Flying with the 352nd Special Operations Wing

[Ashley Wallace]

Last month I was given the great privilege of flying with the 67th and 7th Special Operations Squadrons out of RAF Mildenhall on a CV-22B Osprey and a MC-130J Commando II. Here are the results from two truly memorable flights. A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible.

I have included the link to my full report on Touchdown-Aviation below :

http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/repor ... s-wing.php

Regards,

Ash

#1

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#2

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#3

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#4

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#5

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#6

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#7

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#8

Waiting For The Signal by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#9

Pre-Flight Air Drop Checks by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#10

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#11

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#12

12-5760 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#13

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#14

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#15

12-5760 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#16

12-5760 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#17

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#18

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#19

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#20

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#21

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#22

12-5760 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#23

12-5760 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#24

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#25

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#26

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#27

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#28

12-5757 MC-130J 67th SOS "Night Owls" / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#29

The Crew of "KNIFE 77" by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#30

Prepping The Gun by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#31

Pre-Flight Walk Around by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#32

08-0050 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#33

08-0050 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#34

Ready To Roll by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#35

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#36

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#37

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#38

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#39

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#40

07-0033 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#41

08-0050 CV-22B 7th SOS / 352nd SOW (AFSOC) - RAF Mildenhall, UK by Ashley Wallace - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

[Supra]

Who's a lucky boy then? You really have done these justice, a nice selection of enthusiasts shots intermixed with USAF PAO./'Men at Work' type stuff.

[paddyboy]

Hi Ash

Stunning work, mate

Every picture really does tell a story in this case

Cheers

Paddyboy

[LTFT5]

Hi Ash,

A great picture board, like them all.
Andy

[richpittman]

Sublime Ash.
Everyone great colour and detail

Cheers Rich

[Jazz]

Wow, cant think of a word for these... Superlative, that'll do
Absolute top quality, these deserve even higher profile coverage. Great work.

[DanBeeden]

One of the most impressive set of images I can recall seeing on FC - these really are magnificent in every respect. Great variety of angles, perspectives and subjects. The fact that you have exposed perfectly both the interior of the aircraft and the world beyond (something I struggle with), really makes these shots stand out for me.

Fantastic work and thanks for sharing these with us.

[GhostFlight91]

Lucky lucky boy brilliant mate

[Pune]

Absolutely stunning images, I think they are some of the best I have seen on this forum, and as someone else mentioned, you lucky lucky lad.
Thanks for sharing.
Pune

[catkins]

Fabulous and interesting set of photos, great opportunity really well captured.

[Dan214sqn]

This is one that does'nt really come down to 'luck' - these kind of events don't fall out the sky into peoples laps.

I can't begin to imagine the work you had to put in Ash to organise this. The email trail must be half as impressive as the shots.

Safe to say the hard work paid off. Fantastic work and you've taken full advantage of both flights. Hat's off sir. few wall handers amongst those

[Ashley Wallace]

Thanks for your amazing comments guy, I really appreciate them as always. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

There are actually a couple of images in amongst that selection that were amazingly taken on my iPhone, the quality of the camera on my iPhone 6 really impressed me that evening. It actually stepped up to the plate when the DSLR struggled with the low light even at high ISO - so I started snapping away and was blown away by the results it produced. Anyone notice which ones were iPhone images?

[Duncan Disorderley]

Superb Ash, a great opportunity very well captureed. Not jealous at all.

[Stu]

Really superb set there Ash some those cockpit shots are just stunning Will make good canvas for the wall !

[Snafu]

Echo the previous statements. A fabulous set of images, love the clarity, the composition and the processing...stunning! Could I ask what equipment, apart from the I Phone you used and what processing software

[eagle1]

Just wanted to add a note of thanks for sharing as well Ashley. Ab fab shots & story

This is what makes this forum so good and it's nice to read fellow FC'ers comments and support - well done

Cheers

Martin

[Ashley Wallace]

Thanks again guys!

Echo the previous statements. A fabulous set of images, love the clarity, the composition and the processing...stunning! Could I ask what equipment, apart from the I Phone you used and what processing software

Snufu - I was using two Nikon D7100s, 14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 and a Samyang 8mm Fisheye. All processed using a mix of Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop CC.

[Nick Thompson]

Brilliant set Ash, the light and colours in the sunset images are lovely. Also a fan of the personnel and interior shots, provides a great insight

[Heal1979]

Wonderful set, Ash! What an experience. I think I've favourite'd most of these on flickr. Nicely written article on TDA website and in CA magazine too. Well done
Cheers,
Chris

[Rugbyref]

#5 must have been the most challenging from a lighting perspective - that is the most impressive one for me.

Phil