Last flight at Moody

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, flies an HC-130P Combat King along with Capt. Robert Allen, 71st Rescue Squadron C-130 pilot, for his fini-flight at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. Colonel Henderson is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flight hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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Excited to jump

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander (front), and Tech. Sgt. Mark Panzera, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman, sit before conducting a tandem jump off of an HC-130P Combat King at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The jump was part of Colonel Henderson’s fini-flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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Ready, set, jump

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson 23rd Wing commander, and Tech. Sgt. Mark Panzera, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman, prepare to jump off an HC-130P Combat King at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The jump was part of Colonel Henderson’s final or “fini” flight, a long-standing Air Force tradition that traces its roots back to the Vietnam War where pilots would commemorate their final mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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Don't look down

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, and Tech. Sgt. Mark Panzera, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman, parachute down to a drop zone at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The jump was part of Colonel Henderson’s fini-flight before his permanent change of station to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he will serve as the deputy commander of the 3rd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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Son to father

U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol member Scott Moker looks on as Calvin Henderson, son of Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, gives the cue to start the tandem jump for his father’s final flight at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. Moker helped set up the landing site for Colonel Henderson. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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Incoming colonel

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Panzera, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman, and Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, parachute down from the sky during a tandem jump from an HC-130P Combat King for Colonel Henderson’s final flight at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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Smiles

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, is all smiles after his tandem jump with an Airman from the 38th Rescue Squadron during his final flight at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The event was part of Henderson’s fini-flight. Afterward, he drove an all-terrain vehicle, flew an HH-60G Pave Hawk and was greeted by family, friends and Airmen of Moody. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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Joy ride

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, rides an all-terrain vehicle toward an HH-60G Pave Hawk during his fini-flight at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. Henderson parachuted from HC -130P Combat King and road to the HH-60 for the second part of his flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

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Soaring high

An HH-60G Pave Hawk flown by Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, flies over the skies of the Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range during a training mission with the 41st Rescue Squadron, July 12, 2011. The flight also served as part of Henderson’s fini-flight before departing the wing for Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Swift maneuvers

An HH-60G Pave Hawk flown by Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, flies over the skies of the Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range during a training mission with the 41st Rescue Squadron, July 12, 2011. During the mission, Henderson performed various aerial maneuvers in response to simulated combat scenarios. Aerial gunners on board also practiced hitting targets on the range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Sprayed

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, is showered by his family after taking his final flight in an HH-60G Pave Hawk at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. Henderson has served as 23rd WG commander for two years and is moving to become deputy commander of 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

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Colonel express

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, is bound and carted off the flightline at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. Fellow pilots threw Henderson into a tub of ice and then into a water-filled pool to celebrate his final flight as wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

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Jolly green

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, is thrown into a green pool after landing from his final flight in an HH-60G Pave Hawk at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The flight was Henderson’s last as 23rd WG commander before departing for Ramstien Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

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Family moment

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, shares a moment with his wife Erin and children Calvin and Katie after his return from his fini-flight on an HH-60G Pave Hawk at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 12, 2011. The fini-flight is a long-standing Air Force tradition that happens when a commander departs from the base. ( U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

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Wing commander takes final flight

Published July 13, 2011

Last flight at Moody

Excited to jump

Ready, set, jump

Don't look down

Son to father

Incoming colonel

Smiles

Joy ride

Soaring high

Swift maneuvers

Sprayed

Colonel express

Jolly green

Family moment