1 - The Black Vault

BETWEEN THE WARS
The last half of the year saw two additional
PATs flown by 1st SOS crews. PAT 003 departed
Kadena on 25 July en route to Misawa AB, Japan,
where the crew remained for two days of
airborne intercept training with Japanese Defense
Force interceptors. The mission continued
north on 29 July, with a refueling stop at Shemya
AFB, Alaska, with a final destination of Elmendorf
AFB. During the following five days of
operations out of Elmendorf AFB, airborne intercept
training, low-level terrain following, and a
coastal penetration were accomplished. Some of
the best training of the year was completed during
PAT 003. On 2 August the aircraft departed
Alaska and returned to Kadena AB by way of a
refueling and overnight stop at Adak NAS,
Alaska. During the final leg to home station, the
aircraft was air refueled by a Kadena-based KC-
135 tanker. All objectives of the PAT were accomplished,
including familiarization with northern
Japan and Alaska, tactical and proficiency training,
long-range fuel planning and navigation, and
aerial-refueling operations. 61
The final PAT of the year was flown between
26 November and 5 December; it was scheduled to
support Exercise Midlink, a combined Iran-Pakistan
exercise with US, British, and host-nation naval
forces participating. The 1st SOS flew to Clark AB,
Philippines, on 26 November, and onloaded SEAL
Team One the following day at Cubi Point NAS.
E n route stops during the deployment included
Seletar Airfield, Singapore, and Diego Garcia. Sri
Lanka was originally scheduled in lieu of Diego
Garcia, but a fuel shortage there required that the
flight be rescheduled. The 1st SOS also transited
Halim P. International Airport, Indonesia, en route
back to Cubi Point to off-load the SEAL team after
the completion of the exercise. During the course of
the employment, the 1st SOS contingent was
based at Drigh Road AB, Karachi, Pakistan. Due
to miscommunications between PACAF and
USAFE (Pakistan was assigned to USAFE at the
time), the host government would not approve 1st
SOS tactical operations scheduled for the exercise,
including a CRRC airdrop in the Bay of Bengal.
After several frustrating days in Pakistan, the
crew departed as scheduled for its return to Kadena
AB. Although Midlink objectives were not met, PAT
004 was productive. Information and experience
gained by transiting international and territorial
airspace, load limitations, and other planning factors
were beneficial to the squadron’s future deployments
throughout the Pacific. Discussions with US
Embassy officials clarified transit procedures for the
countries visited and allowed discussions with
them on political considerations that could affect
future operational missions. PAT 004 provided
the 1st SOS with a solid database for planning
future missions into the Indian Ocean area. 62
The 7th SOS Returns to Iran
for JCS Exercise Aresh 78
In an ongoing program similar to PACAF’s
PATs, the 7th SOS continued to deploy throughout
its area of responsibility. During 1975 Greece
and the United States were at odds over the Turkey
situation, and the 7th SOS suffered by being
restricted from flying in Greece. By 1976, how -
ever, the squadron began limited operations, primarily
supporting the Hellenic Raider’s HALO
School and occasionally being approved for lowlevel
operations. Agreement was reached in 1978
between USAFE and the Hellenic Air Force to
allow the 7th SOS to provide continual low-level
orientation flights to Hellenic Air Force pilots and
navigators in exchange for unilateral low-level operations.
A typical profile for a Greek trainer in
1978 was to base out of Hellinikon AB, fly to
Elefsis AB (located near Athens) to onload Greek
observers from the Royal Hellenic Air Force’s
356th Tactical Airlift Squadron, and then fly a
four-hour low-level route up the length of the
country. A stop was made to off-load the observers
at Elefsis at the completion of the low-level portion
of the mission, and the aircraft would then
return to Hellenikon. 63
In addition to the Greek trainers, the 7th SOS
renewed its airborne intercept-training program,
beginning in November 1977, with the 401st
Tactical Fighter Wing’s F-4s stationed at Torrejon
AB, Spain. The squadron also supported the
Spanish HALO School during its deployments.
Although still conservative when approving lowlevel
requests, the Spanish government slowly
eased its restrictions and occasionally approved
low-level operations for the 7th SOS. All opera -
tions, however, had to be in direct support of the
Spanish military to get approval to fly in Spain. 64
On 30 March 1978 Lt Col (select) Thomas P.
Bradley assumed command of the squadron from
Lt Col Charles A. Caven, who had been the commander
since 13 July 1976. Colonel Bradley
brought a wealth of experience to his new job. He
had served a combat tour in Vietnam as an instructor
pilot in the C-130 and had completed an
exchange officer assignment to the Royal Australian
Air Force. He had also served as the course
director, Military Science Division, at the Air
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