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■ ■-:'■-:;■ ■■..kFTn \ -■^ Ll-IL hi: I \\~ If, -^iTTP- —- I ..iLl^'i._.. 'i-l- /:ii?'^'>^ Figure. 5h. Lift Line Attached to Primary Winch (Source: LTM 1MC-130E-1, 1 October 1981, Combat Talon Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.) Figure 5j. Package Retrieved and Stopped at Davit Pulley (Source: LTM 1MC-130E-1, 1 October 1981, Combat Talon Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.) - ■ 4 n D ''i-fi'.': IJLHIB \ ..V r ^\ ■ j .'^^^"[lii — ■■--'--- ' ' - J- ■I.-.-II-- • [I''L F-WJ Figure 5k. Package Brought Aboard Aircraft (Source: LTM 1MC-130E-1, 1 October 1981, Combat Talon Archive, HQ AFSOC/HO, Hurlburt Field, Fla.) ^V ■crr-^ : .^ -L. ■-'!, ■- — ■' ^^^:■T^l.[:.llLl^:■: ■ .-r !■ -.. :-i I- 'f ;'■
PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 1966 when the system was new and being certified for operational use. As the Combat Spear contingent deployed to SEA, Combat Talon live recoveries continued there during 1967 and 1968. By 30 September 1968 Combat Spear crews had performed 29 additional live recoveries, and the unit continued live pickups until 30 August 1971. 64 No malfunctions were recorded that resulted in injury or loss of life. After August 1971 Combat Spear did not make any more recorded live pickups. In 1973 Combat Spear converted to non-Fulton-capable “Yank” aircraft and closed the book forever on the recovery capability in the Pacific. After Combat Spear deployed to SEA in 1966, the Combat Knife unit at Pope AFB was tasked with training additional crews for the Combat Arrow unit in Europe and training replacement crews for the 1968 SEA rotation. Available records indicate that after the initial six live recoveries were made in 1966, no other live pickups were performed by the stateside-based Combat Knife unit. The school of “no live recoveries for training” was firmly in control at Tactical Air Command (TAC) headquarters. Similarly, the European Combat Arrow unit did not perform live recoveries after its 1968 deployment to Ramstein AB, Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Ironically, it would be the European unit that championed the utility of the Fulton system and displayed it as a primary capability for long-range extraction of friendly forces from behind enemy lines. It did not, however, record any live pickups during training until the late 1970s, when the system again was utilized for live training recoveries. In 1978 US Army colonel William H. Tyler, commander, Special Operations Task Force, Europe, initiated a request to US Air Force, Europe (USAFE) for resumption of limited live pickups for training. Capt John Harbison and TSgt Buff Underwood, both assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) at that time, put together a presentation for the USAFE/deputy commander of operations, Maj Gen Robert W. Clements, and briefed him on the system. At the conclusion of the briefing, Colonel Tyler asked for approval to do a live surface-to-air recovery and was promptly told “no.” Not being one to take no for an answer, Colonel Tyler postponed any further requests and vowed privately to do a live surface-to-air recovery during the next Flintlock exercise, when he would have operational control of the 7th SOS. True to his word, Colonel Tyler authorized the 7th SOS to perform a live surfaceto-air recovery, and on 23 April 1979 he became the first person extracted by the 7th SOS utilizing the Fulton recovery system. A few days later, Capt Skip Davenport made a second live pickup, extracting Air Force Capt Bruce Weigel during Subexercise Schwarzes-Pferd in southern Germany. For the next three years, live surface-to-air recoveries were accomplished during the annual Flintlock exercise by 7th and 8th SOS personnel. The last live surface-to-air recovery attempt occurred on 26 April 1982 at Canadian forces base, Lahr, in southern Germany. A system malfunction resulted in the release of the person being picked up, and he did not survive his injuries. Combat Talon crews assigned to the 7th and 8th SOS continued to maintain proficiency in the system after a thorough refurbishment was conducted in the 1985 period. The “no live recoveries for training” idea persisted, however, and no live surface-to-air recoveries were ever again accomplished. In November 1998 the Fulton STARS was removed from the remaining Combat Talon Clamp aircraft, and the capability was no longer available. The STARS had been an integral part of the weapons system since its inception in 1965. (See appendix A for a list of persons picked up by the Fulton STARS.) The Terrain-Following/ Terrain-Avoidance Radar System Although not as visually overt as the Fulton STARS modification, the ability of Combat Talon to fly low level in the TF/TA mode was at the heart of its unique capability. By 1965 Texas Instruments (TI) had produced an operational TF/TA radar for the RF-4 Phantom, which it identified as the AN/APQ-99. When Project Heavy Chain aircraft were modified beginning in late 1964, the AN/ APQ-99 was adapted for the C-130E as the SPR-3 and installed in the two assigned aircraft. When Project Stray Goose kicked off in the spring of 1966, the SPR-3 was further modified by TI to the AN/APQ-115 configuration and installed by LAS Ontario on the 14 Combat Talon aircraft. The original C-130E production radar (the AN/ APN-59B) was removed from the aircraft at that time. The AN/APQ-115 remained the primary radar system on the Combat Talon throughout the 1960s, but it suffered from a low mean-time-between failure (MTBF) rate. A low MTBF rate equated to increased downtime for the radar, with additional maintenance and parts required to keep the system operationally ready. The more often a piece of 38
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i\1 -■-'^^.■■--y^lEil^peD
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The Praetorian STARShip The Untold
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This book is dedicated to all Speci
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Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER .
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Figure Page 13 Template Shift Due t
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Page Col Don Britton, First Command
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Page Aircraft 74-1683 Crashes onto
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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 24 and 25: was changed forever. The US Army Wa
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 70 and 71: equipment malfunctioned, the more t
Page 72 and 73: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM top
Page 74 and 75: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM it
Page 76 and 77: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM TEP
Page 78 and 79: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM CRu
Page 80 and 81: Yank aircraft operating in the Paci
Page 82 and 83: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM Fig
Page 84 and 85: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM ly
Page 86 and 87: TYPICAl TANKER ORBIT PATTERN THE CO
Page 88 and 89: THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM Not
Page 90 and 91: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP Once the Stray
Page 92 and 93: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP 1968: The Estab
Page 94 and 95: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP ridgeline. John
Page 96 and 97: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP that it was a t
Page 98 and 99: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP terrain followi
Page 100 and 101: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP to intercept th
Page 102 and 103: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP assigned to the
Page 104 and 105: PRAETORIAN STARSHIP making multiple
Page 106 and 107: Chapter 4 Combat Spear (The Vietnam
Page 108 and 109: COMBAT SPEAR quarters and were prov
Page 110 and 111: COMBAT SPEAR f -fpadc khi ai b6 phr
Page 112 and 113: COMBAT SPEAR The study cited the fo
Page 114 and 115: COMBAT SPEAR rn nilMirif Piti.r,,!
Page 116 and 117: 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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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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