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 Special
Operations.Com
15th Special
Operations Squadron
The
15th Special Operations Squadron, located at Hurlburt
Field, Fla., is one of eight flying squadrons
within the 16th Special Operations Wing. The squadron
flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II. Specially modified
to support unconventional warfare and special
operations forces worldwide, the Combat Talon
II is capable of penetrating a hostile environment
at low altitudes and in inclement weather.
The Combat Talon II is a derivative
of the C-130H Hercules modified for special operations.
The mission of the aircraft involves a global,
day and night, adverse weather capability to airdrop
and airland personnel and equipment in support
of U.S. and allied special operations forces.
The 15th SOS history begins with the 18th Observation
Squadron, activated February 5, 1942 at Dover,
Del. The unit was redesignated the 15th Antisubmarine
Squadron (Heavy) Nov. 29, 1942, and assigned to
the 26th Antisubmarine Wing, Miami, Fla. The primary
operational aircraft of the 15th was the B-24.
The unit distinguished itself by participating
in arduous, over-water patrols in search of German
U-Boats. The 15th Bomb Squadron (Very Heavy) was
activated June 25, 1944, at Dalhart Army Airfield,
Texas. The unit was equipped with specially modified
B-29s, stripped of armament, except for tail guns,
and fitted with the AN/APQ-7 "Eagle"
radar. This new and experimental radar permitted
the bombing of targets through zero visibility.
The 15th distinguished itself in contributing
to the destruction of Japan's oil producing industry,
relieving and resupplying the POW camps after
World War II, and participating in a fly over
of the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay. The
15th Air Commando Squadron was created March 15,
1968, at Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, and assigned
to the 14th Air Commando Wing. The unit had been
known as Detachment 1, 314th Tactical Airlift
Wing, since November 1966. The unit was equipped
with four UWC-130Es. Its mission was to conduct
tactical airlift operations in support of selected
American and Vietnamese counter-insurgency forces
in Southeast Asia, conduct rescue and recovery
operations as directed by the Joint Personnel
Recovery Center using the Fulton Recovery Systems
and conduct other special operations under the
"Combat Spear" program. The unit distinguished
itself by accomplishing 30 Fulton recoveries in
a reporting period. In one 90-day period, two
Silver Stars, 40 Distinguished Flying Crosses,
121 Air Medals and eight Bronze Stars were awarded
to unit personnel. The 15th Air Commando Squadron
was renamed the 15th Special Operations Squadron
Aug. 1, 1968. No significant changes in the 15th
SOS mission were made. The 15th SOS was deactivated
Oct. 31, 1970. A direction by Congress in 1981
to upgrade and expand the Combat Talon fleet set
in motion the Combat Talon II program. Actual
flight testing of the MC-130H began in September
1988. The 1275th Test and Evaluation Squadron
was responsible for initial flight testing. The
MC-130H arrived at Hurlburt Field in 1991 and
was assigned to the 8th SOS.
The 15th SOS was reactivated
Oct. 1, 1992 at Hurlburt Field. Members of the
initial cadre at Hurlburt continued to perform
flight tests, deploy and also conduct formal school
training. The unit has since distinguished itself
by supporting more than 24 readiness exercises,
eight real world deployments, successfully completing
the first around-the-world deploy-ment of a single
Combat Talon II, and pioneered the first-ever
formation flying techniques under special operations
conditions involving both Combat Talons I and
II. The 15th SOS maintains operationally ready
combat aircrews on constant alert, responsive
to any real world threat "Any Time, Any Place."
(Current as of September 1998)
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