1 - The Black Vault

PRAETORIAN STARSHIP
1968, with the fourth at LAS Ontario undergoing
modifications and phase inspections. 49
The most difficult challenge for the Combat
Spear unit was in the continuation training area.
To meet the requirement to replace all assigned
crews in such a short period, Detachment 2 at
Pope AFB had to accelerate by two months those
aircrews scheduled for SEA duty. The resultant
Combat Knife output ensured that the Vietnambased
Combat Spear Talons would continue to be
manned by fully qualified crews on a timely ba -
sis. 50 After initial checkout at Pope AFB, aircrews
arriving in South Vietnam had to continually practice
their special qualifications to maintain proficiency.
The Fulton STARS capability required a
heavy continuation training commitment. A STARS
training site established at Cam Ranh Bay in June
1967 was put to near-continual use during the
summer of 1968. In July the squadron activated
an extensive STARS demonstration program
whereby a Combat Talon aircraft would perform
recoveries at bases throughout SEA, including
Thailand and the Philippines. This demonstration
program ensured that the unit would have continuous
training opportunities, while at the same
time introducing the capability to potential customers
from all services. 51 An added benefit to the
demonstrations was to further validate the system
and refine its components to improve the ca -
pability. One such improvement was identified
for the recovery-kit parachute. With ground
winds over 15 knots, the kit was dragged a considerable
distance before it could be retrieved by
ground-party personnel. Through US sourcing,
this problem was eliminated with the development
of the ring-slot parachute. 52 Use of this
parachute was later adopted by the other two
Combat Talon squadrons.
Training in low-level terrain following was conducted
in the Philippines and Thailand. Combat
Talon aircraft conducted airborne interceptor
training, code-named Black Baron, with the 405th
Fighter Interceptor Wing and with ground-control
intercept controllers at Clark AB, Philippines. A
similar program was conducted in Thailand with
interceptor aircraft based at Udorn RTAFB and
other air bases throughout Thailand under the
same Black Baron program. 53
August brought about another organizational
change in the 15th ACS. On 1 August the 15th
ACS was redesignated the 15th Special Operations
Squadron by Special Order G-147, Headquarters
PACAF, dated 11 July 1968. The squadron
remained under the 14th SOW, with no
changes in organizational structure. The only major
change was found in the unit detail listing,
dated 31 July 1968. The personnel assigned to 1st
Flight Detachment were added to the 15th SOS.
Since the two units were not colocated at the
time, this change created problems in the administrative
and training areas. Additionally, the
15th SOS commander had no direct control over
1st Flight since both unit commanders reported
directly to the 14th SOW DCSO. 54 Later facility
upgrades and command agreements brought the
two units both physically and administratively
together, thus minimizing personnel accountability
problems.
From 1 July to 30 September, the 15th SOS
performed nine live Fulton STARS recoveries utilizing
personnel from units where the system was
being demonstrated. On 2 August the 15th SOS
commander, Colonel Hines, was recovered utilizing
the system at Nha Trang AB. By 30 September
the unit had performed 29 live recovery demonstrations
since its deployment to SEA in 1966.
In conjunction with these demonstrations, unit
personnel would sometimes prepare high-speed
delivery kits for F-4 fighter airdrop. The overall
package was quite impressive and succeeded in
publicizing the capability while providing the opportunity
for Combat Spear aircrews to practice
the event. The unit maintained the capability to
conduct Fulton combat recovery operations in accordance
with MACV OPLAN 37F-67. 55
On 12 October 1968 President Lyndon B.
Johnson proclaimed a bombing halt and restricted
flight operations into North Vietnam. SOG opera -
tions in NVN were directed to cease, and the remainder
of the month was spent recovering agent
teams. By the first of November, all agent teams
either had been exfiltrated or abandoned if they
were identified as being double agents. The cessation
of operations into North Vietnam had a demoralizing
affect on the 15th SOS. Virtually all
combat missions assigned to the squadron were
eliminated. The taskings most affected were those
supporting UW operations and the potential tactical
use of the Fulton STARS. 56 There was little
likelihood of utilizing the recovery system in South
Vietnam, since in-country-based, rotary-wing assets
were tasked to perform the rescue mission.
Three additional surface-to-air recovery demonstrations
were conducted in October and November
by Talon crews, two of which were two-man
pickups. The second dual pickup was conducted at
Cubi Point Naval Air Station (NAS) and was complicated
by an uncontrollable spinning of the two
104