1 - The Black Vault

MOUNT PINATUBO TO OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR
Korea was identified as an interim decision,
which implied that the decision would be reviewed
sometime in the future. This caveat made
the basing issue more acceptable to both Japan
and South Korea, but it made facilities improvements
and new construction extremely difficult
for the wing. 70
On 23 February 1992 Colonel Reinholz assumed
command of the 1st SOS from Mallon, who
was reassigned to the Joint US Military Group in
Manila, Republic of the Philippines. With the announcement
of the beddown of the wing at
Kadena AB and at Osan AB, agreements had to
be made between the 353d SOW and the 18th
Wing, which was the host unit at Kadena AB, and
with the 51st Wing at Osan AB. On 14 May
Stankovich signed a facilities agreement with
General Hurd at Kadena AB, and on 4 June he
signed an MOU with the 51st Wing at Osan AB.
These two agreements were followed in September
with the awarding of a contract for $4.5 million
for refurbishment of facilities at Kadena AB,
and a $1.5 million contract for Osan AB. 71
During the summer of 1992, the 1st SOS received
its first two MOD-90 MC-130E Combat Talons
(63-7785 and 64-0565). The third MOD-90 aircraft
(62-1843) arrived in January 1993. Additional
modifications to replace the center wing and to
add helicopter refueling capability to the Pacific
Talons were scheduled for 1993. In addition to the
two MC-130Es, the 1st SOS continued to possess
one C-130E slick, which it had used extensively to
move 353d SOW equipment from Clark AB to
Kadena AB. The C-130E slick also provided a pilot
proficiency platform that enabled the squadron
to train and season new crew members as they
were assigned to the squadron. 72
To minimize the impact of the unplanned relocation
of the squadron from Clark AB, Reinholz
and the 1st SOS maintained an aggressive exercise
schedule. Many of the training areas frequented
by the squadron had taken years to develop,
and the island location of Kadena AB
made those training areas even more important.
The squadron kept its assigned aircraft on the
road supporting both JCS exercise commitments
and smaller, yet equally important, JCET events.
Deployments included those to Australia, Korea,
mainland Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the
Philippines. The squadron also supported JCS
Exercise Tandem Thrust in the western United
States and unilateral training in Hawaii. Al -
though the schedule was sometimes hectic and
challenged the squadron to execute as planned,
Photo courtesy of John R. Lewis
Combat Talon 64-0565 was the first aircraft to receive the complete MOD-90
modification. Pictured is part of the MOD-90 production team. Note the rising
Phoenix and the motto “The Guts to Try” nose art. The aircraft had been heavily
damaged at Desert One. First row left to right: Rich Ryan, Mike Rosenbaum,
Frank Sharkany, and Guy Washburn. Second row left to right: Darwin Nicely,
Don Henderson, Tom Jozwiak, Tom Willis, Jim Schaeffer, Bob Lewis, John Waddington,
and Jeff Hurst.
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