09 Lockheed MC-130E Combat Talon I (USAF)

            The Combat Talon was developed between December 1964 and January 1967 as the result of a USAF “Big Safari” study for modifying special mission aircraft. Project “Thin Slice” modified two C-130E (aircraft 64-0506 and 64-0507 whose serial numbers had been “sanitized”) for low-level clandestine penetration use by MACV-SOG in Southeast Asia. The Thin Slice aircraft, along with newer “Heavy Chain” aircraft, were then collectively code-named “Rivet Yard” in August 1966.

During the development of the “Yards,” 14 C-130Es were purchased for SOG in 1965 and fitted with the Fulton Surface-To-Air Recovery System (STARS). Painted with a low-reflective paint, these aircraft were initially knick-named “Blackbirds” but later received the much more attractive code-name “Rivet Clamp.” These Clamps, along with the Yards, were collectively assigned the designation Combat Talon in 1967.

The Clamps were equipped with an electronic and infrared (IR) countermeasures suite and the AN/APQ-115 navigational radar. In 1970, a new AN/APQ-122 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System (AWADS) with terrain following/terrain avoidance modes replaced the APQ-115. The AN/APQ-122 with the Litton LN-15J Inertial Navigation System (INS) became standard as the MOD-70 upgrade on the twelve Combat Talons in service as well as the four Heavy Chain testbed aircraft. Following the completion of the MOD-70, the Combat Talons were divided into three designations: C-130E(CT) for the Clamp aircraft, C-130E(Y) for the “Yank” (formerly Yard) Talons, and C-130E(S) for the MOD-70 “Swap”. The Combat Talon designations were consolidated in 1977 as the MC-130 and have remained under that designation since.

In this image, an MC-130E Combat Talon I deploys the Fulton Surface-To-Air Recovery System (STARS). STARS was used to extract personnel and materials via air. A large helium balloon raised a nylon lift line into the air, which was snagged by a large scissors-shaped yoke attached to the nose of the aircraft. The yoke snagged the line and released the balloon, yanking the attached cargo off the ground with a shock less than that of an opening parachute. A sky anchor secured the line as it trailed from the nose to both leading wing tip edges protected the propellers from the line on missed snag attempts. Crew members hooked the snagged line as it trailed behind and attached it to the hydraulic winch, pulling the attached person or cargo into the plane through the rear cargo door. This MC-130E Combat Talon I, serial number 64-0568, flew from Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hulbert Field) with the 8th Special Operations Squadron (SOS), 1st Special Operations Wing (SOW).

Taken on: June 30, 2022

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