1 - The Black Vault

PRAETORIAN STARSHIP
to complement the other sophisticated navigation
equipment found on the Combat Talon. 144
Also in October PACAF tasked the 1st SOS to
evaluate the Combat Talon’s capability to accurately
airdrop supplies utilizing the container delivery
system (CDS) from altitudes up to 11,000
feet. Aircrews were not current in the CDS and
required training in the basic procedure before
moving on to high-altitude airdrops. The 1st SOS
project officer, Lt Col Joseph J. Neff, contacted
the 374th TAW at CCK, Taiwan, for assistance.
The 374th TAW sent standardization/evaluation
personnel to Kadena AB to supervise the 1st SOS
checkout. The evaluation consisted of 10 airdrops
and commenced on 17 October. For the drops, 1st
SOS crews recorded a circular error average of 17
yards from the desired point of impact from
11,000 feet above the ground. After two days of
multiple airdrops, all 1st SOS crews were qualified,
and the 374th TAW personnel returned to
Taiwan. To facilitate safe CDS operations by the
Combat Talon, system improvements were developed.
A new forward restraint assembly was designed
by TSgt John C. Stumpf to accommodate
the expected larger loads associated with CDS
drops. MSgt Jimmie O. Riggs and TSgt Ray C.
Doyle undertook the project of researching and
writing the checklists for the new-type drop. The
draft checklists were forwarded to Headquarters
PACAF for inclusion in MCM 55-130, volume 2. 145
Within the next four months, the newly acquired
capability was employed in SEA operations.
The worldwide fuel shortage brought on by the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ oil
embargo had a severe impact on military opera -
tions around the world in the late fall of 1973. The
1st SOS was the only unit assigned to the 18th
TFW/Fifth AF to have a combat mission in SEA.
As a result the decision was made to reduce the
Cambodian operation from 150 flying hours each
month to 130 hours. At home station the unit was
reduced from 150 flying hours each month to 37
hours, thus resulting in a total reduction of 167
hours each month for the squadron. The reduction
in flying hours effectively decreased unit training
sorties by 79 percent. Although flying time available
to the unit was temporarily reduced, additional
training opportunities were realized in November
when the Philippine government approved
resumption of low-level flying. The low-level
routes were surveyed in November, and the squadron
flew its first training flight in December. 146
Tasking for the 1st SOS at Takhli RTAFB, although
reduced by 20 hours each month flying time,
continued with daily sorties into Cambodia. To
save valuable flight time, PSYOPS materials
were condensed into loads that maximized the
aircraft’s cargo compartment during each mission.
Mission profiles were also altered to maximize
fuel efficiency. Squadron support vehicles, including
trucks, forklifts, and other general purpose
vehicles, either were parked or turned over to the
base motor pool. Conservation efforts resulted in
significant reductions in total MO-GAS and JP-4
consumption. 147
The Psychological Operations Campaign in
SEA ended in December 1973. The final campaign
had begun in January 1971, when the 90th SOS
was still stationed at Nha Trang AB, Vietnam.
During the four months prior to the January 1973
Vietnam cease-fire, when the sortie rate was increased
from three each day to six, the 1st SOS
flew 145 sorties and dropped more than 1.5 billion
leaflets. For the entire campaign, the 1st SOS
dropped more than 9.5 billion leaflets with many
different themes and psychological messages directed
at North Vietnam and Cambodia. 148 With
the end of the PYSOPS campaign, the FOL at
Takhli RTAFB was shut down, and the aircraft,
equipment, and personnel were redeployed to
Kadena AB. The success of the overall campaign
could be directly attributed to the hard work and
dedication of the men and women of the 1st SOS
and its predecessor, the 90th SOS.
1974: High-Altitude Airdrops into
Cambodia and the End of Hostilities
It was not long before combat operations in SEA
were once again the focal point of the 1st SOS. As
a result of its newly acquired CDS capability, the
squadron was tasked on 23 February 1974 to deploy
within 24 hours to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand,
for high-altitude CDS drops into Cambodia.
During the period 24–27 February, one aircraft
and crew flew seven combat sorties and delivered
70 tons of needed ammunition to ground combat
forces under enemy fire in Cambodia. All 16 loads
were dropped on target from an altitude of 11,000
feet. The combination of a highly accurate naviga -
tion system and an upgraded System 56 ECM
suite made the Combat Talon ideal for the highaltitude
CDS mission. 149
During March 1974 the squadron participated
in its first Foal Eagle exercise in Korea. The lowlevel
routes that had been surveyed the previous
fall were utilized. Just as the Flintlock exercise
series in Europe became the centerpiece special
operations exercise for the 7th SOS, Foal Eagle 74
118