1 - The Black Vault

PRAETORIAN STARSHIP
Project Honey Badger throughout the fall, so actual
movement of unit assets did not begin until
close to the first of the year. The squadron was
authorized to stand down from training missions
during the preparation and move period, but all
Honey Badger requirements had to be met. As
part of the movement plan, the unit was required
to resume normal training activities no later than
seven days after the move was complete. 34
Throughout the late fall, 1st SOS aircraft deployed
from Kadena AB to Clark AB for unit training,
and each carried a full load of unit equipment
from home station. Critical items that were one of
a kind, or those critical to the Combat Talon , were
moved beginning on 8 January. From 8 to 15
January 1981, shuttles were flown between the
two locations, and the remainder of the squadron’s
equipment and personnel were relocated to Clark
AB. On 15 January Brig Gen James R. Brown,
18th Tactical Fighter Wing commander, conducted
a departure ceremony on the Kadena AB flight
line, and Turczynski boarded the last Combat
Talon and led a three-ship Talon formation to
Clark AB. Upon arrival he was met by the commander
of the 3d TFW, Col Thomas G. McInerny,
who welcomed the squadron to the Philippines.
With the arrival of the three Combat Talons, the
squadron completed its unit move to Clark AB,
and it resumed local training the following day. 35
Special Warfare Exercise 81 and
the Loss of Aircraft 64-0564
Since the mid-1970s the 1st SOS had participated
in an annual joint and combined exercise in
the Philippines known as Special Warfare Exercise
(Specwarex). The exercise was hosted by US
Navy SEALs and had gradually expanded to include
forces from the Philippine Navy Special
Warfare Brigade and the Australian and New Zea -
land Special Air Services. Shortly after arriving at
Clark AB, the squadron deployed aircraft 62-1843
and 64-0564, along with 55 personnel, to Cubi
Point NAS, Philippines, for Specwarex 81. From 9
to 27 February, two aircrews, one commanded by
Fleming and the other by Jim Kirk, flew a full array
of missions supporting the exercise. The objectives
were (1) to test and evaluate joint/com bined planning,
coordination, and command and control of
special warfare operations; (2) to conduct special
warfare training while exchanging operational
techniques and expertise; (3) to conduct combined
and unilateral operations; and (4) to promote common
defense efforts through the mutual exchange
of operational concepts. To meet these objectives,
the exercise was designed around two phases. The
first phase was dedicated to unit cross training
and the exchange of operational techniques. The
second phase was a series of continuous field
training exercises that were supported by the two
Combat Talons and by helicopters, surface ships,
submarines, and other designated craft. The 1st
SOS established an Air Force Special Operations
Base (AFSOB) at Cubi Point NAS and was responsible
for all fixed-wing aircraft support for
the exercise. Low-level terrain-following routes
were flown that terminated in CRRC airdrops,
high-speed low-level aerial delivery system airdrops,
static line drops, and psychological warfare
operations. Short-field takeoffs and landings were
also accomplished in conjunction with infiltration
and exfiltration missions. 36
During the three-week period, the crews flew a
combination of daytime and nighttime missions
but gradually transitioned to night-only operations
toward the end of the exercise. During the 16-day
period from 10 to 26 February, Kirk’s crew was
scheduled to fly 12 missions. Each mission was
scheduled for a duration of five hours, with a total
of 60 hours scheduled for each crew. Throughout
the exercise the missions went as planned, with
only minor deviations due to aircraft maintenance
and weather in the objective area. On 25 February
Kirk’s crew was tasked to fly to Clark AB to pick
up an engine for aircraft 62-1843 after completing
its tactical mission in support of Specwarex. The
administrative airlift mission landed back at Cubi
Point NAS at noon after a 12-hour crew day that
had begun the previous midnight. The crew was
scheduled for their last mission of the exercise
early the following morning. Due to their extended
crew day on the 25th, their scheduled takeoff time
on the 26th of February was slipped from 0105 to
0430 local. The length of the mission was also
shortened, with the landing and mission termination
changed to 0546. 37
The aircrew departed their quarters at 0200 on
26 February and arrived at the AFSOB at 0205.
The crew was familiar with the low-level route,
having flown it several times during the exercise.
The mission profile included a nontactical departure
followed by a tactical landing at Cubi Point
NAS 30 minutes later. Upon landing exercise personnel
would rapidly onload the aircraft, and the
aircraft would then make a tactical departure with
the nine-man crew and 15 additional exercise
personnel on board. After reviewing the mission
profile, the crew briefed and filed their flight plan
by 0235. The aircraft departed Cubi Point NAS at
248