provide airtankers for fighting wildfires. Others were pressed into civilian cargo service. After a series of crashes, the age and safety of the aircraft being used as airtankers became a serious concern, and the U.S. C-119 airtanker fleet was permanently grounded in 1987. Eventually, many of these aircraft were provided to museums across the U.S. in a complicated – and ultimately illegal – scheme where stored USAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports and Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion anti-submarine patrol aircraft were provided to the contractors in exchange for the C-119s. (See U.S. Forest Service airtanker scandal.) After the end of the airtanker days, many C-119s flew in Alaska for Northern Pacific Transport, Gifford Aviation, Stebbins & Ambler Air transport, and Delta Associates, being used for public service contracts, such as hauling building materials to the villages in the bush of Alaska that have no road access. Several aircraft were observed, as late as 1990, by paratroopers with the 6th Infantry Division, to be in Forest Service use as jump planes for "smokejumper" firefighters in Alaska. These aircraft were boarded and toured, by the Army paratroopers, at Ft Wainwright, Alaska. Variants XC-119A The XC-82B modified to production standards, later became C-119A, then EC-119A as an electronics test bed. C-119B Production variant with two P&W R-4360-30 engines, 55 built. C-119C As C-119B with dorsal fins added and tailplane extensions removed, 303 built. YC-119D Project for a version with three-wheeled landing gear and removable pod, was designated XC-128A, none built. YC-119E Project for a version of the 119D with two R-3350 engines, was designated XC-128B, none built. YC-119F One C-119C modified with two R-3350-85 engines. C-119F Production variant, (71 produced by Henry Kaiser with Wright R-3350 engines), 256 built for the USAF and RCAF. C-119G As C-119F with different propellers, 480 built, some converted from Fairchild or Kaiser built C-119F. AC-119G Shadow C-119G modified as gunships, 26 conversions. YC-119H Re-designed version with extended wing and modified tail surface, one converted from a C-119C. C-119J C-119F and G converted with a modified rear fuselage, 62 conversions. EC-119J Conversions for satellite tracking. MC-119J Used for aircraft equipped for medical evacuation role. RC-119 Reconnaissance aircraft used by the Vietnamese Air Force YC-119K One C-119G modified with two General Electric J85 turbojets in underwing pods. C-119K Five C-119Gs modified as YC-119K. AC-119K Stinger C-119G modified to C-119K standard as gunships, 26 conversions. C-119L Modified variant of the C-119Gs,