Originally designated C-130E-II, the EC-130E (ABCCC) emerged during the wars in Southeast Asia of the mid-1960s, as an aircraft equipped to command and control the air battle using information supplied by all means of reconnaissance. For this purpose, the C-130 transport was equipped with the ASC-15 command battle staff container inserted in the cargo hold, the electronics of which had to be cooled with the help of large ram air intakes on either side of the fuselage. A true ‘forest’ of UHF/VHF communication antennae down the upper and lower fuselage, and large HF probes, served the installed communication systems. By 1999, ABCCCs were upgraded through the installation of Allison T56-A-15 engines and ABCC III containers, including satellite communication gear, JTIDS data links and secure communication systems. After playing a crucial role during Operation Deliberate Force in 1995, at least three aircraft of the 42nd ACCS/355th Wing were deployed to Aviano in 1999, including serials 62-1832 (illustrated here), 62-1857 and 62-1863. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)