This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Thomas LaRoe (Birddog)
to remember
Franklin, Irl (Leon), Lt Col USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
I am an independent instructor pilot as well as a ground school instructor for the Norther Nevada Community College. I supervise the adminisration of FAA examinations. I am Deputy Commander of a Civil Air Patrol Squadron. I also fly many search and rescue mission as a qualified Mission Pilot for CAP. ------ From DD214: SAMER.CRM.NDSM.AFEM.AFOUw/3OLC.RVCM.VSMw/4BSS.AFLSAw/OLC.RVN Gal Crsw/Plm.MSMw/1OLC,GB-62,HqTAC,74.AFCM,G-563,Hq7AF,67.AMw/11ILC,G2380,Hq7AF,68.SS,GB-985,DAF,70.MSMw/2OLC,Gb866,DAR,78 ------
Other Comments:
From 7th SOS:
The 7th Special Operations Squadron was activated on 1 July 1964 as the 7th Air Commando Squadron (7 ACS/USAFE) at Sembach Air Base, Germany. The original cadre came from Hurlburt Field, Florida, in March 1964, as Detachment 4, 1st Air Commando Wing. The new squadron was equipped with 4 C-123s, 6 C-47s and 2 U-10 aircraft, and had 265 personnel authorized. In February 1967, the 7 ACS was designated as the unit to receive the new C-130E(I) Combat Arrow aircraft. In May 1967, command of the squadron was transferred from USAFE to 17th Air Force. Today the squadron flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II at RAF Mildenhall, England. -------
The unit was a detachment of four MC-130E (I) Skyhook aircraft, and six 11-man aircrews, initially based at CCK AB, Taiwan, and then at Nha Trang AB, RVN. The classified missions (at the time, Top Secret, Noforn, Limdis, Spec Cat) were (1) airlift in all of Southeast Asia for Military Assistance Command Studies and Observations Group, hereafter referred to as SOG; (2) drop propaganda leaflets over enemy territory for SOG; (3) insert, resupply, and extract clandestine SOG teams behind enemy lines in North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos; (4) provide Fulton Recovery System (Skyhook) service in enemy territory for SOG's Joint Personnel Recovery Center, referred hereafter as JPRC.
The unit, Det.1, 314th Troop Carrier Wing (PACAF), existed from 1 Sep 1966 until 15 Mar 1968, when it was renamed the 15th Air Commando Squadron and assigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing at Nha Trang.
