1 - The Black Vault

Talon community. 8 The IFR modification for the
Combat Talon fleet was discussed, along with the
upcoming Talon II test program. A schedule was
developed that allowed aircraft upgrades to be
made by LAS Ontario without creating an undue
hardship on any one squadron.
The annual Flintlock exercise in Europe was
the best opportunity for the 7th and 8th SOS to
train with other special operations forces and
practice their wartime mission. From 16 April to
23 May 1981, the 7th SOS again deployed to RAF
Weathersfield and established an Air Force Special
Operations Base for Flintlock 81. Subexercises
were conducted in Jordan, Tunisia, Italy,
Germany, Kenya, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Two live STARS were accomplished during the
German Subexercise Schwarzes-Pferd, the first
on 4 May 1981 by Major Tuck from the 7th SOS
and the second on 8 May by Maj Bob Meller from
the 8th SOS. During the exercise a 7th SOS aircraft
deployed to Kenya for Subexercise Black
Rock 81 under the command of Major Muggenborg.
When the aircraft landed on an unimproved
dirt runway for its first mission, the Combat
Talon broke through the runway’s outer crust
and became mired in mud up to its belly. All
subsequent Black Rock missions were canceled,
as maintenance and aircrew personnel spent the
next several days recovering the aircraft. Unnecessary
equipment was removed, and ramps were
built to allow the main gear tires to slowly rise
out of the mud as the aircraft was pulled forward
by a large tractor. A basic crew eventually flew
the aircraft to Nairobi, where minimal repairs
were made to several antennas on the aircraft’s
underbelly.* 9 * * * * * *
The 8th SOS deployed one Combat Talon to
Flintlock 81, with Meller as the aircraft commander
of 64-0567. Meller proceeded to RAF
Weathersfield, UK, and two 20th SOS HH-53H
Pave Low helicopters were deployed to Pisa AB,
Italy, by way of C-5 aircraft. The original exercise
requirement called for two Combat Talons from
the 8th SOS, but higher headquarters tasking
and maintenance problems at Hurlburt Field precluded
deploying the second aircraft. The original
deployment included a nonstop flight from
Hurlburt Field to RAF Weathersfield, with two
IFRs across the Atlantic. Bad weather on the first
tanker track forced the cancellation of the refueling,
and Meller was forced to divert to Lajes Field,
FROM DESERT ONE TO POINT SALINES
Azores. As the crew was preparing to depart Lajes
Field on 25 April, they discovered a fuel leak,
which grounded the aircraft. Fuel-cell repair was
not available at Lajes Field, thus forcing Meller to
request assistance from home station. Most of the
Talon crew was sent ahead to the UK on a C-141
while Meller, with a basic crew, remained at Lajes
Field until maintenance support could reach
them. On 28 April a fuel-cell technician arrived
and began working the fuel leak. Repairs were
made, and the aircraft departed Lajes Field and
arrived at RAF Weathersfield on 2 May. Between
4 and 18 May, Meller and his crew flew five exercise
missions but had three others canceled by the
Army after the crew had planned them and was
ready for launch. On 8 May Meller successfully
completed a live Fulton STARS when he exfiltrated
a US Army Special Forces officer from the
Schwarzes-Pferd subexercise area. The live recovery
was the first for Meller and was the second
one completed by an 8th SOS crew. Due to higher
priorities, Meller was recalled from the exercise
early and returned nonstop to Hurlburt Field on
19 May. After a 21-hour crew day and one IFR,
the aircraft arrived back at its home station in
Florida . 10 * * * * * *
When the Iranian rescue mission kicked off for
the 1st SOS in December 1979, the squadron had
recently begun its PAT program, which was designed
to expose squadron members to seldom
traveled areas of the Pacific. Contacts made and
information gathered on airfield operations
proved essential during the long deployment to
Oman through the Indian Ocean. The program
laid dormant throughout 1980 due to higher priority
Honey Badger tasking, but in June of 1981,
Turczynski resurrected the program, and his
planners coordinated an eight-day, one-aircraft
deployment (PAT 007) to Thailand from 21 to 29
June. During the deployment a FLIR and NVG
demonstration was given to RTAF officials, and a
briefing was given to the Joint US Military Advisory
Group, Thailand (JUSMAGTHAI) outlining
the capabilities of the Combat Talon weapons system.
In addition to the demonstration and the
briefing, the squadron reintroduced the MC-130E
to Thailand and, in the process, exposed the country
to the Combat Talon and its unique characteristics.
A secondary purpose of the deployment
was to reintroduce joint special operations forces
to Thailand. A contingent of US Army Special
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*A Combat Talon basic crew consists of two pilots, one navigator, one flight engineer, one radio operator, and one loadmaster.
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