(C-5A image). At the end of October 1974 there was a test launch of a Minuteman ICBM missile. The unusual thing about this launch is that it was made in flight from a C-5A. The missile, with a weight of 39 tons, was launched from 6,000 meters of altitude, and after descending to 2,400 meters, its engines fired for 10 seconds and the missile rose to about 6,000 meters before falling into the Pacific Ocean. Although this use was eventually dismissed for security reasons, it was clear that this type of launch was entirely possible thanks to the Galaxy.(C-5A image). Its second operational deployment took place in October 1973 during Operation Nickel Grass, which consisted of sending aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The C-5A conducted 145 sorties in which it transported almost 10,000 tons of equipment and supplies. They flew 4,880 hours and consumed 54.12 million liters of jet fuel. Among the materials transported were M-48 and M-60 Patton battle tanks, M-107 self-propelled howitzers and CH-53 Sea Stallion transport helicopters.(C-5A image). Their next combat mission was to provide support during Operation Just Cause in 1989. During this mission the Galaxy transported AH-64 Apache helicopters to the Howard AFB of Panama and even during the first night of the invasion they received fire from Panamanian troops, although without consequences. Soon after, it would be his turn to really prove his worth, Operation Desert Shield.(C-5B image). On August 7, 1990, the largest military air transport operation in history began within the so-called Operation Desert Shield. Only 1 week after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi troops, the C-5s were already landing in neighboring Saudi Arabia loaded with all kinds of weapons and materials. Fear of an invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq unleashed swift American intervention first, and then the International.(C-5B image). During Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations, 90% of operational C-5A/Bs participated in the campaign. It is estimated that the C-5s transported 42% of all cargo shipped by plane, as well as 18% of all personnel involved in these operations. 15,800 missions were carried out and some 498,900 passengers were transported. In just 17 days, more tons were transported than the entire 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, which lasted 462 days. At the peak of Desert Shield, a Galaxy was landing in Saudi Arabia every 10 minutes.(C-5B image). Until the first ships full of material began to arrive in the Persian Gulf area, the first 6 weeks were the C-5 Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter, those that transferred practically all equipment and personnel to Saudi Arabia. A system of several crews was established in each aircraft, so that while one rested 2-3 hours, the other stayed in flight. On that period, the aircraft remaining on the ground exclusively to load and unload.(C-5B image). After 6 weeks of stressful work, the C-5s had some rest, then being on alert for essential and urgent missions. One example of this type of mission was the rapid transport of several batteries of Patriot missiles to Israel, after the Iraqi launch of Scud missiles. In less than 24 hours since the Iraqi attack, the Patriots were already deployed and operational, stopping an Israeli response that would surely have produced a political fracture within the International Coalition.(C-5B image). In the fall of 1994 three C-5s carried out a curious mission designated as Operation Sapphire. This mission consisted of transporting 589 kg of enriched uranium purchased by the United States to Kazakhstan. First, a Galaxy took several nuclear technicians along with a mobile laboratory and 500 special drums to transport the uranium to Kazakhstan. Several weeks later, two more C-5s brought the team and the properly prepared cargo back to the United States.(C-5B image). In 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, the C-5s were sent to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Unfortunately, and after the budget cuts at the end of the 1991 Gulf War, mechanical problems reappeared and the availability of the Galaxy was reduced again. Even so, they carried out 4,425 missions and brought some 210,000 tons of material to the area of operations.(C-5B image). In late 2002, the C-5s returned to Iraq to prepare for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the preparations they carried out some 6,200 missions (25% of the total) and transported some 330,000 tons (50% of the total). In January 2004, one of the C-5 participants in this operation received a missile from Iraqi insurgents that damaged an engine as it took off from Baghdad Airport. After some emergency repairs, the aircraft took off with only three engines to another destination to carry out full repairs.(C-5B image). These large aircraft have not only carried out military missions, but also provide urgent aid anywhere in the world after major natural disasters. As proof of this, they have participated after disasters in Nicaragua in 1973, Guatemala in 1976, Puerto Rico in 1989, the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or the Pakistan earthquake in 2005.(C-5M image). Since 2003, the progressive withdrawal of the C-5As has been carried out according to limitations established by Congress. However, in 2009 these limitations were removed due to the delivery of new C-17 aircraft and the delivery of the upgraded C-5M. On September 7, 2017, the last operational C-5A was withdrawn. Currently, all fifty-two C-5M Super Galaxy are in service with the 22nd Airlift Sq. (60th Air Mobility Wing) and the 9th Airlift Sq. (436th Airlift Wing) belonged to USAF. Within the Air Force Reserve still operational framed in 312th Airlift Sq. (349th Air Mobility Wing), 68th and 356th Airlift Sq. (433rd Airlift Wing), 337th Airlift Sq. (439th Airlift Wing) and 709th Airlift Sq. (512th Airlift Wing).
