EC-130E Commando Solo I

The EC-130 Commando Solo program provided worldwide airborne radio and television broadcast capability in support of psychological operations. Commando Solo II served from 1991 to 2006, evolving from earlier C-130 variants known as Valiant Solo and Commando Solo I, which flew from 1979 to 1991, and from the EC-121 broadcast platform Coronet Solo, which flew from 1968 to 1977. In 2006, Commando Solo II was replaced by Commando Solo III, an upgraded broadcast system based on the EC-130J. These aircraft were flown, maintained, and supported by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing at Harrisburg International Airport, the only unit in the entire U.S. Department of Defense to conduct this airborne psychological operations mission. The EC-130 Commando Solo was used during Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Sea Signal, Uphold Democracy, Joint Guard, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Secure Democracy, as well as other classified operations. Aircraft 63-7773 accumulated nearly 12,000 flying hours during its service with the 193rd Special Operations Wing, including nearly 2,700 combat flying hours, and took part in an unprecedented 308 consecutive combat sortie launches during a six month period in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania · United States