Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II FLAG BACKGROUND #1

The 352nd Special Operations Wing (SOW), based at RAF Mildenhall, England, is an essential part of Air Force Special Operations Command. The group... more

by Arthur Eggers

Title

Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II FLAG BACKGROUND #1

Artist

Arthur Eggers

Medium

Digital Art - Color Print

Description

The 352nd Special Operations Wing (SOW), based at RAF Mildenhall, England, is an essential part of Air Force Special Operations Command. The group has more than 1,000 Air Force personnel assigned, as well as nearly 50 personnel attached/associated as members of Joint Special Operations Air Component-Europe and Detachment 2, 25th Intelligence Squadron. The wing is the only Air Force special operations unit in European Command. It operates MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of special operations. Under the operational control of Special Operations Command Europe, the 352d SOW plans and performs specialized operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to transport and resupply military forces. The wing also provides tilt-rotor aircraft aerial refueling and special operations weather capabilities. The unit has six squadrons and two different types of aircraft, the MC-130J Commando II and the CV-22B Osprey, the U.S. Air Force's premiere tiltrotor aircraft which arrived on station in June 2013. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting. It is the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 50 nations. The MC-130J Commando II flies clandestine or low visibility, low-level missions into politically sensitive or hostile territory to provide air refueling for special operations helicopters. The MC-130J primarily flies its single- or multi-ship missions at night to reduce detection and intercept by airborne threats. Secondary mission capabilities include airdrop of small special operations teams, small bundles, and zodiac and combat rubber raiding craft; as well as night-vision goggle takeoffs and landings, tactical airborne radar approaches and in-flight refueling as a receiver. The MC-130J Commando II can fly in the day against a reduced threat, however, crews normally fly night, low-level, air refueling and formation operations using night-vision goggles. To enhance the probability of mission success and survivability near populated areas, crews employ tactics that include incorporating no external lighting or communications, and avoiding radar and weapons detection.

Uploaded

May 5th, 2017