Retired Lt. Col. Jim Akin, a member of the first C-130 demonstration team known as the Four Horsemen, recently visited a C-130H Hercules aircraft at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. This visit brought back fond memories for Akin, who flew with the team from 1957 to 1960. Now 99 years old, Akin remarked, “It brought back memories, good memories and sad memories … It just taught me how much I miss it. That’s the finest aeroplane they ever put in the air in my opinion, the C-130.”
U.S. Air Force illustration by Tech. Sgt. Justin Norton
The Four Horsemen, named in honour of the backfield of the 1924 Notre Dame football team, were formed shortly after the C-130 entered service in the Air Force in December 1956. The team, consisting of pilots Gene Chaney, James Akin, David Moore, and Bill Hatfield, showcased the C-130A’s impressive manoeuvrability and its ability to take off and land on short runways. Akin is the last surviving member of the original team.
During his visit, Akin toured a C-130H model, accompanied by his daughter Sharon Benn and granddaughter Col. Elizabeth Mathias, head of the U.S. Air Force Academy Department of English and Fine Arts. Col. DeAnna Franks, 302nd Operations Group commander, guided Akin through the aircraft, where he could examine the flight deck, cargo bay, and crew compartment.
Akin noted the advancements in technology between the C-130A he flew and the C-130H, particularly the propeller systems. Franks reflected on the experience, stating, “I tried to relate to my career of flying C-130s in the last 20 years,” but acknowledged that it paled in comparison to Akin’s impact on the “Herc family.” She felt honoured to share the experience with him, seeing him relive many historical moments.
For Mathias, the visit was particularly poignant. “He served in the Air Force long before I was born so while I’ve heard his stories, I had never seen him in an Air Force setting before this visit,” she shared. Witnessing her grandfather reconnect with a significant part of his life left a powerful impression.
Akin’s military career extended far beyond his time with the Four Horsemen. He served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, during which he was shot down twice while flying the C-7A. He also flew a variety of aircraft throughout his career, including the C-119, B-25, P-38, and civilian crop dusters and executive transport aircraft.
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