Mcchord Gets Planes, 129 More Personnel

This Tacoma-area base would gain 129 military personnel and one civilian under a series of military changes announced Tuesday by the Air Force.

The Pentagon said McChord will retire two C-141 cargo planes and receive its first new C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The C-17 is scheduled to arrive in June.

The move will result in an increase of 129 military personnel to the 62nd Airlift Wing, while the 446th Airlift Wing (Reserve) will lose 16 reservist positions and gain one civilian slot.

Eventually, all of McChord’s C-141s are to be replaced with C-17s. The new aircraft are capable of shorter takeoffs and landings, and are used for cargo as well as troop transport and air drops.