I’ve mentioned before that one thing I loved about the C-130 Hercules ( Herk) was its short legs. It needed to land and get fuel frequently. Ergo. I got to see lots of places some aircraft could overfly.
If we departed with cargo from Charleston for Europe across the mid Atlantic, we needed to plan a crew rest at Lajes Field, Azores to refuel. It was about an 8-9 hour flight.
As a young naviguesser, it was quite a navigation challenge with the high winds over the North Atlantic in the winter. After several hours of using only celestial or dead reckoning navigation, I was always pleased to see the islands 200 miles out on the radar, but right on the nose. That’s when I could adjust our heading and ETA.
In the 60’s Lajes was a big and key airlift base for us, since it was a major stopping point and gas station for all airlift aircraft.
The Officers’ Club at Lajes served full meals 24/7. Literally, you could order a lobster dinner at 3 am Sunday morning.
There were also all night poker games with high stakes that I never participated in. Scared money doesn’t win.
If you had time and could find wheels, you could leave the base and go to the small town on Terceira Island. When you left the base you felt like you went back in time 50 years. Men or boys riding or leading oxen was common. Roads and vehicles were ancient. There was a good restaurant downtown we went to several times. They served Alcatra, a tasty Portuguese pot roast which was excellent.
Word spread back home, among the ladies, that you could get wonderful, hand made, linen formal tablecloths at Lajes. Ergo, I was directed by my wife to bring one home. Yep, I bought one for about $50. Great bargain we absolutely needed to have. LOL
The other thing we all brought home from Lajes was Rose Mateus wine. It was a big favorite, especially among the ladies, and it cost a big 86 cents a bottle. Plus 11 cents duty when you got home. Remember, it was circa 1963.
After our crew rest we flew on to Chataueroux, France or Rhine- Main AB in Germany. Then to somewhere in the middle east. Lajes was always a fun stop. Enuf.