|
 Special
Operations.Com
8th Special
Operations Squadron
The
8th Special Operations Squadron is currently the
second longest continuously operational active
duty squadron in the U.S. Air Force. Since its
inception in 1917, the 8th SOS has had more than
100 squadron commanders and flown 17 different
types of aircraft. This list includes DH-4s, B-26s,
B-57s, A-37s, MC-130Hs and the MC-130E Combat
Talon I currently flown by the 8th.
The primary mission of the 8th
SOS is insertion, extraction and re-supply of
un-conventional warfare forces and equipment into
hostile or enemy-controlled territory using airland
or airdrop procedures. Numerous secondary missions
include psychological operations, aerial reconnaissance
and helicopter air refueling. To accomplish these
varied missions, the 8th SOS uses the Combat Talon
I, a highly specialized variant of the Lockheed
C-130. The history of the Talon I stretches back
to 1966 when the first C-130E was modified and
a small squadron established at Pope Air Force
Base, N.C. Later that year four of these specially
modified MC-130s were deployed to Nha Trang, Republic
of Vietnam, in support of the war in Southeast
Asia. During the Southeast Asia conflict, Combat
Talon Is were extensively involved in covert/clandestine
operations in Laos and North Vietnam. They routinely
flew unarmed, single-ship missions deep into North
Vietnam under the cover of darkness to carry out
unconventional warfare missions in support of
Military Assistance Command's Special Operations
Group.
Since its initial development,
major modifications have been made to the Combat
Talon I to ensure its continued viability through
technological superiority. Today's Combat Talon
I with its state-of-the-art computer systems is
capable of terrain following operations as low
as 250 feet in all weather conditions. Crews from
the 8th SOS can drop equipment or personnel on
small, unmarked drop zones with pinpoint accuracy,
day or night. Additionally, the Talon I gives
the squadron a truly global reach with the ability
to receive gas from Air Force tanker aircraft
and transfer gas to special operations helicopters.
The Talon I is equipped with an electronic warfare
package to counter the threat of detection by
enemy radar by deceiving or jamming many types
of enemy radar. The aircraft also employs infrared
jamming pods, chaff, and flares to combat the
threat of enemy missiles. These updates ensure
the Combat Talon I will remain a weapon of choice
into the 21st Century. Combat Talon I forces have
been tasked on numerous occasions to use their
unique capabilities in the interest of national
objectives. In 1970, Combat Talon Is led assault
forces on the North Vietnamese Son Tay prisoner
of war camp. During the raid they also functioned
as an airborne jammer and command post, providing
vectoring information for mission aircraft.
Members of the 8th SOS were
deployed as part of a joint task force that landed
in the Iranian desert in April 1980 in support
of the American hostage rescue attempt. During
that mission, five members of the squadron lost
their lives. The squadron received its motto "with
the guts to try" from this operation. The
squadron was called on again in October 1983 to
lead the way in the rescue of American students
endangered on the island of Grenada. After long
hours of flight, the aircrew members faced intense
ground fire to airdrop Army Rangers on time, on
target. They subsequently followed up with three
psychological operations leaflet drops designed
to encourage the Cubans to discontinue the conflict.
Members of the 8th SOS were mobilized in December
1989 as part of a joint task force for Operation
Just Cause in the Republic of Panama. Following
the conflict, it was an 8th SOS Combat Talon I
that flew General Manuel Noriega back to the United
States to stand trial.
Operation Desert Shield commenced
in August 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The 8th
SOS was deployed to Saudi Arabia as a deterrent
against the Iraqi threat to its southern neighbor.
In January 1991, when Iraq failed to comply with
United Nations directives to withdraw from Kuwait,
the proven skills of the 8th SOS were called on
once again as Desert Shield escalated into Desert
Storm. The 8th SOS played a pivotal role in the
success of coalition forces as they liberated
Kuwait by dropping eleven 15,000 pound BLU-82
bombs and 23 million leaflets and conducting numerous
aerial refuelings of special operations helicopters.
The U. S. Air Force relies on the proven abilities
of the 8th SOS as evidenced by its recent deployments
in support of Operations Provide Promise and Deny
Flight in Bosnia, Operation Assured Response in
Liberia and Operation Southern Watch in Saudi
Arabia. Even Hollywood relied on the crews of
the 8th in the 1997 hit movie "Air Force
One."
The 8th SOS is proud of its
people and those who have preceded us for more
than 80 years. The men and women of the 8th SOS
are poised for action in the 21st century and
will continue to demonstrate that the squadron
has the guts to try...any time, any place.
(Current as of August 1998)
|
Download
the .pdf fact sheet here.
|
Back
|
Search the entire Special Operations.Com website for the specific information you are looking for.
Just type in your search terms in the white box provided below, then select "Search".
Having trouble isolating the information you seek? Then check out the
SOC Search
Tips .
List Subscribe
| Focus
Features | Updates
| Newsroom
| Contact Us
|
|
