U.S. Army Capt. Ryan Gibbons, 9th Special Operations Squadron pilot, performs preflight checks in an MC-130J Commando II before takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., More
French civilians flock toward a ceremony near a Memorial Park on June 4, 2016 in Sainte-Mère-Église, France. Memorial Park is dedicated to American airborne troops who lost their lives during the airdrops on D- More
Aircrews from the 20th Special Operations Squadron and 9th SOS prepare CV-22 Ospreys and an MC-130J Commando II for takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 24, More
An MC-130J Commando II sits on the flight line before takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 21, 2019. Emerald Warrior/Trident is the largest joint special ope More
Senior Airman Brennan Hill, 9th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, performs an engine check for an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 16, More
An aircrew from the 9th Special Operations Squadron perform preflight inspections in an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 19, 2019. Emerald Wa More
Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Tremel, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron independent duty medical technician, preps medical equipment before an exercise during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Isla More
A Combat Systems Officer from the 67th Special Operations Squadron performs pre-flight checks aboard an MC-130J Commando ll in Cazaux, France Feb. 23, 2016. The aircraft and crews traveled to France to train wi More
An MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing is covered in frost, Jan. 21, 2016 on RAF Mildenhall, England. Maintenance crews work around the clock, regardless of the weather changes, to More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tim Manzer, 17th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, inspects an MC-130J Commando II prior to a sortie Feb. 17, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Manzer participated in an aerial More
U.S. Air Force MC-130J Command IIs assigned to the 17th Special Operations Squadron taxi down the runway Feb. 17, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 17th SOS conducted a unit-wide training exercise which task More
Staff Sgt. Matthew Farmer, 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Propulsion Craftsman, poses beside an MC-130J Commando II on RAF Mildenhall, April 8, 2016. Sgt. Farmer designed two se More
A U.S. Air commando assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron approaches the ground via parachute during a military free-fall exercise over RAF Mildenhall, May 5, 2016. The 321 STS provides a fast reaction More
A Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element team member assigned to the 352d Special Operations Support Squadron stands guard during a Forward Area Refueling Point training as part of TROJAN FOOTPRINT 16 in Paj More
Hose deployment personnel assigned to the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron converse beside a CH-47 Chinock assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at a Forward Area Refueling Poi More
Four generations of Air Force Special Operations gunships--the AC-47 Spooky, AC-130U Spooky, AC-130W Stinger II, and AC-130J Ghostrider--fly in formation above the Air Commandos on the High Plains air show May More
Maintainers, from the 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepare to launch an MC-130J Commando II on RAF Mildenhall, Nov. 3, 2016. The multi-role special operations aircraft flies clandestin More
The MC-130J “Commando II” flies clandestine low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft. The Commando II also conducts infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of More
Master Sgt.Joseph Thayer a loadmaster assigned to the 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., performs a pre-flight inspection of an MC-130J Commando II aircraft prior to a training missio More
U.S. Air Force Air Commandos from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron perform a military free fall from an MC-130J Commando II March 17, 2017, over RAF Mildenhall, England. Air Commandos practice military free f More
A MC-130J Commando II is sprayed by firetrucks, known as a “water salute,” as it taxis on the flightline during the ‘fini flight’ of its pilot, Col. Benjamin Maitre, former 27th Special Operations Wing commande More
A U.S. Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group sits on the flightline at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 15, 2017, during Exercise Teak Jet. Exercise Teak Jet is a joint co More
Aircrew with the 9th Special Operations Squadron participate in a bilateral training exercise in central Tennessee, July 10, 2017. Five U.S. Army helicopters performed air-to-air refueling with the Commando II More
Aircrew with the 9th Special Operations Squadron participate in a bilateral training exercise in central Tennessee, July 10, 2017. The exercise provided advanced tactical training for Air Force Special Operatio More
U.S Air Force Capt. Holly Mapel is a combat systems officer and operational flight test director with the 18th Flight Test Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Mapel is an MC-130J Commando II aircrew member and More
A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, lands at RAF Mildenhall, England, April 23, 2019. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship, l More
An Air Commando assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England, prepares a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II to receive over thirty U.S. Army Special Forces members assigned to 10th S More
U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing prepare to taxi prior to a formation flight in support of the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day at RAF Mildenhall, England, June 5 More
An MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, Oct. More
An MC-130J Commando II cargo aircraft, assigned to the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, drops a bundle simulating a military vehicle drop for a training scenario with Air Force Special Tactics operators More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Phillip Belt and Cordell George, both aerospace propulsion journeymen from the 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, test the engines of an MC-130J Commando II Jul More
An MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 9th Special Operations Squadron taxis during Agile Flag 21-1 at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 27, 2020. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or mul More
An MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, flies over Sweden on November 13, 2020. U.S. and Swedish armed forces conduct qualified exercises together to strengthen defense capabilitie More
A formation of MC-130J Commando IIs flies off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on Jan. 6, 2021. The 1st Special Operations Squadron operates the MC-130J providing infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special More
Aircrew from the 9th Special Operations Squadron perform preflight checks before takeoff in an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 21, 2019. Eme More
Flowers lay on Utah Beach, June 4, 2016, in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings. During World War II, the Battle of Normandy b More
Airmen from the 20th Special Operations Squadron take off in CV-22 Ospreys during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 24, 2019. Emerald Warrior/Trident is the largest join More
Senior Airman Brennan Hill, 9th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, prepares an MC-130J Commando II for members of SEAL Team seven to perform jump training during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Statio More
Aircrew from the 9th Special Operations Squadron conduct low-level flight training in an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 16, 2019. Emerald W More
Capt. Douglas Bosin, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron special operations forces medical element flight surgeon, preps a simulated patient for an exercise during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Stat More
Aircrew from the 9th Special Operations Squadron perform preflight checks on two MC-130J Commando IIs before takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 23, 2019. E More
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform a shift change under the wing of an MC-130J Commando II, Jan. 21, 2016 on RAF Mildenhall, England. Detailed turnover, co More
U.S. Air Force MC-130J Command IIs assigned to the 17th Special Operations Squadron fly in formation Feb. 17, 2016, over Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 17th SOS conducted a unit-wide training exercise which tasked More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Zach Harmon, 17th Special Operations Squadron MC-130J Commando II loadmaster, prepares a cargo deck for loading during a training exercise Feb. 17, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. More
A French Air Force EC-725 Caracau helicopter assigned to the 1/67 Pyrénées Squadron Cazaux, France connects to the refueling pod of an MC-130J Commando ll assigned to RAF Mildenhall while conducting a training More
Staff Sgt. Matthew Farmer, 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Propulsion Craftsman, outfits an MC-130J Commando II’s Color Multi-Purpose Display with a 3D printed cover on RAF Milde More
U.S. Air commandos assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron parachute to the ground during an exercise over RAF Mildenhall, May 5, 2016. The 321 STS provides a fast reaction, rapidly-deployable force capa More
Hose deployment personnel assigned to the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron await MH-47 Chinook’s assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at a Forward Area Refueling Point site in More
The sun sets over a fleet of MC-130J Commando II’s on RAF Mildenhall, Nov. 3, 2016. The multi-role special operations aircraft, assigned to the 67th Special Operations Squadron flies clandestine, low-level air More
Staff Sgt. Adrian Steenbergh a loadmaster assigned to the 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., performs a pre-flight inspection of an MC-130J Commando II aircraft prior to a training mi More
A member with the 353rd Special Operations Group gives a pre-flight briefing on a U.S. Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 15, 2017, during Exercise Teak Jet. Exercise Teak Jet is More
Master Sgt. Mike Walters, a loadmaster with the 9th Special Operations Squadron, performs pre-flight inspections of an MC-130J Commando II during a bilateral training exercise at Smyrna, Tenn., July 10, 2017. A More
A pair of CV-22 Ospreys, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, prepare for take-off at RAF Mildenhall, England, April 23, 2019. The CV-22 combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualit More
U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing make final preparations for take-off prior to a formation flight in support of the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day at RAF Milden More
SSgt. Elgin Brown III, 100 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communication and navigation specialist, left, and Lt. Col. Brian Barba, 351st Air Refueling Squadron chief of Operations Group training, inspect a KC-13 More
Bundles, simulating military vehicles, drop to the ground during a training scenario with Hurlburt Field’s Weapons School detachment and Air Force Special Tactics operators at Eglin Range, Florida, April 30, 20 More
Two U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to the 67th Special Operations Wing, 352d Special Operations Wing, conduct a day to night transition flight out of an MC-130J Commando II, near Croatia. The flight was ahead o More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Phillip Belt, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, tests the engines of an MC-130J Commando II July 30, 2020, at Kadena Air Base J More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Edgar Luna, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, prepares an AE2100D3 Rolls Royce engine for an engine swap procedure Aug. 6, 2020 More
Airmen assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command offload equipment from an MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 9th Special Operations Squadron during Agile Flag 21-1 at Hurlburt Fi More
An MC-130J Commando II and two CV-22B Ospreys assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, join up in Swedish airspace on November 13, 2020. Special operations forces create conditions for a rapid response to More
A formation of MC-130J Commando IIs flies off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on Jan. 6, 2021. Formation flights exercise the ability of aircrews and maintainers to generate aircraft to quickly move large numbers o More
Military members from NATO allied nations visit Memorial Park la Fiere, June 4, 2016 in Sainte-Mère-Église, France. Memorial Park is dedicated to airborne troops that lost their lives during the airdrops on D-D More
Senior Airman Brennan Hill, 9th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, observes as their sister MC-130J Commando II is prepared for takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Cal More
Maj. John Richardson (right), 27th Special Operations Support Squadron physician, practices medical care on a simulated patient during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January More
An MC-130J Commando II from the 9th Special Operations Squadron sits on the flightline after operations during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 24, 2019. Emerald Warrio More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ryan Gibbons, 9th Special Operations Squadron pilot, performs preflight inspections in an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Ja More
A maintainer from the 352nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron boards a frost covered MC-130J Commando II, Jan. 21, 2016, while performing routine maintenance on RAF Mildenhall, England. Maintenan More
U.S. Air Force MC-130J Command IIs assigned to the 17th Special Operations Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 17, 2016. The 17th SOS conducted a unit-wide training exercise which tasked the entire s More
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Yoan Perez, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron MC-130J Commando II crew chief, performs a final inspection of the aircraft during a training exercise Feb. 17, 2016, at More
A French Air Force EC-725 Caracau helicopter assigned to the 1/67 Pyrénées Squadron from Cazaux, France approaches the refueling pod of an MC-130J Commando ll assigned to RAF Mildenhall while conducting a train More
Staff Sgt. Matthew Farmer, 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Propulsion Craftsman, uses a 3D printer to create protective covers he designed to guard against damage to brittle MC-1 More
Friends and family follow Airmen from the 352d Special Operations Wing after a military free-fall exercise on RAF Mildenhall, May 5, 2016. The exercise, involving MC-130 Commando II’s from the 67th Special Oper More
An MC-130J Commando II and crews assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron prepare a Forward Area Refueling Point for resupply of MH-47 Chinook’s assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment More
A U.S. Airman from the 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals an MC-130J Commando II on RAF Mildenhall, Nov. 3, 2016. The multi-role special operations aircraft primarily flies missions More
Master Sgt.Joseph Thayer and Staff Sgt. Robert LeMay both loadmasters assigned to the 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., review pre-flight checklists aboard an MC-130J Commando II air More
A U.S. Air Force Air Commando, assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron anticipates a military free fall from a CV-22 Osprey March 17, 2017, over RAF Mildenhall, England. The exercise also included Air Co More
An aerial view of Surga Bay, Japan, from an MC-130H Combat Talon II assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group, June 15, 2017, during Exercise Teak Jet. Exercise Teak Jet is a joint combined exchange traini More
Aircrew with the 9th Special Operations Squadron participate in a bilateral training exercise in central Tennessee, July 10, 2017.
A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, approaches the runway at RAF Mildenhall, England, April 23, 2019. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing prepares to taxi prior to formation flight in support of the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day at RAF Mildenhall, England, June 5 More
Air crew from the 351st Refueling Squadron go over a checklist prior to a flight supporting the 352d Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England, Oct. 10, 2019. The Bloody Hundredth provides unrivaled ai More
A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II, loadmaster assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, based out of RAF Mildenhall, U.K., passes a light signal to a U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot, assigned to th More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Isaac Sanders, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron MC-130J Commando II crew chief, prepares a Commando II for refueling on the flight line July 30, 2020, at Kaden More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Phillips, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion craftsman, prepares an AE2100D3 Rolls Royce engine for an engine swap procedure Aug. 6, 20 More
An MC-130J Commando II and two CV-22B Ospreys assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, along with three F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, are escorted by two Swedish JAS-39 Gripens o More
A formation of MC-130J Commando IIs flies off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on Jan. 6, 2021. As the only Air force Special Operations Command unit in the Pacific, the 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal p More
Senior Airman Kyle Jones, 9th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, performs an engine check for an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 23, 20 More
Airmen from the 9th Special Operations Squadron prepare an MC-130J Commando II for takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 24, 2019. Emerald Warrior/Trident is More
Capt. Douglas Bosin, 9th Special Operations Squadron pilot, performs conducts low-level operations in an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 21, More
Senior Airman Kyle Jones, 9th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, lowers the ramp of an MC-130J Commando II in preparation for SEAL Team seven jump training during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Stati More
NATO allied nations perform flyovers in preparation for air drops scheduled for June 5, 2016 over Normandy, France. The statue of an American soldier, named Iron Mike, stands at the top of Memorial Park in Sain More
Senior Master Sgt. Alexander Farver, 1st Combat Camera Squadron combat aerial broadcaster, films aircrew from the 9th Special Operations Squadron during low-level flight training in an MC-130J Commando II durin More