1 - The Black Vault

served as the squadron’s administrative and operations
headquarters, while building 874 housed
the loadmaster section and stored the Fulton
STARS equipment. Squadron life support was located
in one-third of building 3432 along with individual
aircrew lockers used to store aircrew flight
gear. The fourth facility assigned to the 90th SOS
was a quonset hut (building T-829), which provided
storage for infrequently used equipment
items. 126 Unaccompanied billeting was a problem
from the beginning at Kadena AB, with enlisted
members being housed in Barracks 713, which
was a substandard, nonair-conditioned facility.
Although the unit’s days at Nha Trang AB had
ended, the squadron continued to fulfill an operational
commitment to SEA. The squadron established
an FOL at Nakom Phanom RTAFB, Thailand,
and maintained one aircraft and one crew
there, with a small support staff and a maintenance
package, to fly leaflet missions targeted primarily
at North Vietnam. On 10 November 1972
the squadron was notified that its four Clampmodified
Talons would be replaced with four Yank
aircraft equipped with more powerful Allison T56-
A-15 engines (see chap. 2).* 127
On 20 November the squadron was alerted for
deployment of a second aircraft and crew to NKP
in preparation for an expanded PSYOPS campaign
designed to coincide with the peace talks
taking place in Paris. The operation was designated
Tempo Surge, and Pinard put two aircrews
on 24-hour alert status. On 10 December, with
peace talks at a critical phase, the 90th SOS sent
a second aircraft and two crews to NKP. Pinard
deployed forward to supervise arrangements associated
with the expanded operation. For the
first week, the 90th SOS, supported by 18th TFW
maintenance personnel, flew multiple sorties
daily while living in hot, open-bay barracks. Because
of the overcrowding at NKP, Pinard and
his staff began to look for a better base of operations,
one capable of accommodating the expanded
tasking. 128
Before deploying for Tempo Surge, word arrived
at Kadena AB that the squadron would be redesignated
the 1st SOS. PACAF Movement Order
Photo courtesy of Steve Cromer
COMBAT SPEAR
Combat Spear rigged for leaflet drop during Tempo
Surge. Note the flare pistol held by the loadmaster,
Steve Cromer. It gave new meaning to the old phrase
“unarmed and unafraid.”
Number 15, dated 5 December 1972, directed the
commanders, Thirteenth Air Force and Fifth Air
Force, to take whatever actions necessary to relocate
the 1st SOS and the 90th SOS, without personnel
and equipment, from NKP, Thailand, and
Kadena AB, Okinawa, to Kadena AB and Clark
AB, respectively, effective 15 December 1972.
Upon arrival of the 1st SOS flag at Kadena AB,
the squadron was reassigned to the 18th TFW
and assumed the assets of the 90th SOS. In turn
the 90th SOS moved to Clark AB and was assigned
to the 405th Fighter Wing awaiting personnel
and equipment.** 129
On 13 December the first Yank aircraft, tail
number 63-7785, arrived at Kadena AB. The first
training flight in the new aircraft was conducted
on 14 December, and by the end of the month,
most personnel had been trained. With Tempo
Surge operations in full swing, fully one-half of
the newly designated 1st SOS was deployed to its
FOL in Thailand. On 15 December aircraft 64-
0561 was sent to Ramstein AB, Germany, as part
of the aircraft redistribution program, and was
permanently assigned to the 7th SOS. 130 A second
Yank aircraft (62-1843) arrived at Kadena from
LAS Ontario on 6 February 1973.
__________
*The four aircraft—62-1843, 63-7785, 64-0564, and 64-0565—had formerly been Yard-configured and were assigned to the Heavy Chain
program. When Heavy Chain was terminated earlier in the year, the four aircraft were modified into the Yank configuration and were assigned to
Combat Spear in the Pacific. The more powerful engines allowed higher operating altitudes critical to the high-altitude delivery of PSYOPS
material.
**The 1st SOS had been stationed at NKP RTAFB, Thailand, flying A-1E Skyraiders from December 1967 to November 1972. The squadron flew
its last mission in the A-1 Skyraider on 7 November 1972. Unit aircraft and equipment were transferred to the Vietnamese Air Force and other
friendly countries in the region, and its personnel were reassigned to units throughout the Air Force. The 90th SOS had been a fighter squadron
when its flag was transferred to Nha Trang AB without personnel or equipment, to absorb the deactivated 15th SOS. The 90th was retained on
active duty, and the 15th SOS flag was retired at that time. With the move of the 90th’s flag to Clark AB, Philippines, it became once again a
fighter squadron flying the F-4 Phantom.
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