Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
EC-130E "Commando Solo"
Flown exclusively by the Airmen of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pa., this EC-130E "Commando Solo" is a one-of-a-kind aircraft in many ways. Conducting the U.S. Military's only airborne psychological operations mission, this aircraft and her crew acted in times of peace and war as a flying broadcast studio by sending messages on standard radio and television frequencies.
Beginning its service in 1963 and delivered to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1979, this aircraft served as a faithful workhorse in carrying out its unique mission for nearly three decades. Its last operational sortie in January 2006 followed service in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Its final flight brought it to Muir Army Airfield in August 2006, the largest aircraft ever to land at Fort Indiantown Gap at the time.
Affectionately nicknamed "Triple Cripple" by the airmen who worked on Aircraft No. 7773, it is remarkably the only remaining example of its kind.
Crew: Four Officers, eight enlisted
Cruising Speed: 299 mph
Max Speed: 374 mph
Cruising Range: 2,100 miles
Ceiling: 20,000 feet
Engine: Four Allison T56-A-15 Turboprops
Length: 100.50 feet
Height: 38.50 feet
Wingspan: 132.60 feet
Unit Cost: $70,000,000
NOTE: This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force to the Pennsylvania National Guard.
[The new marker text is identical to the former marker (which is transcribed)]
Erected by Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, 2nd Iraq. A significant historical month for this entry is January 2006.
Location. 40° 25.915′ N, 76° 34.136′ W. Marker is in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, in Lebanon County. Marker is at the intersection of Fisher Avenue and Clement Aveune, on the right when traveling east on Fisher Avenue. Located on the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Facility. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Annville PA 17003, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. EC-130E Commando Solo I (a few steps from this marker); Fallen Warrior Memorial - 2nd BCT (within shouting distance of this marker); M1/IPM1 Abrams Tank (within shouting distance of this marker); M113A2 APC (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Armored Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Clyde Grubb • Lester Baver (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Smolik • Bob Pacios (within shouting distance of this marker); M60A3 Patton Tank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Indiantown Gap.
Also see . . . EC-130J Commando Solo performs final broadcast. Pennsylvania National Guard website entry (Submitted on August 6, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,154 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7. submitted on February 3, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.