This was the last transmission made by airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing, who fly the EC-130J Commando Solo, the last military radio and TV broadcast in the United States military
A 54-year chapter in the history of the 193rd Special Operations Wing came to an end on September 17 when airmen from the unit, who run the only military radio and TV broadcast platform in the US military, transmitted their final broadcast to spectators of the Community Days Air Show at Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
The EC-130J Commando Solo psychological operations (PSYOPS) aircraft mission has helped keep this Air National Guard unit’s aircraft and its Airmen at the forefront of almost every significant US military operation since the Vietnam War, according to Master Sgt. Alexander Farver in the article EC-130J Commando Solo performs the final broadcast. This specially modified aircraft was above the skies of Afghanistan before bombs dropped or troops deployed in the Global War on Terror following the attacks on September 11, 2001, signaling to America’s enemies that the US 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.”
This platform for airborne information operations originated in 1968 with the arrival of the EC-121 Coronet Solo, the first aircraft of the 193rd Tactical Electronics Warfare Group (TEWG).
The EC-130E eventually took the place of the original aircraft in the late 1970s, and in 2003 the current aircraft took its place. The EC-130E saw action in numerous conflicts both before and after Operation Eagle Claw, the Iran Hostage Crisis Rescue attempt in 1980. A significant turning point for the 193rd TEWG’s conversion from six EC-130Es from the Vietnam era to six EC-130Js was reached in November 2003 with the first flight of the EC-130J Commando Solo III.
The EC-130 was developed by making numerous changes to the original C-130J, including improved air refueling, self-protection equipment, and navigation systems. The integration of the special mission equipment, which can transmit up to 14 simultaneous broadcasts of the same or different messages on each channel, took up the majority of the engineering investment. In keeping with information technology systems, digital media, such as hard drives, are used for message playback; nevertheless, the aircraft can still accept traditional media formats, such as CD/DVD, etc. Apart from pre-recorded messages, the EC-130J is also capable of live broadcasting.
Its contributions to the accomplishment of well-coordinated military information support missions have earned the wing the title of “the most deployed unit in the Air National Guard” throughout its history. 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 were among these deployments.
The 193rd Special Operations Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Michael Hackman, feels that the mission’s success and legacy lie in winning over adversaries’ hearts and minds and providing crucial information to allies, refugees, and victims in times of crisis—even though this exceptional mission has brought the wing many prestigious accolades.
“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.’”
The aircraft is remarkable not only for its excellent operational record but also for having flown more than 226,000 hours without an accident.
“Having that many thousands of hours of accident-free flying is 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.
According to McKissick, Air Force Special Operations Command chose the 193rd to be the first and only ANG unit to fly the MC-130J Commando II because of the wing’s proficiency in carrying out the Commando Solo mission during the previous two decades. Intruding politically sensitive or hostile territory, the Commando II conducts clandestine, low-visibility, single- or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland, and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft.
The EC-130J’s last transmission was made to the ground and played during Lancaster Airport’s Community Days Air Show. Before playing the song “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny, the wing thanked the local community for its support over the previous 54 years.
“Commando Solo, music off” was heard at the end of the transmission.
Photo by U.S. Air National Guard