One of three departing home via Keflavik.

Before it was painted in battleship grey, much nicer looking.

Before it was painted in battleship grey, much nicer looking.

A 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) U-28A Spectre being prepared for another mission over Afghanistan

Nice study of a U-28A during its take-off from Kandahar. The U-28A provides a manned fixed wing, on-call/surge capability for tactical airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of special operations forces.

The history of the 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) dates back to Sep'44 when it was activated as a C-46/C-47/C-123 Troop Carrier Squadron where it served in the China-Burma-India Theater during WWII within the civic action and counterinsurgency missions (also flew T-28 Trojans). Since then the squadron was activated, redesignated and deactivated several times, but on 1 Oct'05, the SOS was activated as part of an overall expansion of the USAF Special Operations Command. It started to fly this secretive Pilatus U-28A that provides intra-theater support for special operations forces.

A 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) U-28A Spectre at one of the platforms of Kandahar airfield.

The U-28A is the premier Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The Command uses 35 such aircraft from Cannon AFB (NM) , Duke Field (FL) and Hurlburt Field (FL). The aircraft was named within the USAF as "Spectre", but since its first deployments to Afghanistan in 2006, the aircrew nicknamed it as the "Draco". This nickname was officialy approved by the USAF since May 2019.

A USAF Special Operation Command (SOCOM) PC-12, designated U-28A, leaving Kandahar for another secretive mission. The 319th Special Operations Squadron was operating this aircraft at the moment of the deployment.

At the Rwy 12 hold waiting for departure to cross the pond back home. In company with 3 others and their top cover Hercules.

At the Rwy 12 hold waiting for departure to cross the pond back home. In company with 3 others and their top cover Hercules.