Whether it's transporting litters of equipment, serving as a flying ambulance for troops, or airdropping humanitarian aid, the C-17 Globemaster III plays a versatile role for the U.S. military.

With Boeing scheduled to fulfill its order C-17 from U.S. Air Force next month, and likely shuttering production of the aircraft for good soon thereafter, Stars and Stripes takes a look back at some of the iconic shots of the aircraft that's been a backbone for the military since the late 1980s.

This is a preview of gallery content that is currently available to Stars and Stripes Tablet Edition subscribers. To subscribe, please download our iPad app. Subscribers enjoy first access to the latest Stripes feature stories, exclusive photo galleries and more. The Stars and Stripes app is free to download from the Apple App Store. Tablet Edition subscriptions are regularly$3.99 a month. Taking advantage of our special introductory offer will give new subscribers up to four months for the price of one.