7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS February 2014
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
“Adapt or Perish”
7th Commander’s Page
By Lt Col William C. “Clay” Freeman, USAF AFSOC, 7th SOS/CC
Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed some time with family and friends over the holidays and
are re-energized for what will definitely be a challenging and rewarding 2014. Before we begin with a
new year, I’d like to highlight 2013
-It was a historic 49th year for the squadron as we continued to execute the mission and take care
of our people and families.
-Orchestrated the USAF’s 1st OCONUS CV-22B delivery & 1st transatlantic refueling rendez-
vous…yes, SOT7 refueling SOT7 over the North Atlantic with 4 aerial refuelings and finally providing
both Europe and Africa their SOF vertical lift capabilities after a six-year gap.
-Employed newly acquired Talon air refueling capabilities qualifying five crews in less than six
months. Conducted all of the above while receiving five CV-22Bs.
-Integrated 23 new Osprey aircrew and 32 family members into the 7th family, reinstating vertical
-lift capabilities for both Europe & Africa & establishing a roadmap to Initial Operating Capability in
less than 8 months from 1st aircraft arrival.
7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7th Commander’s Page (cont.)
By Lt Col William C. “Clay” Freeman, USAF AFSOC, 7th SOS/CC
Since we last met ….
Some significant firsts for our mighty Sons of the Seventh since we last met:
1st off station trip for the CV-22s (out and back trip to the Netherlands)
1st live gunnery mission in the UK (executed at the Salisbury Plain Training Area; 3
flight engineers recurrent)
1st squadron in the group to completely migrate to Patriot Excalibur (PEX) for all
functions
1st UK “HURREVAC / Op MEGA GUST”…maintenance generated 7/7 MC-130
sorties within 16 hours of notification
Conducted the Group’s 1st combat airdrop supporting operations in Africa
Executed the 1st 3-ship MCADS drop for European Command
Performed the DoD’s 1st MCADS drop to a NATO Afloat Staging Base (i.e. a big
ship)
Maj Fisher and crew successfully executed Exercise JULEP IMPALA from 15-31
Oct; they airdropped 257 SOF personnel and garnered an elite Army SOF team their
Military Free Fall Level 1 Certification - all with only 9 maintainers and 2 pallets of
equipment/parts.
Deployed a 7-member crew to OEF, executing 52 missions, 266 combat hours, and
49 airdrops. Safely delivered 900,000 pounds equipment and over 1,000 SOF person-
nel throughout the combat zone.
Employed newly acquired Talon air refueling capabilities qualifying five crews in
less than six months
Integrated 23 new Osprey aircrew and 32 family members into the 7th family
Established Initial Operating Capability in less than 8 months from 1st aircraft arrival
Please make the time to thank a maintainer; October highlights of their integral support to the
7th SOS:
Launched 59/63 MC-130H scheduled training sorties (3 of those 4 were ops cancels
due to Op MEGA GUST)
Launched 49/51 CV-22B scheduled training sorties (1 of those 2 was an ops cancel
due to Op MEGA GUST)
Yes, we only had 2 maintenance cancels for the entire month of October…out of 114 scheduled
sorties!
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7th Commander’s Page (cont.)
By Lt Col William C. “Clay” Freeman, USAF AFSOC, 7th SOS/CC
More “bragging rights” for the Sons of the Seventh:
Developed 1st CV-22 UK aerial refueling routes
Procured 8 new Helicopter Landing Zones, 3 live fire ranges, and validated 17 sur-
veys
Crafted 46 simulator training profiles & developed an ops calendar with 900+ simula-
tor hours for our new $21M CV-22B simulator training device.
Provided 8 static displays & three high-visibility public affairs’ events with UK civic
leaders bolstering community relations on Osprey operations
We also pushed 7th talent to other SOG units with 22 attached personnel, one
navigator to the 18th FTS, three instructor pilots to MC-130J training, 1 evaluator pi-
lot to the RAF exchange & five to data mask interviews
Also secured & deployed 4 members to a joint task force director position in
Africa
The 7th also supports our community and volunteers at monthly Hearts Apart dinners,
SOG Airman & family events, raised over $6.8K CFC, $4.9K to Spec Ops Warrior Foundation,
$4.7K Air Commando Association & donated 48-hrs AADD. SOT7 are also "fit to fight" with
currently ZERO Fitness Assessment (FA) failures & 76% in the "excellent" category. Lastly, the
7th embraces the SOF truth of "building relationships" by conducting multiple static displays/
community relation events with CV-22s, hosting Norwegian SOF senior leaders, and multiple
engagements with UK SOF senior leadership. As you all know, 2013 was a banner year for the
squadron.
In 2014, I expect us to rise up and meet new challenges, and of course, raise the 7th
Standard. AoP.
Some dates to remember:
30 May - 1 Jun: 7th SOS 50-year Anniversary at RAF Mildenhall (golf tourney,
hash run, dining in/out, Black Friday...requesting Chode to return as guest speaker)
4-6 Jun: D-Day Events at Normandy (70-year anniversary)
7 Jun: 1st MC-130H Combat Talon II departs for long-term maintenance at Hurlburt
Field and doesn't return to the UK
13 Jun: 7 SOS Change of Command; still TBD on my successor but will be a CV-
22 pilot...
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7th SOS Invitation
28-31 May 2014
Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, United Kingdom.
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
PROPOSED EVENTS & ITINERARY
ARRIVAL WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2014
GOLF TOURNAMENT HASH RUN
STATIC DISPLAYS/CV-22B SIMULATOR MADINGLEY
AMERICAN CEMETERY RETREAT / FLY PAST
DUXFORD AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM
FORMAL DINING OUT
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LONDON
EVENTS CONCLUDE SATURDAY 31
MAY 2014
If able, consider joining us in France…
1 - 8 JUNE 14
NORMANDY, FRANCE
7 SOS AIRDROPS AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF D-DAY
The men and women of the 7th Special Operations Squadron request the
honor of your presence as we commemorate our squadron’s 50th Anniversary (1964-2014).
Activities will begin the twenty-eighth of May and continue through the thirty-first of May,
at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, United Kingdom.
Please RSVP by 15 April 2014, to Capt Anthony Ferrara or 1Lt Robert Capparelli
DSN 238-4496
Commercial +44 1638 544496
anthony.ferrara.1@us.af.mil
robert.capparelli.1@us.af.mil
https://www.facebook.com/groups/7sos50th
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
U.S. SOCOM Increases Investment in Weaponized Fixed-Wing Aircraft
U.S. Special Operations Command nearly tripled its investment in the C-130J aircraft fleet between 2012 and 2014.
Special-mission C-130s — including MC-130 customized cargo planes and AC-130 gunships — are among SOCOM's largest
procurement programs. Spending on new aircraft and add-on equipment will increase substantially, from $89 million in 2012
to $232 million in 2014, according to new estimates by Frost & Sullivan, a market intelligence firm.
About $124 million will be spent in 2014 on new aircraft, and $108 million on a "precision strike package" for the AC-130
gunship that includes sensors, a 30 mm gun, standoff precision-guided munitions, a mission operator console, a communica-
tions suite and flight deck hardware.
SOCOM purchases of C-130J aircraft and high-tech add-ons are expected to continue in the coming years, said Brad Curran,
senior analyst at Frost & Sullivan aerospace and defense practice. C-130J manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. is currently
SOCOM's largest contractor, capturing 18 percent of the command's $2.6 billion modernization budget in 2013.
The command intends to buy 94 MC-130Js of which 37 will be converted to AC-130J gunships. So far, 27 MC-130Js are on
contract, and an additional 17 have “advanced procurement funding against them,” an Air Force spokesman told National
Defense.
Twenty new MC-130Js already have been delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command, and 15 additional deliveries
are scheduled through December 2015. Of those 15 aircraft, four will be converted to AC-130J models. Only the AC-130Js
will get the precision-strike package.
The Air Force Special Operations Command, which operates the C-130 fleet, in on a path to downsize the inventory of 200-
plus planes by more than half in the coming years. Officials said the goal is to save money on maintenance and to spend more
on new airframes, high-tech weaponry and sensors.
SOCOM also has increased spending on another fixed-wing aircraft, the U-28 Pilatus PC-12. Procurement funds for the U-28
have are projected to rise from $25.5 million in 2012 and $7.5 million in 2013 to $56.2 million in 2014, Frost & Sullivan esti-
mated.
The U-28, operated by AFSOC, is the military version of the Pilatus PC-12 single engine transport. These aircraft are favored
by special operations forces because they are small, widely used around the world and can fly largely unnoticed.
Other prominent expenditures in SOCOM's aviation modernization plan, Curran said, include $156.6 million for research and
development, $99 million for CV-22 Osprey procurements, and $81.4 million for MH-60 helicopter acquisitions.
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Last Mission of Combat Talon’s S-01 Crew
Part 2
Contributed by John Gargus
The fate of the S-01 crew remained a mystery for at least 25 years until a Joint U. S. – Vietnam
team responded to a report of a previously undocumented large aircraft crash site in the Lai Chau prov-
ince some 32 northeast of Dien Bien Phu. The Joint Task Force – Final Accounting (JTF-FA) team’s
site survey and interviews of witnesses, conducted on 29 October through 8 November 1992, confirmed
that the crashed aircraft was our Combat Talon C-130 number 64-0547.
The survey team pinpointed the crash location at 21-39-80N 103-31-20E It is at 4780 ft. on a
steep 60-degree slope of a north-northwest facing crescent shaped mountain. The crest of this mountain
goes up to 4870 ft. The main peak of this karst studded mountain range known as Nam Bo rises to 5174
ft. and it is one mile due west of the crash site. The crash site measures only 105 by 72 feet. This is a
very small area for an aircraft as large as a C-130. Since all of the crew remains were recovered from
this small location, it can be safely concluded that the aircraft did nor bounce and break up along its
track before coming to a stop. Its crash heading must have been perpendicular to the face of the moun-
tain. With that, the destruction of the aircraft must have been instantaneous.
The crash site contained very little top soil that was mixed with decaying foliage trapped in
rocky crevasses and tree roots. It was subjected to continuous erosion from frequent rains and all light
weight debris such as bones had already washed down the mountain side over the years. Stories of wit-
nesses who reported burying bodies in graves were not credible because there was no terrain in which
one could excavate a grave. Bodies could not be buried in a conventional manner. They could only be
wedged in cracks and crevasses and covered up by plentiful rocks. That is how the scavenging natives
must have disposed of the burnt and decaying bodies while they were stripping everything usable from
the aircraft’s wreckage. No one had turned in a fire damaged 38 caliber pistol that each crewmember
carried. Not a single weapon from the resupply bundle was turned in or found. Only four .38 Cal bullets
and one 5.6 mm shell were excavated. There wasn’t much more that our forensic people could hope to
recover in their methodical search for more remains. Forensically, the scene was completely compro-
mised by the natives who had already scraped the limited soil surfaces for remains. They turned over
eight small bundles of what they believed to be human remains. These bundles of few bone fragments
from eleven crewmembers were about all that the site would yield. Because the crash area was so re-
mote and the surrounding terrain so treacherous, the survey team recommended that the location should
be declared a burial site and that further recovery efforts should not be undertaken.
Nevertheless, the JTF-FA Detachment 2 Commander re-surveyed the site on March 29-30, 1993
and recommended a complete well-planned excavation of the crash site between October 24 and No-
vember 8, 1993. After all, this was the largest single aircraft loss of the war in North Vietnam. Eleven
American airmen perished at this site. It needed more thorough attention.
The 1993 recovery team came well prepared to conduct a full scale professional recovery. They
divided the crash site into 17 distinct excavation areas and sifted all top soil and debris through a 1/4in
mesh.
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Last Mission of Combat Talon’s S-01 Crew (Part 2 Cont.)
They carefully screened everything for aircraft parts, personal effects and human remains. Sift-
ing and screening recovered 187 pieces of human bone fragments, including 16 teeth, six of which had
dental restorations. Small aircraft remnants consisted of all types of rings and buckles from the crew
seats safety belts and aircraft bucket seats. These were items that for some reason did not interest the
scavenging natives. The crash site was officially closed at 1100 hours on November 8, 1993 by the
CIHLI team leader and anthropologist.
Interviews of witnesses is a significant part of JTF-FA’s effort to recover human remains and
articles from crash sites. This phase of recovery continued while the remains were processed at the Cen-
tral Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI).
The first witnesses were those who came to the aircraft crash site while it was still burning. Oth-
ers, interviewed during the on-site excavation and recovery process, were people who searched for and
recovered some of the turned in crew remains. Potential witnesses to the crash kept turning up in other
parts of North Vietnam. Some bypassed the Vietnamese channels for reporting suspected sites and con-
tacted the US authorities in Hanoi. Three such contacts were through intermediaries and contained pos-
sible ties to the S-01 crash site. Checking these leads took a lot of time. Two leads ended up as suspects
for other crash sites and one eventually led back to the nearby village whose residents had had already
turned in collected remains. Unfortunately, witnesses who provided references about other potential
holders of human remains caused only delays in bringing the recovery and positive identification effort
to a much earlier conclusion.
The Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, the best equipped lab in the world for this type
of forensic work, was challenged by the collected crew remains. Recovered fragments were too small
and some very badly burnt for DNA analysis technology available in the 1990s. Only five crew mem-
bers could be matched with several better preserved remains. The lab could only conclude that because
they were all of human origins and came from the same crash site, they had to belong to any one of the
eleven men. Consequently, when the CILHI turned over the six packages of remains to the Air Force
Mortuary Services for return to the families, the families agreed to have the unidentified remains buried
in one casket at the Arlington National Cemetery. This event took place on November 15, 2000. It was
well attended by friends and members of Florida’s Combat Talon community. Their common grave is
located in Section 60, Site 7915. Names of the crew members are also engraved on the Vietnam Memo-
rial Wall panels 32E and 33E. Visit them every time you are in Washington.
Local district chief provided the team with a good explanation why it took so long for the gov-
ernment officials to learn about the aircraft crash. The crash was in a sparsely populated remote area
with ethnic minorities who did not stay in touch with local and district authorities. When their local
leaders heard about the crash from witnesses, they did not know what to do. Then, when the US and Vi-
etnamese governments began to account for the missing airmen, the information trickled down to the
local levels, they realized that the crash site they had been aware of for so long should be reported to
higher authorities.
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
S-01 Crew Crash Site Artifacts
Captain Edwin N. Osborne, Jr. Aircraft Commander
Captain Gerald G. VanBuren - Pilot
Major Charles P. Claxton – Pilot from S-05
Lieutenant Colonel Donald E. Fisher – Navigator
Captain Gordon J. Wenaas - Navigator
Captain Frank C. Parker III – Electronic Warfare Officer
Technical Sergeant Jack McCrary – Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Wayne A. Eckley - Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Edward J. Darcy – Loadmaster from S-03
Sergeant James R. Williams – Loadmaster
Staff Sergeant Gean P. Clapper – Radio Operator
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7th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7TH ACS NEWSLETTER
BOARD OFFICERS CONTRIBUTORS
President - Buff Underwood BUFF
UNDERWOOD
Vice -President - Omar Bradley Our fearless leader and
2014 Reunion Chairman
Secretary - Alan Goldsborough as well as our CT Memo-
rial Rock Developer.
Treasurer - Max Friedauer
MAX
Board Members - FRIEDAUER
Barry “B-Rat” Ratcliffe Treasurer and Data-
Richard “Dick” Guessford base Mgr. for the 7th
Ned Calvert ACS & CTMF
Pickens M. “Pick” Ferrell
Maj. Joshua “Josh” Kirkum
George Ferkes
Lt. Col Clay Freeman BILL “HOLLYWOOD”
FOWLER
Publisher & Editor of the
7th ACS Newsletter
Note From the Editor:
As the Publisher & Editor of the 7th ACS
newsletter, I depend on all of my fellow LT COL WILLIAM
7th ACS members for inputs for the “CLAY” FREEMAN
newsletter - it’s not my newsletter, it’s 7th SOS Commander,
ours’. 7th ACS Board Mem-
ber & great supporter.
So please help me with getting a current
“SITREP” on what’s happening within
our Talon Family.
Load’s Clear!
“Hollywood”
107th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
President’s Letter
Greetings, and welcome to an exciting New Year of challenge and growth.
I wish each of you all the best of everything that is good for the New Year.
50 years of leaders and followers that made the 7TH ACS/SOS the “go to” Squadron
when the task at hand could not be accomplished by “normal” aircraft, procedures, or personnel.
Leaders were handed the squadron without fully understanding the capabilities of their troops or the
requirements of the mission and became followers of those who knew how to accomplish the task at
hand and learned that they could trust the troops under their command to make the tough and correct
decisions.
After reading the list of accomplishments that the 7TH CC compiled in his end of year note posted earlier
in this letter I cannot think of a better biography of what the 7TH ACS/SOS has accomplished since its
stand up at Sembach AB so many years ago.
Undaunted by the ever changing requirements that always preceded the equipment necessary to accom-
plish the task, the troops of the 7TH figured out a way to do what was required. The integrity, ingenuity,
and sheer guts of the 7TH troops would lead the way.
Who could have imagined that a bunch of rag tag troops with cowboy hats, bloused boots and blue as-
cots would wind up being heroes in their chariots of Armageddon taking the fight to the bad guys and
whenever called upon, saving the lives of those innocents in harm’s way.
The 7TH has carved out a great place in the history of Special Operations because each member excel’s
in their craft. It is not “just” a special crew member, or maintainer. It is the whole team that buys in to
the task at hand. None of us old crew dogs got anywhere without the ops support team who pulled to-
gether the mountains of charts and paper work that made sense of what we were to accomplish. It is
the “TEAM” that produces victory of every mission regardless of the size of the task.
My heart goes out to each of you amid chaos and change of family life, moves, and still carrying on
with the mission. You have set a standard that is very high and will not be achieved by non SOF troops.
Walk tall and know that you have made a difference in the world by living the Squadron motto: Adapt
or Perish!!
May God Bless each of you and yours and see you all safe home.
V/r
Buff Underwood
117th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
2014 Reunion Reminder
DON’T MISS THE NEXT REUNION, 15-
18 MAY 2014 …..AT THE RAMADA
PLAZA BEACH RESORT ON
OKALOOSA ISLAND.
127th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7th SOS AND ALL COMBAT TALON REUNION
By: Max Friedauer
We are only three months out from our next BIG Reunion, 15-18 May
2014!
We have just had our third reunion meeting and completed the site survey and everything is falling
into place and we’re getting organized. But we need your to help to spread the word. We are contin-
uing to make updates on Facebook at our “Sons of the 7th”, “Blackbird Talons”, “Combat Talon Me-
morial Foundation (CTMF)” and “Special Ops Past and Present” pages as well as our own website on
http://7thsos.org. We will post ads in AF Magazine, Hurlburt & Eglin base papers, local paper, and
we’ll put flyers out on Hurlburt Field and Duke Field. The registration form is out and is included here
and you can find it on our FaceBook pages and our own website. Unfortunately, too many of your e-
mails are still changing constantly and you don’t let me know and many mailing addresses are out of
date as well. Our reunion will once again be back at the RAMADA Plaza Beach Resort as it was in
2000 and 2002 (http://www.ramadafwb.com) on Okaloosa Island. We will have a Welcome RE-
CEPTION on Thursday in the Tower with some finger foods, beer and wine (That cost will be $15.)
On Friday we will have a Golf Tournament ($45) and a Hash House Harrier run ($5) and then we’ll
have our traditional “Wurst Burn” ($15) on the beach in a large tent. On Saturday we will conduct the
Combat Talon Symposium at Hurlburt and static displays and in the evening we will have a banquet
dinner in the tower and a band for some entertainment and dancing. Cost of the band will be approx.
$1,000 and the dinner meal including gratuity and taxes will be $50 per person. On Sunday morning
we can all have breakfast in the restaurant and we’ll have a Memorial Service on the Beach at 10:00
AM and then we’ll have a cleanup party with hot dogs and burgers and finish the beer and sodas. So
get ready to party, swim in the magnificent pool and the Emerald sparkling Gulf of Mexico. You can
make your hotel or motor home (across the street from the Hotel) reservations now. Make your plans,
reserve the date, and join us and over 12 of the past 7 SOS Commanders. The 1 SOS, 8 SOS, 15 SOS,
and 711 SOS will also be well represented. Contact me at max@7thsos.org, or 850-543-0475. Price
for the entire weekend to include all events except Golf and hotel reservations is only $95 per person!
As of 12 February 2014 we already have 353 people indicating that they are making plans to join us
and 68 have already paid for their registration and made hotel reservations. Don’t be left out, let me
know of your plans to join us and make sure I have the right contact information for you.
The 7 ACS and SGI will be conducting business meetings on Saturday afternoon. We will also be vot-
ing for our 7 ACS four elected officers of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer as well
as our seven Board of Director positions. Think about volunteering yourself or tell us who you would
like to see on the Board and in office. We need Young Blood to carry on the traditions of the “Finest
Flying Squadron in the USAF!” It’s time to party so make your next vacation at the RAMADA Plaza
Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida.
137th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
7th SOS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
The 7 SOS is preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
the Squadron this summer and have designed a fantastic
Limited Edition Lithograph. I have ordered 250 of these li-
thos ($10) and 200 patches ($5) to be sold on a pre-order
basis and at the Reunion. After the reunion, if any are left
over, they will be sold on the 7th ACS Country Store for
$15 and $10 plus shipping and handling.
If you want to reserve a Litho or patch now, e-mail me or write it in on your reunion regis-
tration form and include the cost in your check. I'll put you on the list and you can pick it
up at the Reunion or I’ll mail it to you. Add shipping and handling cost of $10.
147th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
ALL Combat Talon (CT) Reunion (Hosted by 7 ACS)
May 15 - 18, 2014, RAMADA Plaza Beach Resort
Proposed Schedule of Events and Costs:
15 May – 13:00-22:00 Hospitality Ste/Registration Desk open (RAMADA)
15 May – 18:00-20:00 Reception. (RAMADA Tower).
16 May – 09:00 – Golf, Shalimar Point Golf and Country Club, 302 Old Country Club Rd, Shalimar FL 32579
16 May – 10:00-22:00 Hospitality Suite
16 May – 15:00 Possible Hash House Harrier (H3) Run. Start at RAMADA. (Need Volunteers for Setup)
16 May – 17:30 Wurst Burn (RAMADA). On the Beach under the Tent.
17 May – 08:00 Bus departs for AFSOC/1 SOW/919 SOW Update and aircraft static display Hurlburt Fld Flightline.
17 May – 13:00–22:00 Hospitality Suite
17 May – 13:00-18:00 Silent Auction. Contact B-rat at bwr1972@cox.net (850) 830-8174 for details, funds go to CTMF.
17 May – 14:00 7 ACS and SGI Business Meetings (RAMADA Tower)
17 May – 18:00-22:00 Banquet and Program, including five-piece band (RAMADA Tower)
18 May – 10:00 Beach Memorial Service (RAMADA)
18 May – 12:00 Cleanup, Hot Dogs & Burgers (RAMADA)
NOTE: Lodging is not included in the Reunion cost. Room reservations must be made before 15 April 2014 to guarantee
reunion rate of $144. Call 850-243-9161 or 800-874-8962 and tell them you are with the 7th ACS Reunion. Maximum
usage of the RAMADA ensures rooms for Hospitality Suite and Conference Room. REGISTER NOW! Cost for entire
weekend is $95 per person. For individual events costs are $15 ea. for Thu, Fri, or Sat Hosp Ste Only; $5 for H3 Run and
$15 for Friday Wurst Burn. $50 for Sat Banquet only (Does not include access to Hosp Ste). Golf is $45. T-shirts are $15,
$20, $25 if pre-ordered, and lodging is not included in the Reunion Cost.
Make Check or Money Order out to “7 ACS” and mail to:
Early and Pre-registrants can save $5 on Max Friedauer
T-shirts at vs. $20, $25, & $30 each onsite !!!!!! 10 Ridgelake Drive (M)(850)-543-0475
Mary Esther, FL 32569-1658 (H)(850) 243-1343
max@7thsos.org
YOUR REUNION CHAIR THIS YEAR IS:
Robert B. “Buff” Underwood Jr. buff@valp.net
(H) 850-678-6222 (M) 850-803-3722
Reunion Registration Form (Please detach and mail in with check. Thanks.)
Name (Last, First, MI) Planned Arrival Date:
Preferred Name Golf (how many?) Handicap(s):
Spouse/Guests/Children Names
Home Phone ( ) Home E-Mail
Work Phone ( ) Work E-Mail
Street Address
City State ZIP + 4 Country
Combat Talon Units Assigned To Crew Position/Duty Section
Annotate “Ladies Cut” with “LC” near the box
T-Shirt (Sold separately) Pre-order price $15. Shirt Size: S# M# L# XL # 2XL ($20) # 3XL ($25) # =$
Single Weekend: $95 X (# attending) or Thur Reception Only: $15 X Fri Only: $30 X Sat Only: $65 X =$
Children (13-18) ($5 Fri or Sat): $5 Fri X $5 Sat X Sat Dinner $50 X Widow/Widower n/c X =$
Golf: $45.00 X (# golfing) Friday H3 Run $5 X 7 SOS 50 Yr Lithograph $10 X ___=______ =$
Add $15 per yr or $40 for 3 yrs) 7 ACS Dues or SGI Dues 7 SOS 50 Yr Patch $5 X ___=______ =$
Add the following amount for a donation to the Combat Talon Memorial Foundation (CTMF) =$_________
Total # Attending: Total Payment Submitted: =$_________
Note: Children (13 to 18) attending Friday evening Wurst Burn Tent Fest or Saturday activities pay $5 for each day. If having dinner Saturday night
their cost is the same as an adult of $50.
For widows or widowers of Combat Talon units, the registration fee is waived except for Saturday night dinner of $50
I understand that attending the 7 SOS/7 ACS CT Reunion consists of drinking and associated hazards that I do of my own free will. Neither I, my family, nor anyone I know will hold the
7 SOS/7 ACS Reunion, the 7 ACS, or anyone connected with it responsible in any way. If injured, I accept full responsibility and will not seek any retribution from the 7 ACS Organization.
Signature Date
157th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Combat Talon Memorial Foundation (CTMF)
Dear Combat Talon Memorial Committee,
Yes, you can count on me to make a donation to the Combat Talon Memorial Foundation whose goal is to
design and erect a memorial to honor all Combat Talon warriors and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
A special commemorative coin will be presented to anyone making a minimum $20 donation.
The concept for a memorial has been briefed and coordinated with the Hurlburt Air Park Committee and MC-130E (Aircraft #
64-0567) has already been placed and dedicated in the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park. We hope to provide much more detail on
the Memorial during the 7th or Combat Talon Reunions and updates will also be provided via the 7th ACS/SOS, SGI, and
Combat Talon Memorial Foundation organizational websites and Face Book pages and newsletters.
□ Enclosed is a one time donation of $ . Please make check payable to “CTMF” and mail with this form to:
Max Friedauer
10 Ridgelake Dr
Mary Esther, FL 32569-1658
max@7thsos.org
850.243.1343
□ I would like to make this a recurring donation. I pledge $ for years for a total do-
nation of $ .
□ I would like to make a gift In Honor or In Memory of a Combat Talon warrior.
To make a donation in honor or in memory of someone, please indicate in the space below.
□ I would like my contribution honoring a Combat Talon warrior to be acknowledged by the Combat talon
Memorial Foundation.
□ I understand that while no formal recognition of my contribution in memory of someone will be made on the memorial itself,
the Combat Talon Memorial Foundation may publish my name/designation on their website and in their newsletters.
Donor Information:
Name:
Address:
City:
Zip/Postal:
Phone:
Email:
Please indicate your affiliation with Combat Talons (squadron/years/duty position/family member):
167th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Combat Talon Memorial Foundation (CTMF)
Thanks to the 279 current contributors to the Combat Talon Memorial Foundation. We in-
vite everyone to join in making this memorial a reality.
The Foundation’s goal is to Honor the entire Combat Talon community: Past, Present and Future.
The stone “Rock” specifically memorializes those Combat Talon members lost during flight
operations.
Your generosity will result in the creation of this memorial to the Combat Talon legacy.
Above is the latest “draft” depiction of the stone. While there are still modifications being
considered for the final art, this is the committee’s basic layout and recommendation. Current-
ly it needs to be downscaled to be more inline with other like memorials in the Hurlburt Air-
park.
Again, thank you for your continued contributions and commitment to our effort and
we can assure you that you will be proud of the Memorial, whatever the final approval
is. It will be a lasting testament to the dedication, valor, and sacrifice of the Combat
Talon Community.
In the meantime, your funds are secured and are safe with in the Eglin Federal Credit Union
Money Market.
Most Respectively Yours,
Buff Underwood
177th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Financial Report Combat Talon Memorial Foundation (CTMF)
By Max Friedauer, Treasurer
Donations are picking up along with the Reunion registration fees and we really appreciate those who made an annual
commitment and are still sending those donations in. If you made a Recurring Gift and are behind in your payments or
can’t remember what you committed to, please send me an e-mail and I’ll be happy to bring you up to date with your
status of giving. Your money continues to be safe and is on deposit as indicated below. Again, unfortunately, we are
still waiting for Hurlburt Airpark Committee to give us a review and permission to build the Memorial to ALL Com-
bat Talon warriors. We have not expended any funds since the last report in September 2013. A/C 64-0523 is beauti-
fully on display at the front gate at Cannon AFB, NM you can follow its progress on Facebook at https://
www.facebook.com/groups/324930197582243/
Combat Talon Memorial Foundation (CTMF) Balance Sheet
As of: 6 January 2014
ACTIVITY DATE ACTUAL COST REMARKS
Checking Account Balance 1/6/14 $6,312.68 To date there are 278 Donors
Money Market Account Balance 1/6/14 $24,260.92
Savings Account 1/6/14 $100.52
TOTAL: $30,674.12
MAJOR EXPENSES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013
NONE
187th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
Financial Report 7th Air Commando Society (7 ACS)
By Max Friedauer, Treasurer
We are in good financial standing thanks to you, our faithful members! Our current balance as of 6 January 2014 is
$16,322.39. Our major expense since the last report of September 2013 was the $2,500 donation to the Special Opera-
tions Warrior Foundation and a down Payment of $742 for Tents for the 2014 Reunion.
7th Air Commando Society (7 ACS)
Balance Sheet as of 6 January 2014
BALANCE
ACTIVITY DATE ACTUAL COST REMARKS
Checking Account Balance 1/6/14 $3158.43
Money Market Account Balance 1/6/14 $13063.44
Savings Account Balance 1/6/14 $100.52
TOTAL: $16322.39
MAJOR EXPENSES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013
Postage and Country Store items Sep-Jan 2013 $60.52
Donation to SOWF Dinner 10/10/13 $2,500
Down payment for Tents for the 15-18 May Beach Tents for the 15-18 May 2014
2014 Reunion 12/4/13 $742.00 Reunion
Printing Supplies 12/7/13 $111.81
197th AIR COMMANDO NEWS
February 2014
http://www.7thsos.org
“TDY” Sites to Visit
7th Country Store -
There is a lot to purchase and you can get a complete list with prices and quantity just by logging in at:
http://www.7thsos.org/inside/index.php?nav=44
7th ACS Gallery -
Check out the Gallery too. we have all the 7th Songs by “Papa Joe” Sheldon, movies, and lots of pictures.
Check it out at:
http://www.7thsos.org/inside/index.php?nav=29
C-130E(I) Combat Talon I (1965-1972)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhbUlgjAapY
Hurlburt Warrior -
http://www.hurlburtwarrior.com/
Complete List of Combat Talon I Aircraft by Tail Number and Current Status -
http://www.7thsos.org/inside/aynnyd/uploaded/pdfs/ct_i_by_tail__roster_2.pdf
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