1 - The Black Vault

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was changed forever. The US Army War College gave me the opportunity to make my first sojourn into recording history. I was pleased with my Military Studies Program publication, entitled AFSOC: Air Force’s Newest Command. Although it does not compare in scope to The Praetorian STARShip, it represents my first major writ - ing effort. My thanks to Lt Gen Bruce L. Fister, retired, who gave me the opportunity to command the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 26 months spent in group command was by far the most demanding assignment of my career, and it was the most rewarding. To have the opportunity to be the senior Air Force Special Operations commander in WestPac was a thrill I will never forget. To the men and women of the 353d SOG, I must say that you earned your superior reputation every day that I had the privilege to command. I will never forget the experience. While assigned to Headquarters AFSOC as the director of safety, my staff was professional and supportive, and taught me the impor - tance of doing the right thing the first time. What I thought would be a dull and tedious assignment turned out to be challenging and rewarding. The safety awards that AFSOC earned during my tenure in safety was indicative of the fine work of everyone in the command. As my time as the director of safety (and, indeed, my Air Force career) neared its end, my long-held desire to write the Combat Talon story surfaced as my top priority. I approached Herb Mason, Headquarters AFSOC/HO, with an outline of the project, and he was interested in presenting it to the command staff. I will forever be grateful to him and to Maj Gen James L. Hobson, retired, for approving the effort. Although I had little experience in undertaking such a colossal project, Clay T. McCutchan, Headquarters AFSOC staff historian, soon introduced me to Joseph D. Caver and Essie G. Roberts of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AF - HRA) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Over the next three years, I fear that I wore my welcome thin, but Joe and Essie did everything humanly possible to provide what I needed to complete my research. Other members of the AFHRA staff who were helpful included Archangelo DiFante and Dr. Forest Marion. I could not have written the book without their patience and help. The documents housed in AFHRA are truly a national treasure that would not be available without the dedication of the professionals working there. When the project was still in its infancy, I received a telephone call from John Gargus, a Combat Talon operator from the 1960s and 1970s era. His help in guiding me through the early years of Combat Talon was critical in telling that portion of the Talon story. As the months passed, others came forward to help. When I needed illustrations and photographs to include in the book, I was introduced to John R. Lewis, now retired from Lockheed Air Service. His continual help over the course of the project has been of untold value. His contributions have helped make the book come alive with images from the past. I had the privilege of spending a week with Robert E. Fulton Jr. and his lovely wife, Ann. Thank you both so very much for your help with the project. As my administrative requirements grew, the USAF Special Operations School provided essential support to keep the project on track. From computers to paper clips, the school provided everything that I needed. Col Brian Maher, retired, was extremely supportive of my effort, and Joyce A. Weber never failed me when I needed supplies to keep the project moving. When Herb Mason sent out a call for help on the project to the historians assigned to AFSOC, MSgt Daniel Wheaton of the 353d SOG immediately responded with a copy of all 1st SOS unit histories. xxvi
His quick reaction helped to jump start the project and saved me countless additional days TDY to AFHRA. The 16th SOW History Office, under the leadership of Dr. John Dabrowski, was also extremely helpful in providing information on wing-assigned Talon units. I have enjoyed the support of successive AFSOC commanders, including Lt Gen Charles C. Holland and Lt Gen Maxwell C. Bailey. Their support allowed me to see the project through to completion. As the project comes to fruition, I look back on my life and realize just how fortunate I have been to spend almost my entire career in special operations. As Gen Jimmy Doolittle once said, “I could never be so lucky again.” To the men and women of Air Force Special Operations Com - mand, to those of the US Army Special Forces, and to those of the US Navy SEALs, I stand in awe of your accomplishments. Without a doubt, your sacrifice and devotion to duty is no less than that of the Praetorian Guard of ancient Rome. To associate with the best and brightest of today’s military has made me a better man. Thank you all for the experience. xxvii
Page 2 and 3: i\1 -■-'^^.■■--y^lEil^peD
Page 4 and 5: The Praetorian STARShip The Untold
Page 6 and 7: This book is dedicated to all Speci
Page 8 and 9: Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER .
Page 10 and 11: Figure Page 13 Template Shift Due t
Page 12 and 13: Page Col Don Britton, First Command
Page 14 and 15: Page Aircraft 74-1683 Crashes onto
Page 16 and 17: Foreword As a young lieutenant flyi
Page 18 and 19: About the Author USAF Photo Col Jer
Page 20 and 21: The third factor driving approval o
Page 22 and 23: A Word from the Commander We in Air
Page 26 and 27: Introduction Welcome to the world o
Page 28 and 29: system, the following three chapter
Page 30 and 31: move was partially driven by the Ai
Page 32 and 33: Chapter 1 Establishment of Combat T
Page 34 and 35: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON coloc
Page 36 and 37: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON Two d
Page 38 and 39: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON immed
Page 40 and 41: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON Life
Page 42 and 43: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON condu
Page 44 and 45: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON Precu
Page 46 and 47: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON were
Page 48 and 49: ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT TALON SOG h
Page 50 and 51: Chapter 2 The Combat Talon Weapons
Page 52 and 53: although the early Fulton modificat
Page 54 and 55: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM tri
Page 56 and 57: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM Lt
Page 58 and 59: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM as
Page 60 and 61: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM mis
Page 62 and 63: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM F^C
Page 64 and 65: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM The
Page 66 and 67: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM ./
Page 68 and 69: ■ ■-:'■-:;■ ■■..kFTn \
Page 70 and 71: equipment malfunctioned, the more t
Page 72 and 73: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM top
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM it
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM TEP
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM CRu
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Yank aircraft operating in the Paci
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM Fig
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM ly
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TYPICAl TANKER ORBIT PATTERN THE CO
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THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM Not
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Once the Stray
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 1968: The Estab
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP ridgeline. John
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP that it was a t
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP terrain followi
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP to intercept th
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP assigned to the
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP making multiple
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Chapter 4 Combat Spear (The Vietnam
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COMBAT SPEAR quarters and were prov
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COMBAT SPEAR f -fpadc khi ai b6 phr
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COMBAT SPEAR The study cited the fo
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COMBAT SPEAR rn nilMirif Piti.r,,!
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COMBAT SPEAR proper crew rest could
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COMBAT SPEAR proper people. Moreove
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COMBAT SPEAR we never intended to e
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COMBAT SPEAR Christmas spirit and j
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COMBAT SPEAR ■ IBDCITI |«'4llH^
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COMBAT SPEAR with good radar target
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COMBAT SPEAR two loadmasters, and t
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COMBAT SPEAR was given up. The crew
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COMBAT SPEAR killed, and 187 were w
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COMBAT SPEAR volunteers shortly aft
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COMBAT SPEAR were provided to SOG b
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COMBAT SPEAR early as January 1970.
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COMBAT SPEAR r esources resulted. A
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COMBAT SPEAR live surface-to-air pi
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served as the squadron’s administ
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COMBAT SPEAR Korean government. 139
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COMBAT SPEAR marked the beginning o
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COMBAT SPEAR 76. History, 14th Spec
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Sembach AB to R
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Combat Talon de
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP June also saw t
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP prisoners of wa
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP and presenting
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 1973: Combat Ta
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP experienced wit
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Chapter 6 The Son Tay Prisoner of W
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID On
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID cr
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID Tr
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID al
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID th
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID RT
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID se
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID ob
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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RAID se
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Chapter 7 Between the Wars (1975-79
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BETWEEN THE WARS Tentatively, the p
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BETWEEN THE WARS be undertaken in M
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BETWEEN THE WARS was established as
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BETWEEN THE WARS From 28 March to 1
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BETWEEN THE WARS The 7575th OG exer
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BETWEEN THE WARS The last half of t
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BETWEEN THE WARS during 1978 the sq
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BETWEEN THE WARS Italy for the firs
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BETWEEN THE WARS SOW CCT member lin
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Chapter 8 The Iranian Rescue Missio
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION shah had
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION were oth
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The 1st SOW maintained the four gun
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Crew 1 C
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION large ru
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION helicopt
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION or barra
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Since th
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executing the mission. Kyle had jus
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION addition
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION where he
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION the resc
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equired eight and one-half hours of
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The prototype Benson tank was opera
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NVG landings. Because of the short
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION the 1st
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION of the C
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION transmis
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Photo co
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Photo co
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Fleming
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION had land
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION outside
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION ^f5
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION vertical
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION a decisi
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THE IRANIAN RESCUE MISSION Notes 1.
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Chapter 9 Project Honey Badger and
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PROJECT HONEY BADGER AND CREDIBLE S
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adar system similar to the Combat T
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Page 272 and 273:
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0428 local, made its tactical landi
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Chapter 10 From Desert One to Point
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Talon community. 8 The IFR modifica
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES an
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES sq
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exercise aircraft on the ground wer
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standard operating procedures for c
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES un
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to MAC’s newly formed Twenty-Thir
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES se
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES an
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plan, Colonel Hudspeth arrived in t
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES At
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES MA
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for five Combat Talons, Hobson and
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES US
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES de
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES as
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il-u Grenada Firlih Hunlfe^ Fiuil
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES th
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FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES 10
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP five-light syst
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP the total force
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP interest the co
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP operations exer
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP forces in being
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 1986: The Goldw
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP With rumors swi
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Photo courtesy
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP all on-aircraft
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Dur ing the fol
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP the ORI overwhe
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP H ■ BB a FT-
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 28. History, 2d
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP ranks to become
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP continued to ve
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP process. Events
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP launch. By 1730
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP USAF Photo Crew
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP spacing between
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP vegetation grow
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Task Force Blac
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP JTF-South force
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 21. Ibid. 22. I
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Cope Thunder Wi
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP the first night
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Within days of
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP SOW forces lean
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP was “not bad.
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP --7^*—1^, ■
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP ready for testi
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP start of the ai
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Orrell had depl
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 16 January the
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Saudi Arabia. H
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PRAETORIAN STARSHIP experts destroy
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Chapter 14 Mount Pinatubo to Operat
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MOUNT PINATUBO TO OPERATION JOINT E
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major eruption occurred. Seismograp
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headquarters. For AFSOC McPeak’s
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culmination of years of hard work b
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flew a SOCEUR assessment team into
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Early in the spring of 1993, all th
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Chapter 15 Operation Assured Respon
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OPERATION ASSURED RESPONSE TO THE N
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fuel available at the new location
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Epilogue 2000 and Beyond: A Combat
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surface will be covered by layers o
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Live Fulton STARS Made by Combat Ta
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Person Date Location Recovery Pilot
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Partial Summary of Upgrades, MOD-90
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—X Band Receiver/Transmitter: On
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Glossary AAA AAF ABCCC ABW ACS AD A
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CTJTF CTMR CTW CV DCS DCSO DIA DMZ
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MATS MC MCAS MCM MEU MFF MFP MIA MO
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SKE SLOG SMM SOAR SOCCENT SOCCT SOC
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Index Aircraft B-17: 2-4, 15, 17, 2
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Far East Command (FECOM): 5-8 Fulto
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