I remember flying into Bosnia in that configuration. I thought the pilots were trying to screw that plane into the runway. Then taking off with the extraction flights. The two passengers on the extraction ate their inflight meals before takeoff, were almost overhead and I thought they were going to puke on me.
Taking off from Suda Bay Crete at the moment of rotation we all heard this loud bang. One of the cargo latches had failed, no matter the crew said we would fly on, but don’t try to go back and use the John. A 4 hour flight, gee. Well after about 30 min the Battalion Chaplin in a loud voice booming out said “ The Hell with this”! , and went back to the John, he received applause upon his return and a steady line formed to take advantage of Gods blessing!