Category Archives: Navy

The Air Force MC-130s training at Eglin AFB…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy,

Tuesday Sept 29th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week.

Story by USAF Major Irl Franklin, Cherry 1

After arriving at Eglin and getting our aircraft bedded down, we were ushered into the briefing room at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Headquarters. Much to my surprise, we walked into a group of 200 people. I noticed Special Forces, other Army personnel (UH-1 pilots), Air Force personnel including A-1 crews, HH-53 crews, HH-3 crews and LtCol Albert “Friday” Blosch’s MC-130 Combat Talon crew from Pope AFB. Then, focusing upon the front of the room, I noticed BGen Leroy Manor, Colonel Bull Simons, and some HQ USAF Staff.

We were told, “You are here to work on a joint exercise that could develop into a dangerous mission. If anyone in the room wishes to be excused, you may leave now, and no questions will be asked.”

A silence fell over those gathered.

People looked around the room and at the front of the room and did not move. A period went by with no one moving or speaking, then BGen Manor said, “Excellent. I am glad you are all with us because you have all been chosen for your unique experience and abilities which will make the mission a success.” Administrative details were covered and we were dismissed to go to our quarters to ponder the next actions.

The next day, Combat Talon (MC-130) aircraft commanders along with one navigator and one electronic warfare officer (EWO) from each crew met with the chiefs of the A-1 group, the helicopter group, and the Special Forces group in the SOF briefing room. This time we were briefed on the mission and the training that we would undergo. We were told of the mission objective, the deployment bases, and were asked to develop the routes and methods of getting to Son Tay.

Thus, began numerous days of flight planning! The remaining crew members and participants were to be kept in the dark as to the mission we were training for. (KITD-FOHS: Kept In The Dark—Fed Only Horse S**t)

We had aerial photos of the routes, the POW camp, and other items of interest (such as SAM sites). We had our own photo interpreter and intelligence people available.

Cherry 1 (Photo provided by Bill Guenon)
Standing (l-r): Sgt Robert Renner (support), TSgt William Kennedy, TSgt James Shepard, MSgt Leslie Tolman, TSgt Kenneth Lightle, SSgt Earl Parks.
Front: Major Thomas Mosley, Capt James McKenzie, Capt Thomas Stiles, Capt Thomas Eckart, Capt William Guenon, Capt Randall Custard, Major Irl Franklin

Read the rest of Irl Franklin’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Gen Manor and Bull brief the CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, POW,

…exactly 50 years ago this past weekend.

Story by USAF 1st Lt Mickey Batsell, General’s Aide for Brig General Leroy Manor

As preparations for the Son Tay rescue mission began, the daily routine changed. It was important to continue as much as possible all appearances of “everything as usual.” Normal duty hours continued from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Head home for dinner as normal. But then it was back to the office around 8pm until the early hours of the morning.

Security was of utmost concern. We made several trips to Andrews AFB and the Pentagon. I was charged with carrying a briefcase containing a number of classified documents.

One night back at SOF HQ (USAF Special Operations Forces headquarters at Eglin AFB) around 2am, BGen Manor called me and asked me to round up Colonel Bull Simons to come to a meeting in his office. I promptly went to Colonel Simons quarters to extend the invitation.

When I arrived, one of Colonel Simons’ NCOs was sitting outside the front door. I explained to the NCO that BGen Manor would like Colonel Simons to come to a meeting. The sergeant told me that Colonel Simons was asleep. I asked the sergeant to wake him up. His reply: “With all due respect, lieutenant, you can wake him up.”

I was a bit stunned by that and started to take a step through the door. “You might want to think twice about that sir, because the Colonel sleeps with a loaded 45 under his pillow.”

I heeded the sergeant’s advice and paused to consider my options. After a few pensive moments, I said, “Sarge, when he wakes up, would you tell him that BGen Manor needs to see him?” The good sergeant replied, “Yes sir,” and I went on my way.

In the image from the Log, you see that Bull Simons (BGen Manor was there too) briefed the Director of the CIA, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the commander of Pacific Command (John McCain’s father).

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Admiral Thomas Moorer.
The Commander of Pacific Command:
Admiral McCain (father of Senator John McCain, who was a POW at the time).
The Director of the CIA : Richard Helms

Read the rest of Mickey Batsell’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Somewhere, people were in chains…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy,

Wednesday Sept 16th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week

Back in mid-August at Fort Bragg, Sgt Major Pylant and Sgt Major Davis were running the interviewing process to select Green Berets as candidates to go on this secret mission. Because of the large number, they divided up the volunteers. I was there bright and early on the morning of the interview, which lasted about ten minutes.  

They asked me if I had ever been in combat.  Well, I knew they had my 201 file, so they knew I had no combat experience. 

They asked me if I knew how to weld.  Now, growing up on a farm you learn a lot of different skills.  One of our neighbors Sam Chism could weld anything we broke.  Over the years on the farm I had watched Sam weld several things for my dad.  I thought, If Sam can weld, I can too.  So, I told them, “Yes, I can weld.” 

They asked if I could scuba dive, to which I answered that I could not.  (Years later, I did become certified to dive.)

After a few more questions, they told me that would be all. 

I left unhopeful thinking, “Well, at least they let me interview.” 

Recall that the interviewers asked me if I could weld. In the photo you can see how we put chains on some “walls” to practice freeing people using cutting torches. (USAF photo)

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

The Green Berets and Aircrews inside the high-security Tac Ops Center at Eglin AFB.

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy,

Thursday Sept 10th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago today.

In addition to the “buildings” that we constructed for the Mockup, there were roads made that simulated the area surrounding the POW camp. Earthmoving equipment was brought in which completed a “road by the Son Tay compound and a canal/river” on September 10th. This was recorded in the Log.

Below, you can read a page of that Log kept in the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s top secret TOC (Tactical Operations Center) building at Aux Field #3, recording the events of each day.

The official name of the Log is “Record of Events (Log), US Army Element, JCTG (JCS)”

Translation: Record of Events (Log), US Army Element of the Joint Contingency Task Group (Joint Chiefs of Staff).

The Son Tay Raid was the first mission directly controlled by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The reason: there was no organization in the US military that could manage all the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps assets involved in the Son Tay Raid.

[Today, we have the USSOCOM, the US Special Operations Command, for this very purpose. USSOCOM’s commanders teach the Son Tay Raid as a textbook example of excellence.]

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.