USAF Flying BS Generator

May 27th, 2010

Via: Wired:

Name a recent U.S. military operation, and you can pretty much guarantee that a specially modified Air Force plane was somewhere in the vicinity, trying to influencing the minds of the people below. It’s called the Commando Solo. Ordinarily, civilians are not allowed on board.

The 193rd Special Operations Wing operates a fleet of three of these EC-130J aircraft, cargo haulers that have been converted into flying radio and television stations. These “psychological operations” aircraft can broadcast their own signal over AM and FM radio, UHF and VHF television bands – or override broadcast stations on the ground, something they apparently did during operations in Bosnia and Iraq.

I recently accompanied a Commando Solo crew on a training mission. It was an unusual opportunity to see the crew at work testing their radio and television equipment at full power. This was an opportunity for what the crew calls “200 mile work”: In order to avoid interference with domestic frequencies — the aircraft can crank up to 1,000 watts of effective radiated power — the aircraft flies over 200 miles off the East Coast.

Once we’re safely out over the Atlantic, says Weapons Systems Officer Lt. Col. Mike Rice, “it’s game on.”

These aircraft play a crucial role in reaching — and persuading — vulnerable civilian populations.

One Response to “USAF Flying BS Generator”

  1. dt says:

    For any remaining 911 aficionados, here’s a possible 193d / 911 connection, whether or not you accept the ‘false broadcasts’ theory:
    PSYOP Team at Johnstown-Cambria

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