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Phil Molina
Phil was killed 26 July 1975 45 miles north of Detroit. While on a low level training sortie from Selfridge ANGB a blade from the number 3 engine separated and impacted engine number 4 causing it to catastrophically destruct. The resulting assymetric thrust resulted in an immediate loss of control. No one survived.
This is the actual aircraft in which Phil and his crew lost their lives. After the investigation the USAF replaced the electric 3-bladed propeller on all C-130s with a hydraulic 4-bladed prop. The C-130 went on to become one of the safest military cargo planes and is still in use worldwide. Too late for Phil and his crew.
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