered into the sky for the last time, he said under his breath, "She served her country well." (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Although this classic 1968 aircraft had a Martinsburg tail flash for its final flight, it was part of the Westover fleet years ago, and MSgt. Needham had served as its crew chief for 19 years. He nicknamed 0211 "Miss Piggy", which stuck, and as it lumbered into the sky for the last time, he said under his breath, "She served her country well." (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Although this classic 1968 aircraft had a Martinsburg tail flash for its final flight, it was part of the Westover fleet years ago, and MSgt. Needham had served as its crew chief for 19 years. He nicknamed 0211 "Miss Piggy", which stuck, and as it lumbered into the sky for the last time, he said under his breath, "She served her country well." (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Last A-model departs base for boneyard

Published Oct. 5, 2012
By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Aircraft 68-0211 took to the skies from Westover Sept. 25 for its final flight - a transcontinental trip to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

For MSgt. Art Needham, this marshaling was his last for this C-5 once assigned to the Patriot Wing for nearly 20 years.

MSgt. Needham was a crew chief for 211 for 19 years. Like so many aircraft with unofficial names of affection created by those that take care of them so meticuluously - he named this C-5 "Miss Piggy."

The senior NCO eyed his former aircraft taxiing into position for takeoff on a crisp fall day.

"She served her country well," he said under his breath.

The 44-year-old Galaxy - assigned to the 167th Airlift Wing at Martinsburg, W. Va., sat on Westover's North Ramp for nearly a year awaiting its final mission. This C-5A - along with threeothers -- became part of history in late September. The Air Force is retiring most of the older A-models in the inventory.

Transferred from Westover to the 167th in 2007, 211 circled the globe regularly as many C-5s do - racking up thousands of hours while hauling the tonnage only a C-5 can carry. The C-5A first arrived at Westover from Travis AFB, Calif., in 1988.

It was also the star attraction at the world's largest air show in July 2004. A 337th Airlift Squadron crew flew the C-5 to the week-long AirVenture 2004, held in Oshkosh, Wisc.

EDITOR'S NOTE: W.C. Pope, 439th AW Public Affairs, contributed to this story.