Team Eglin expands grounds to Reserve counterpart

  • Published
  • By Jasmine DeNamur
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 919th Special Operations Wing moved its flight operations from Duke Field to Eglin's runway this week to accommodate construction occurring on their runway.

"Duke's entire runway will be milled and replaced with new asphalt," said Timothy Kimsey, 46th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager for Duke Field. "These repairs will enhance the current mission of the 919th SOW as well as other missions going at Duke by providing a more safe airfield environment."

The 15-mile operations move affects more than 200 of the wing's operations and maintenance personnel.

"In all, we're moving a total of seven aircraft," said Maj. Greg Buchanan, 711th Special Operations Squadron pilot. "Operations personnel will drive to Eglin mostly to fly, while the majority of maintenance personnel will be stationed on site during the work day to provide support."

The 919th SOW, an Air Force Reserve special operations unit, maintains and operates a fleet of MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft, the only of their kind in the Air Force inventory. The aircraft has been known to attract attention due to its unique box-like nose structure, making it a "black sheep" within its C-130 family.

"What separates the aircraft from other C-130s are its capabilities," said Lt. Col. Tom Miller, 711th Special Operations Squadron director of operations. "The Talon's distinct nose contains a radar system equipped with terrain-following and avoidance features."

The MC-130E can fly as low as 250 feet and perform operations in day-night, all-weather conditions. It is used to support the nation's Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines in a myriad of missions unique to its versatile capabilities, which include the infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of allied forces.

Given the majority of the wing's flight missions are performed at night, most of the training operations executed from Eglin will occur during that timeframe.

"We will conduct night missions for four hours or so and be done around midnight. Our operations occur every day during the week, with some instances of us flying on weekends as well," said Colonel Miller.

"While the aircraft are flying out of Eglin we're going to be busy at Duke overseeing two major construction projects on the runway and north parking apron," said Mr. Kimsey. "Though the closure of Duke's runway won't affect the wing's flight operations much, it will have an impact on surrounding installations that use it for their missions."

The runway repairs are in no way related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Directives on the proposed beddown of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training center at Eglin.

"The projects have been on the books for a number of years. It just happens Duke was able to receive funding for the much needed repair," said Mr. Kimsey.

The repairs are scheduled to be completed the first week of June. Until then, the majority of the wing's operations will take place on Eglin in a couple of facilities across King Hangar. Five MC-130Es have already been transported to the flight line here with two additional aircraft on their way.

"Though the drive is further from my house, it's nice to have close access to the commissary and base exchange - something we don't have at Duke," said Colonel Miller.

For Major Buchanan, the move was a welcomed change.

"It's nice to be back here. The drive is shorter for me and it takes me back to when I worked with the 5th Special Operations Squadron," he said.

Once a Duke tenant unit located on Eglin, the 5th SOS flew MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft with the 9th Special Operations Squadron. In May 2008, the unit moved its operations to Hurlburt Field to become part of the Air Force Special Operations Training Center as a result of Total Force Integration initiatives to streamline operations.

For now, the déjà vu occurrence falls in line with Duke's history of working with their active-duty counterparts.

"We are grateful for Eglin's support and hospitality, said Colonel Miller. "It's a nice change of environment and we're glad to be here."