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EC-130J Commando Solo performs final broadcast
September 17, 2022 (by
MSgt. Alexander Farver) -
Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing here, who operates the only flying military radio and TV broadcast platform in the U.S. military, transmitted their final broadcast today to spectators at the Community Days Air Show at Lancaster Airport, Lititz, Pa., bringing to close a 54-year chapter in unit history.
The EC-130J Commando Solo mission has helped keep this Air National Guard unit's aircraft and its Airmen at the tip of the spear for nearly every major U.S. military operation since the Vietnam War. Before bombs dropped or troops deployed in the Global War on Terror following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, this specially modified aircraft was already over the skies of Afghanistan broadcasting to America's enemies that the U.S. military was bringing the fight to them.
"Any world event or crisis that our military has responded to in recent history, our 193rd Airmen – and Commando Solo – were likely key components in that response," said Col. Eric McKissick, 193rd SOW vice commander. "As we prepare to open a new chapter in our history, we thank those who have enabled us to be among the very best wings in the Air National Guard."
The genesis for this airborne information operations platform can be traced back to 1968 when the 193rd Tactical Electronics Warfare Group received its first aircraft, called the EC-121 Coronet Solo. In the late 1970s, the aircraft were replaced by the EC-130E before finally being replaced by the current aircraft in 2003. Throughout its history, it was instrumental in the success of coordinated military information support operations, earning the wing the moniker of "the most deployed unit in the Air National Guard."
These deployments included: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operations Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector in Libya, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Resolute Support/Freedom's Sentinel, Operation Secure Tomorrow, and Operation Unified Response in Haiti.
Although this unique mission has earned the wing many prestigious accolades, Lt. Col. Michael Hackman, 193rd Special Operations Squadron commander, believes the mission's success and legacy lie in winning the hearts and minds of adversaries and providing vital information to allies, refugees, and victims in times of crisis.
"This capability has been an essential tool in our nation's inventory, from the battlefields to assisting hurricane and earthquake-ravaged nations," Hackman said. "During this time, thousands of Pennsylvania Air National Guard volunteers fulfilled their call to duty in this unique capacity, leveraging this capability against U.S. adversaries and supporting allies while always fulfilling the unit tenet of ‘Never Seen, Always Heard.'"
Aside from sporting an impressive operational record, the aircraft holds another distinction with having completed over 226,000 hours of accident-free flying.
"Having that many thousands of hours of accident-free flying are a testament to the excellence of our maintainers, to the operators, and anybody who has touched that aircraft. Thank you for leaving that foundation and setting that example that we're building from," said Col. Jaime Ramirez, 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Group commander.
McKissick believes the success of the 193rd in operating the Commando Solo mission over the past few decades has led to Air Force Special Operations Command selecting the wing to be the first and only ANG unit to operate the MC-130J Commando II. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or air land and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.
"Today we honor the men and women, past and present, who have served this unit and mission with unparalleled distinction," said McKissick. "The Airmen who came before us created an enduring culture and spirit of hard work, innovation, and grit. We thank them for that, and we will do our best to carry this forward."
The final broadcast of the EC-130J was transmitted to the ground and played at the Community Days Air Show at Lancaster Airport. In the transmission, the wing thanked the local community for their support over the past 54 years before broadcasting the Santo and Johnny song, "Sleepwalk." The transmission ended with the phrase, "Commando Solo, music off."
USAF EC-130J Commando Solo #00-1934 from the 193rd SOS performs a flyover during Community Days at the Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 2022. Airmen from the 193rd SOW brought to close a 54-year chapter in the unit history as one of the three EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft delivered its final broadcast during the Community Days Air Show event. [ANG photo by TSgt. Tony Harp]
"Any world event or crisis that our military has responded to in recent history, our 193rd Airmen – and Commando Solo – were likely key components in that response," said Col. Eric McKissick, 193rd SOW vice commander. "As we prepare to open a new chapter in our history, we thank those who have enabled us to be among the very best wings in the Air National Guard."
The genesis for this airborne information operations platform can be traced back to 1968 when the 193rd Tactical Electronics Warfare Group received its first aircraft, called the EC-121 Coronet Solo. In the late 1970s, the aircraft were replaced by the EC-130E before finally being replaced by the current aircraft in 2003. Throughout its history, it was instrumental in the success of coordinated military information support operations, earning the wing the moniker of "the most deployed unit in the Air National Guard."
These deployments included: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operations Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector in Libya, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Resolute Support/Freedom's Sentinel, Operation Secure Tomorrow, and Operation Unified Response in Haiti.
Although this unique mission has earned the wing many prestigious accolades, Lt. Col. Michael Hackman, 193rd Special Operations Squadron commander, believes the mission's success and legacy lie in winning the hearts and minds of adversaries and providing vital information to allies, refugees, and victims in times of crisis.
"This capability has been an essential tool in our nation's inventory, from the battlefields to assisting hurricane and earthquake-ravaged nations," Hackman said. "During this time, thousands of Pennsylvania Air National Guard volunteers fulfilled their call to duty in this unique capacity, leveraging this capability against U.S. adversaries and supporting allies while always fulfilling the unit tenet of ‘Never Seen, Always Heard.'"
Aside from sporting an impressive operational record, the aircraft holds another distinction with having completed over 226,000 hours of accident-free flying.
"Having that many thousands of hours of accident-free flying are a testament to the excellence of our maintainers, to the operators, and anybody who has touched that aircraft. Thank you for leaving that foundation and setting that example that we're building from," said Col. Jaime Ramirez, 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Group commander.
McKissick believes the success of the 193rd in operating the Commando Solo mission over the past few decades has led to Air Force Special Operations Command selecting the wing to be the first and only ANG unit to operate the MC-130J Commando II. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or air land and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.
"Today we honor the men and women, past and present, who have served this unit and mission with unparalleled distinction," said McKissick. "The Airmen who came before us created an enduring culture and spirit of hard work, innovation, and grit. We thank them for that, and we will do our best to carry this forward."
The final broadcast of the EC-130J was transmitted to the ground and played at the Community Days Air Show at Lancaster Airport. In the transmission, the wing thanked the local community for their support over the past 54 years before broadcasting the Santo and Johnny song, "Sleepwalk." The transmission ended with the phrase, "Commando Solo, music off."
Courtesy of 193rd Special Operations Wing
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Additional images:
A loadmaster with the 193rd SOG watches as EC-130J Commando Solo #00-1934 from the 193rd SOS starts its engines prior to the final training flight in Middletown, Pennsylvania, on September. 17, 2022. Airmen from the 193rd SOW brought to a close a 54-year chapter in unit history as one of the three Commando Solo aircraft delivered its final broadcast during the Lancaster Community Days Air Show event. [ANG photo by MSgt. Matt Schwartz]
USAF EC-130J Commando Solo #00-1934 from the 193rd SOS performs a flyover during Community Days at the Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 2022. Airmen from the 193rd SOW brought to close a 54-year chapter in the unit history as one of the three EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft delivered its final broadcast during the Community Days Air Show event. [ANG photo by TSgt. Tony Harp]