US Navy retires its last C-2A Greyhound after six decades of service

The United States Navy retired the last operational C-2A Greyhound from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40, concluding a six-decade career that began in 1966. The aircraft’s final mission ended at Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Sherman Field, where it was greeted by a formation that included the Blue Angels and a crowd of roughly 6,000 onlookers. After the ceremony, the plane was transferred to the National Naval Aviation Museum, with plans to open it to the public in 2027 as a tribute to its historic role.

The Greyhound, a derivative of the E-2 Hawkeye, carried up to 10,000 pounds of cargo and 28 passengers, serving as the Navy’s primary carrier-on-board delivery platform for high-priority shipments and medical evacuations. Its retirement marks the transition to the newer CMV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which provides greater operational flexibility and reduced maintenance demands. The event also signified the end of an era for enlisted aircrew who operated tail-hook equipped aircraft, a practice dating back to before World War II.