1 - The Black Vault

PRAETORIAN STARSHIP
making multiple sorties to accomplish the task in
one day. On 4 and 5 June three TAC C-130 aircraft
moved multiple loads from Pope AFB to
Hurlburt Field, and on 6 June the last load was
moved by a unit-assigned Combat Talon . The unit
move was officially complete with the 318th SOS
deactivated and the 8th SOS operational as part
of the 1st SOW. 78 The five aircraft transferred and
assigned to the 8th SOS in June of 1974 were
64-0559, 64-0562, 64-0566, 64-0567, and 64-0568.
The squadron would operate its Combat Talons
out of Hurlburt Field for the next 25 years. In
addition to fulfilling its operational commitments
in the Pacific, Europe, and South America, the 8th
SOS would staff the formal Combat Talon School
as had its predecessor at Pope. Many victories,
and some failures, would be realized by the squadron.
In the summer of 1974, however, as everyone
settled into assigned facilities at Hurlburt Field,
life was good in the Florida Panhandle.
Notes
1. History, 464th TAC, 1 January–30 June 1966, USAF
HRA, Maxwell AFB, Ala., 24–25.
2. Ibid., 25.
3. Technical Report, List of Persons Picked Up by the Fulton
Skyhook Aerial Recovery System, Robert Fulton personal
file number 11AA, Newtown, Conn.
4. History, 464th TAC, 1 July–31 December 1966, 26.
5. Ibid., 22.
6. History, 464th TAC, 1 January–30 June 1967, document
11.
7. History, 464th TAC, 1 July–31 December 1967, attach. C.
8. AFTO Form 95, aircraft 64-0571 record, Combat Talon
Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 July–31
December 1968, USAF HRA, Maxwell AFB, Ala., vol. 1, supporting
document 14.
10. Ibid., 1.
11. Ibid., 2–3.
12. Ibid., 10–11.
13. Ibid., 11.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid., 6.
16. “Plane Makes Emergency Landing Here,” Hickory
Daily Record, 17 January 1969, Combat Talon Archive, HQ
AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
17. John R. Lewis to Walt Sonksen, letter, subject: Trip
Report to Pope AFB, N.C., 5 February 1969, Combat Talon
Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
18. History, Detachment 2, 1st Special Operations Wing
(TAC), 1 January–30 June 1969, 16th Special Operations
Wing historian files, Hurlburt Field, Fla., 9.
19. Ibid., document 1, 1–2.
20. Ibid., 2–3.
21. Ibid., 11.
22. Ibid., 2.
23. History, Detachment 2, 1st Special Operations Wing
(TAC), 1 July–31 December 1969, 3.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid., 4.
26. Ibid., 18.
27. Ibid.
28. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1970, 63.
29. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 April–30
June 1970, 67.
30. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1970, 65.
31. Ibid., 66.
32. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 April–30
June 1970, pt. 2, chap. 5, 5.
33. Ibid., pt. 2, chap. 4, 5.
34. Ibid., pt. 2, chap. 6, 8.
35. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 July–30
September 1970, 58.
36. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1970, 42.
37. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1971, vol. 2, 7.
38. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 April–30
June 1971, vol. 1, 42.
39. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 July–30
September 1971, vol. 1, 38.
40. Ibid., vol. 2, attach. 2, 1.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid., 2.
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid.
46. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1971, vol. 2, supporting document 17.
47. Ibid., supporting document 16, 7.
48. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1972, vol. 1, 63.
49. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1971, vol. 2, supporting document 16, 7.
50. John Gargus, “Summary of 318th SOS’s Experiences
with the MOD-70 Aircraft,” Combat Talon Archive, HQ AF-
SOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
51. Ibid.
52. Ibid.
53. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1971, vol. 2, supporting document 16, 3, 7.
54. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–31
March 1972, vol. 1.
55. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 April–30
June 1972, vol. 1, 65.
56. Ibid., vol. 2, supporting document 17, 3.
57. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1972, vol. 1, 66.
58. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 July–30
September 1972, vol. 1, supporting document 48, xviii–xx.
59. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1972, vol. 2, supporting document 47, 7.
60. Ibid., vol. 1, 30.
61. John R. Lewis, “Program Family Tree,” Combat Talon
Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
62. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 October–
31 December 1972, vol. 2, supporting document 47, 3.
63. History, 1st Special Operations Wing (TAC), 1 January–
31 March 1973, vol. 2, attach. 1, 2.
74