1 - The Black Vault

MOUNT PINATUBO TO OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR
to the success of the new Combat Talon in the
Pacific. 139
On 20 June 1994 Colonel Williamson assumed
command of the 1st SOS from Reinholz, who departed
Kadena AB for the National War College.
Williamson had arrived at Kadena AB the previous
January and had served as the squadron’s
operations officer until assuming command. Colonel
Barwick became the new squadron operations
officer. 140 Williamson would have to focus much of
his time over the next year on personnel issues
generated by the conversion of the squadron to
Talon IIs. Barwick would concentrate on train -
ing his Talon I crews on the new helicopter aeria l
refueling system and on maintaining CT I combat
capability during the transition.
The decision to convert the 1st SOS to the CT
II prompted several concerns for the squadron.
Chief among those concerns were personnel issues
stemming from the lack of career opportunities
for CT I personnel. By transferring most of
the CT I fleet to the Air Force Reserve, little
opportunity was left for active duty CT I crew
members to remain in the weapons system. The
decision also placed some 1st SOS crew members
at risk of having to cross train into a third weapons
system within three years. To cope with the
anticipated personnel turbulence, the 1st SOS
identified aircrew members wishing to convert to
the CT II and sought to find those wanting to
remain at Kadena AB positions either within the
353d OSS or in the 17th SOS.* 141
On 8 July 1994 attention focused on North Korea
when Kim Il Sung died at the age of 82. He
had maintained his dictatorial position as the
Great Leader of the Hermit Kingdom since the
late 1940s. Possible instability resulting from his
death resulted in US forces in the Northeast
Asian region increasing their level of vigilance.
South Korean military forces went on alert in anticipation
of a possible attack from North Korea.
At the 353d SOG appropriate plans were reviewed,
and each squadron’s tasking under the
plans was assessed. Tension on the Korean peninsula
had remained high between the United
States and North Korea over the north’s refusal to
halt development of its nuclear capability. Only
after former president Jimmy Carter brokered a
deal in June 1994 did the tension slightly subside.
The death of Sung put the agreement at risk. After
additional negotiations, however, a new agreement
was signed in November even though a successor
to the late communist leader had not been
publicly announced. 142
Through the fall of 1994, the 353d SOG continued
to make progress on improving its facilities at
both Kadena AB and at Osan AB. Two K-Span
hangars were completed at Osan AB, and a contract
for renovating building 3524 was finalized at
Kadena AB. Headquarters AFSOC went to the
Air Staff and secured $1.3 million for the extensive
renovation project. In late September the
18th Wing finalized a renovation contract for
$800,000, which was the low bid for the project.
The remainder of the Air Staff designated funds
was used for other 18th Wing projects. 143
Exercise Foal Eagle absorbed most of the
group’s resources during November, with a majority
of the group’s assets deployed to Korea for the
exercise. By the close of 1994, the group had
many accomplishments to its credit. Perhaps the
most gratifying award came when the group was
recognized as having the Outstanding Safety Program
of the Year for AFSOC. The group had also
made great strides in implementing quality air
force initiatives, having completed a Unit Self Assessment
over a grueling two-month period in August
and September. For 1995 the group was
ready for the scheduled Quality Air Force Assessment
(QAFA) and was zeroing in on final preparations
for CT II.
The 7th SOS Deploys for
Operation Support Hope
After the previous hectic year for the 7th SOS,
1994 promised to be a bit more normal, with the
squadron concentrating on training in the Combat
Talon II and supporting the 352d SOG exercise
program. During a touch-and-go landing at RAF
Macrihanish, Scotland, on 23 February, the crew
experienced complete radar failure on its AN/APQ-
170 radar. The crew returned to the base to determine
if the radar could be repaired and the mission
continued. Upon inspection maintenance found a
two-foot by four-foot by 10-inch deep impression
in the nose radome that had caused severe damage
to both radar antennas and to other associated
radar equipment. A bird strike was discounted,
and later investigation revealed that the
__________
*Late in 1994 Air Force Personnel Center and Headquarters AFSOC dispatched a combined personnel team to Kadena AB to recruit aircrew
personnel for the new AC-130U model gunship and to assist crew members in attaining assignments of their choice. The personnel team arranged
assignments for 80 1st SOS personnel, including 17 who would retrain into CT II, 14 who would remain with the MC-130E CT I and later transfer
to the 8th SOS at Hurlburt Field, five to transfer to the HC-130P/N , and the remaining personnel either transferring to the AC-130U gunship or
remaining at Kadena AB in a nonflying staff position.
403