The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a new-build design by Lockheed and proved adaptable to many roles, from carrying outsized cargo to dropping paratroops. The C-141 was used in regions as extreme as the heat and humidity of Vietnam, the deserts of the Middle East, and the frozen ice pack of Antarctica. Modification programs enabled the C-141 to make full use of its capabilities, by adding in-flight refueling plus extending the length of the fuselage. The plane was a valued and appreciated USAF asset in numerous missions, from disaster aid and humanitarian relief to doing their part in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and in the war on terror. The aircraft were eventually retired enmasse simply as a result of wear and tear in 2006. This book covers in detail all aspects such as interior/exterior configurations, cargo capabilities, missions, and modifications made throughout its service life. AUTHOR: John Gourley is a military veteran with a career as a crash/rescue fire protection specialist with the United States Air Force, and as a civilian working for the US government. His lifelong hobby has been photographing military hardware. SELLING POINTS: . A new, updated look at the C-141, the US Air Force's first four-jet-engined transport . Covers interior/exterior configurations, cargo capabilities, missions, and modifications made throughout its service life . All new photos, plus select diagrams and drawings 277 colour and b/w photographs