C-5A 'triple zero three' flies final mission Published April 25, 2012 By SrA. Kelly Galloway 439th AW/PA WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- "'Triple zero three' heavy, cleared to Davis-Monthan." To stay. That aviation dialogue was part of a veteran airlifter's last mission from Westover in April, as the 42-year-old C-5A lumbered into the sky on its final mission to the military "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. A former crew chief of "triple zero three" recently recalled the worldwide contributions of C-5A 69-0003. SMSgt. David Turner worked on the aircraft until 2005, when the Air Force transferred it to the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. "I was very proud to become the crew chief of this particular aircraft because I was following crew chief Andy Martindel, who had a reputation of being a hard-working and knowledgeable aircraft maintainer," SMSgt. Turner said. Just about any C-5 has its share of complex maintenance challenges, and this aircraft had its fair share for SMSgt Turner. The aircraft developed a wing flap and slat problem that quickly became a chronic repeat write-up flight after flight. "After resolving this problem I remember the aircraft became one of Westover's more reliable aircraft," he said. "I'm glad I could work with a team to provide the flying squadron with a safe, well-performing aircraft." "Triple zero three" was among the legacy Galaxy A-model fleet -- one of 81 built between 1966 and 1970. Built in 1969 and delivered to the Air Force Feb. 11, 1971, "triple zero three "was "redelivered" to the Air Force in February 1987 with its newly-strengthened wings, part of a service-wide Lockheed upgrade to the fleet of A-models. After four decades of service to America with the 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del., the Patriot Wing and the 445th, the aircraft became one of 27 slated for retirement from the Air Force. It was flown to Westover from Wright- Patterson in April 2011, and rested on the flight line here until its final mission one year later.