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Final Talon mission very personal for one Air Commando

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Stacia Zachary
  • 352nd Special Operations Wing Provisional Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Weather moved in moments before the aircrew boarded the MC-130H Combat Talon II one final time. As the clouds rolled in and icy bursts of wind and rain buffeted the crowd gathered to say goodbye as it embarks for its new home at the 15th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The final mission from RAF Mildenhall is a very personal undertaking for U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Powell, Joint Special Operations Air Component – Europe vice commander. In 1994 as a first lieutenant, Powell was assigned to RAF Alconbury. On Feb. 17, 1995, when the 7th Special Operations Squadron was the first 352d SOG unit to move from RAF Alconbury to RAF Mildenhall, he flew one of the Combat Talon IIs during the transition.

“I was here when we moved the planes from RAF Alconbury to RAF Mildenhall and I was just a first lieutenant then,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons why it was so important for me to be a part of the final Talon II’s mission from RAF Mildenhall.”

Stationed with the 7th SOS routinely throughout his career, Powell has been able to see how the Combat Talon II has grown into a workhorse for special operations.

“This is really bittersweet for me,” he said. “This is my third tour at RAF Mildenhall. I have flown this aircraft for over 20 years. It’s wonderful to take an aircraft, use it for what it’s designed for and, at the end of the day, go home and celebrate with all your friends. This aircraft has been essential to special operations and will continue being essential.”

As the mission evolves so will the technology and the manner in which special operations employs its people, aircraft and equipment.

“Change is the one constant we know in the Air Force,” Powell said. “I flew the Talon II when it was a new aircraft, but obviously technology has just exploded in the last 27 years. It’s necessary to stay on the leading edge in countering our enemies by making these advancements.”

The CV-22 Osprey, the premier tiltrotor aircraft, was built with many of the capabilities legacy special operations aircraft have.

“In 2000, I was involved in the tactical development of the CV-22 and I flew quite a few hours in the simulator,” he said. “It’s amazing how similar the planes are – except the helicopter portion of the aircraft,” Powell said. “En route, a lot of the displays are very similar to the Talon II which is why I think I am more comfortable with the idea of flying the CV-22.”

Even as he looks to the future of the 7th SOS and the CV-22, Powell was humbled to be able to fly the final aircraft to Hurlburt Field, Florida.

"It’s an honor to be the aircraft commander for the final flight of the Talon II,” he said. “When I got off the rotator in 1994, I was given a 7th SOS coin, No. 221. It’s the one coin I will carry with me when I go back to the States. I’ll carry it with me for the rest of my life.”

Note: The first installment of two CV-22B Ospreys arrived at RAF Mildenhall June 24, 2013. For more information about the CV-22B, view the arrival story at http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123353774.