67th SOS assists Ospreys returning to Hurlburt Field

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood
  • 352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 67th Special Operations Squadron recently refueled six aircrews flying CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft helping them return home to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., following the aircraft's first combat tour.

The CV-22 is a long-range aircraft capable of traveling over 2,000 nautical miles without refueling, then hovering to land in a small clearing. But for the trip back from Southwest Asia, refueling support was undoubtedly needed and came in the form of three MC-130P Combat Shadows provided by the 67th SOS.

Once alerted to the request for assistance, the 67th SOS sprung into action, beginning the planning phase of the mission.

"It was my overall responsibility as the mission commander to ensure that the 352nd Special Operations Group's assets completed the mission successfully," said Maj. Nathan Scopac. "I started planning about a month prior to the actual mission."

Major Scopac's planning involved detailed coordination primarily between the 1st SOW, and the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Coordination with the TACC was needed in order to secure a KC-135 Stratotanker so the Combat Shadows in turn could be refueled during the mission.

Once he determined the need to provide air refueling for the CV-22s during one leg of the journey back to Hurlburt Field, Major Scopac successfully devised a plan to provide that support.

The plan entailed refueling three CV-22s per day, making it a two-day mission.

"This is a relatively new mission for both Air Force Special Operations Command as well as the 67th," said Major Scopac. "The CV-22 has only been flying operationally for a few years now, and we do not have any CV-22s in our area of responsibility. We don't operate with them on a regular basis so this was not a routine mission by any means, but I think we all performed very well in completing it."

Capt James Bauer, 352nd SOG Chief of Flight Safety and formation commander on the mission, agreed.

"The Combat Shadows' job was to provide escort and air refueling support to the CV-22 formation," said Captain Bauer. "All in all we probably had about eight or nine aircraft in the air at all times, requiring constant deconfliction over the Atlantic Ocean. It was tough, but it was a really successful mission. The squadron did really well as a result of the preparation. Also, I have to especially point out the great job of our maintainers. If it wasn't for them getting these 40-year-old aircraft consistently flying the way they do, that mission would have been a no go."

According to Major Scopac, RAF Mildenhall's Combat Shadows passed over 100,000 pounds of fuel to the CV-22s.

"This was a great opportunity for RAF Mildenhall's 67th Special Operations Squadron, the 100th Air Refueling Wing and Hurlburt Field's 1st Special Operations Wing to work together," said the major. "The support we received from both Hurlburt Field and Special Operations Command-Europe was excellent, and we look forward to working with the CV-22s quite a bit in the future."

And judging by the feedback from the 1st SOW, that seems a very likely outcome.

"They were professional and incredibly flexible," said the mission commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Glover. "If we have to fly over the 'pond' again, I hope the 67th Special Operations Squadron is near."