The 919th Particular Operations Wing flew the AC-130A Spectre for 20 years, earlier than transitioning to non-gunship plane, and can now function the brand new AC-130J.
The 919th Particular Operations Wing (919th SOW) marked its return to the plane gunship function on Oct. 9, 2025, after its constituent 711th Particular Operations Squadron (711th SOS) flew its first AC-130J Ghostrider from Hurlburt Area, Florida. The unit beforehand operated the AC-130A Spectre gunship plane from 1975 to 1995, earlier than it transitioned to a number of kinds of non-gunship plane for particular operations.
A 919th SOW press launch on Nov. 18, 2025, touched upon how the gunship function had come to be synonymous with the formation, and the primary operational flight with the AC-130J Ghostrider in many years marked “a return to its storied gunship heritage.” The return to the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship additionally goes past nostalgia for the 919th SOW, for the reason that Air Power Reserve formation “reinforces its partnership with lively responsibility AC-130J crews,” captions stated.
This was demonstrated in the truth that the AC-130J Ghostrider belonged to the first SOW, an Lively Responsibility formation, however was piloted by a 711th SOS crew, displaying Complete Power Integration. “The 711th Particular Operations Squadron flew a 1 SOW gunship, marking the squadron’s inaugural flight since its platform transition,” one other caption defined.
“The flight was each sensible and symbolic: a visual demonstration that the Air Power Reserve is again flying gunships in an operational capability and totally built-in with its Lively Responsibility companions,” the press launch famous.
AC-130J Ghostrider
The Air Power Particular Operations Command has a fleet of 31 AC-130J Ghostriders, a quantity that was slashed from the 37 deliberate airframes. Beside the AC-130A/H Spectres, the AC-130J additionally changed different older gunship variants just like the AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130U Spooky, which additionally made up 37 plane.
The ultimate AC-130J was delivered to AFSOC at Cannon Air Power Base, New Mexico, in November 2022, marking the total complement of those plane for the command. In September 2024, the AC-130J was additionally assigned to Kirtland Air Power Base, New Mexico, for preliminary and mission qualification coaching of latest crews.
The 711th SOS just lately moved from Duke Area to the close by Hurlburt Area in Florida. Hurlburt Area itself was witness to the AC-130H Spectre gunships crews taking off for Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, within the U.S. navy’s “Operation Simply Trigger.” Thirty-five years later crews gathered at Hurlburt Area to recount their reminiscences of the operation.
As darkness creeps in, the AC-130J Ghostrider rises—unseen, unheard and unstoppable. #AC130J pic.twitter.com/xbxPpxrBFn
— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) November 1, 2024
The press launch famous the 919th SOW’s AC-130A Spectres “performed missions from Panama to the Persian Gulf” between 1975 to 1995, and the return to the gunship mission after almost 30 years “revives a robust legacy.” Furthermore, “the return of a Reserve-led gunship squadron marks a full circle second for the Air Power Reserve’s solely particular operations wing,” stated the service.
The AC-130J’s major missions are shut air assist, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The Ghostrider has additionally discovered potential gentle assault and surveillance roles towards uneven targets within the Indo-Pacific, inside a broader high-end typical conflict situation.
Video exhibiting a U.S. Air Power AC-130J Ghostrider launching two AGM-114 Hellfire II-series missiles throughout a joint train – held on June 17-20, 2024 – with the Republic of Korea Air Power.
Additionally, notice the GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs (LSDBs) beneath the starboard wing. pic.twitter.com/6GCjQ2qYVB
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 20, 2024
919th SOW’s current plane
The 919th SOW is the mum or dad formation overseeing the 919th Particular Operations Group (919th SOG). The 711th SOS is one in all its constituent items, beside three different SOGs and an Operations Intelligence and an Operations Help Squadron. For 20 years, from 1975 to 1995, the 919th SOW, and notably the 711th SOS, operated the AC-130A Spectre gunship, which grew to become their core identification earlier than the plane was retired.
The unit then transitioned to Lockheed MC-130E Fight Talon from 1995 to 2013 and the MC-130P Fight Shadow from 1995 to 2008, adopted by the PZL C-145A Fight Coyote from 20113 to 2022 within the “international inside protection and particular operations mobility” function, based on a Jul. 11, 2025 press launch concerning the change of command within the 711th SOS. Presided by 919th SOG commander Col. Matthew Barry, the occasion noticed the incumbent Lt. Col. John Duke relinquishing command to Lt. Col. Jason Fox.
Duke’s tenure noticed the “closing chapter” of the 711th SOS’s and the broader 919th SOW’s C-145 Fight Coyote operational mission, “which included aviation international inside protection and particular operations mobility coaching.”
“Fight Aviation Advisors from the 711th SOS used the plane to keep up proficiency previous to instructing associate nation aircrew on a variety of superior aviation techniques. Though it was not used for abroad deployments, the Fight Coyote […] may make quick landings and takeoffs, perfect for rural, undeveloped airfields and cargo supply to ahead working bases,” stated a Dec. 19, 2022 press launch concerning the plane’s closing flight with the 711th SOS.
“That legacy now units the muse for the unit’s return to gunship operations. The transition marks a return of the AC-130 gunship mission to the 919th SOW,” the Jul. 11 launch stated. “From 1975 – 1995, the 919th SOW flew the AC-130A Spectre gunship, supporting fight operations and NASA launch missions throughout the jap U.S.”
Barry due to this fact remarked that, “though the mission resulted in 1995, the spirit of the gunship by no means left the wing.” The AFSOC on Apr. 2, 2023 additionally divested the final of its closing six MC-130H Fight Talon IIs, arriving at Davis-Monthan Air Power Base, Arizona, to retire on the 309th Aerospace Upkeep and Regeneration Group (AMARG), or “boneyard”.
Integrating Air Power Reserve and Lively Responsibility crews on the AC-130J
“Our Air Commandos are as soon as once more flying one of the vital succesful strike platforms on the planet,” stated Col. Scott Hurrelbrink, 919th SOW commander. “The combination of the Reserve” aircrew and maintainers with Lively Responsibility counterparts brings their “deep operational expertise” with the platform as value-added mission companions.”
An AC-130J GHOSTRIDER assigned to the first Particular Operations Wing from Hurlburt Area takes off from Edwards Air Power Base. (📷 James West) pic.twitter.com/0pXKAEg2Ie
— J.J. (@kadonkey) June 7, 2022
Air Commandos within the 919th SOW and their active-duty maintainers will collaborate to “generate sorties, keep proficiency, and surge when known as upon.” For now, the wing’s speedy focus is “coaching to proficiency, constructing upkeep depth and collaborating in joint workout routines with particular operations floor forces.”
Hurrelbink additionally recognized challenges like “elevated coaching and readiness, constructing upkeep depth, turning into totally built-in with lively responsibility and surpassing phased milestones.”
“The primary operational coaching sortie was what we’ve been constructing towards. Each day we’re integrating Reservists, maintainers and operational crews right into a single staff so we are able to proceed on the trail towards Full Operational Functionality for the enterprise,” stated Lt. Col. Jason Fox, the Reserve’s AC-130J squadron commander.
