Special Operations.Com

· MC-130E Combat Talon I

· MC-130H Combat Talon II

· MC-130P Combat Shadow

· AC-130H Spectre Gunship

· AC-130U Spooky II Gunship

· MH-53J Pave Low III

· MH-60G Pave Hawk

· EC-130E Commando Solo

 

The 16 th SOW is located at Hurlburt Field, Florida and is the oldest and most seasoned unit in AFSOC.

· The 6th Special Operations Squadron is the wing's aviation foreign internal defense (FID) unit. Its members provide US military expertise to other governments in support of their internal defense and development efforts (IDAD).

· The 8th SOS and 15th SOS employ the MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft, respectively, supporting unconventional warfare missions and special operations forces. The MC-130 aircrews work closely with Army and Navy Special Operations Forces. Modifications to the MC-130 allow aircrews to perform clandestine missions minimizing the chances of being detected by hostile radar systems. Both units’ primary missions are day and night, adverse weather, infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces in hostile or denied territory. In addition, the MC-130E Combat Talon I is capable of clandestine penetration of hostile or denied territory to provide aerial refueling of special operations helicopters.

· The 9th SOS, at nearby Eglin AFB, flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker for worldwide clandestine aerial refueling of special operations helicopters. It has the additional capability of infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland tactics.

· The 4th SOS and 16th SOS fly the AC-130U and AC-130H Spectre gunships, respectively.

 

· The 20th SOS employs the MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter. Its specialized mission consists of day or night, all-weather, low-level penetration of denied territory to provide infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, or fire support for elite air, ground, and naval forces. The unique capabilities of the MH-53J permit operations from unprepared landing zones. · The 55th SOS flies the MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. Its mission is to provide a rapidly deployable, worldwide, multimission and combat rescue capability for wartime special operations and peacetime contingency tasking. It is used to infiltrate, resupply, and exfiltrate US and allied special operations forces during long-range, low-level penetrations of hostile or denied territory at night.

The 352 nd SOG at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, is the designated Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe. Its squadrons are the 7 th SOS, which flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II; the 21 st SOS, equipped with the MH-53J Pave Low III; the 67 th SOS, with the MC-130P Combat Shadow; and the 321 st Special Tactics Squadron.

The mission of the 352 nd SOG is to act as the focal point for all US Air Force special operations activities throughout the European and Central Commands theaters of operation. The group is prepared to conduct a variety of high priority, low-visibility missions supporting US and allied special operations forces throughout the European theater during peacetime, joint operations exercises and combat operations. It develops and implements peacetime and wartime contingency plans to effectively use fixed wing, helicopter and personnel assets to conduct infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of US and allied special operations forces. AFSOC forces provide precise, reliable and timely support to special operations worldwide.

The 352 nd SOG is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe, a sub-unified command of the US European Command. The 352 nd SOG has three flying squadrons, a maintenance and tactical communications squadron and a special tactics squadron. The organizations are:

· The 7 th SOS - MC-130H Combat Talon II. Mission is identical to that of the 15 th SOS.

· The 21 st SOS - MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter. Mission is identical to that of the 20 th SOS.

· The 67 th SOS - MC-130P. Mission is identical to that of the 9 th SOS.

· The 352 nd Maintenance Squadron is responsible for maintenance of assigned fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

· The 321st Special Tactics Squadron pararescuemen and combat controllers provide for the establishment of drop zones, landing zones, air traffic control, combat medical care and evacuation and combat search and rescue for fixed and rotary wing assets. In addition combat controllers trained in SOTAC conduct terminal guidance of fires delivered by fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Also, the 321 st has combat weathermen assigned to provide weather support for Air Force and Army special operations.

 

The 353 rd SOG, with headquarters at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Pacific. The 353 rd SOG is composed of three flying squadrons and the 320 th STS. The 320 th and two of the flying squadrons are located at Kadena Air Base: the 1st SOS which flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II, and the 17 th SOS, which flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow. The third flying squadron is located at Osan Air Base, Korea; the 31 st SOS which flies the MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter.

The group's mission is to act as the focal point for all US Air Force special operations activities throughout the Pacific. The group is prepared to conduct a variety of high-priority, low-visibility air support missions for joint and allied special operations forces in the region. It maintains a worldwide mobility commitment, participates in theater exercises, and supports humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The group develops wartime and contingency plans to effectively use the full range of helicopter and fixed wing capabilities, to include infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of US and allied special operations forces. The primary peacetime responsibility of the 353 rd SOG is to oversee the training and maintenance of its assigned units. The group ensures the combat readiness of these units through comprehensive involvement in numerous theater and joint chiefs of staff-directed military exercises and training activities throughout the Pacific.

The 353 rd SOG comprises the US Air Force's special operations air arm in the US Pacific Command. The commander is designated Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Pacific, a sub-unified command to the Special Operations Command, Pacific. The 353 rd SOG has three flying squadrons, a maintenance and tactical communications squadron and special tactics squadrons. These organizations are:

· The 1 st SOS - MC-130H Combat Talon II, Kadena AB, Japan. Mission is identical to that of the 15 th SOS.

· The 17 th SOS - MC-130P Combat Shadow, Kadena AB, Japan. Mission is identical to that of the 9 th SOS.

· The 31 st SOS, Osan Air Base, Korea, MH-53J Pave Low III. Mission is identical to that of the 20 th SOS.

· The 320 th Special Tactics Squadron pararescuemen and combat controllers provide for the establishment of drop zones, landing zones, air traffic control, combat medical care and evacuation, and combat search and rescue for fixed and rotary wing assets. In addition combat controllers trained in SOTAC conduct terminal guidance of fires delivered by fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Also, the 320 th has combat weathermen assigned to provide weather support for Air Force and Army special operations.

 

The 720 th STG, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, FL, has special operations combat controllers, pararescuemen, and combat weathermen who work jointly in Special Tactics Teams (STT). There are six Special Tactics Squadrons (STS) and one Combat Weather Squadron. The 320 th STS at Kadena AB, Japan and the 320 th STS at RAF Mildenhall, England are assigned to and under the operational control of the 353 rd and the 352 nd Special Operations Groups respectively. The 720 th also includes the 10 th Combat Weather Squadron with headquarters at Hurlburt Fld, FL, and detachments co-located with US Army Special Operations Command units.

AFSOC gains three Air Reserve Component units when the organizations are mobilized. One is the 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRES) at Duke Field, FL. The 711 th SOS flies the MC- 130E Combat Talon I, while the 5 th SOS flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow. The second is the 193 rd Special Operations Group (ANG) at Harrisburg International Airport, PA., which flies the EC-130E Commando Solo. The third component unit is the 123 rd Special Tactics Flight (ANG) at Standiford Field, KY.

The 919 th SOW at Duke Field, Fla., is the only Air Force Reserve special operations wing. When mobilized, it reports to Air Force Special Operations Command. The 919 th SOW trains Air Force reservists in MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft operations, maintenance and support functions to accomplish special operations. The 919 th reports to the Air Force Reserve's Tenth Air Force at Bergstrom AFB, TX. The 919th SOW has more than 1,400 reservists and full-time civilian employees assigned. Subordinate units of the 919 th are:

· The 711 th SOS transitioned from the AC-130A Spectre gunship to the MC-130E Combat Talon I beginning in September 1995. The new mission calls on the squadron to perform specialized day or night low-level delivery of troops or cargo into denied or hostile areas.

· The 5 th SOS, which activated in December 1994, flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker.

 

The 193 rd SOG, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Harrisburg International Airport, Pa., is the Air Force's sole asset for providing airborne radio and television broadcast missions. It is the only ANG unit assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. The Guard unit falls under AFSOC when mobilized for wartime action, humanitarian efforts or contingencies. The 193 rd provides an airborne platform for virtually any contingency, including state or national disasters or other emergencies, on a moment's notice, anywhere in the world. The 193 rd Special Operations Group performs this unique mission with six specially configured EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft. A secondary mission assigned to the 193 rd is providing airlift for Air Force Intelligence Agency missions with four modified EC-130Es.

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