Commando Solo, una radio volante per Haïti

Torna a volare, questa volta sui cieli di Haiti, il C130 (anzi, l'EC-130J) attrezzato come una stazione radiotelevisiva volante del 193esimo Special Operations Wing in forza alla Guardia Nazionale della Pennsylvania. L'aereo da trasporto è meglio conosciuto con il nome di Commando Solo ed è entrato in funzione più volte in passato per analoghe operazioni di psy-op, "guerra psicologica". Ad Haiti c'è una emergenza, non una guerra. In passato la radio volante è entrata in azione sull'Iraq, l'Iran, l'Afghanistan, in Kosovo, e ancora prima a Grenada e ancora su Haiti, anche se ai tempi dell'invasione dei marines. Sulle sue lunghezze d'onda viaggiavano annunci, appelli, musiche, un format studiato per demoralizzare i nemici, invitarli alla diserzione, o per mandare messaggi alle popolazioni civili. Ora la missione di Commando Solo sarà comunque quella di fornire, via radio FM e onde medie, una serie di informazioni di coordinamento e incoraggiamento che spiegheranno la logistica dei soccorsi del dopo-terremoto.

Contemporaneamente, la Joint Task Force-Haiti sta provvedendo a distribuire tra la popolazione cinquantamila radioline a manovella e pannello solare, in modo che i senzatetto rimasti completamente privi di mezzi possano ricevere le trasmissioni di Commando Solo e, si spera, delle emittenti locali che riusciranno a riattivare i loro impianti.
La storia del C-130 radioemittente risale agli anni Sessanta ma nel suo assetto attuale è entrato in servizio verso gli anni Novanta, all'epoca di Desert Storm. Mi è capitato di ascoltarlo durante la sua missione in Afghanistan dopo l'attacco al World Trade Center, perché operava in una frequenza delle onde corte, intorno agli 8.700 kHz. Trovate una scheda dettagliata con la storia di Commando Solo su questa pagina dell'Aviazione americana.

Pennsylvania Guard to Broadcast to Haitians

By Airman 1st Class Claire Behney Special to American Forces Press Service

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 15, 2010 – The Pennsylvania National Guard is sending a uniquely equipped plane to Haiti to provide radio and television broadcasts to keep the people of the earthquake-stricken nation informed as rescue and humanitarian missions continue.
Airmen assigned to the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard load a C-130J as they prepare to depart Middletown, Pa., for Haiti, Jan. 15, 2010. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Hawkins
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
About 50 airmen and three C-130 aircraft assigned to the 193rd Special Operations Wing will provide rapid communications response capabilities to all of Hispaniola, which comprises Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Two of the aircraft are cargo aircraft. The third, named Commando Solo, is an airborne radio and television station that will provide important information to the Haitian people as U.S. and international search and rescue and humanitarian aid missions continue.
In what he described as an "unprecedented humanitarian mission," Gov. Edward G. Rendell said that the Pennsylvania Air National Guard had been called out to support the Air Force Special Operations Command mission in Haiti.
One of the aircraft departed late on Jan. 14, the other two aircraft left Middletown, Pa., today.
"Our National Guard is honored to extend a helping hand to the people of Haiti. I am proud of these dedicated airmen, who are always ready to answer the call of duty, whether it is for combat missions or to aid those in need," said Army Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, the adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
The 193rd was last called to serve in Haiti more than a decade ago. In 1994, Commando Solo was used to broadcast radio and television messages to the citizens and leaders of Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. This is, however, the first humanitarian mission of its type for the wing.
(Airman 1st Class Claire Behney is assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard.)

***

U.S. Military Delivers Self-Powered Radios to Earthquake Survivors

HOMESTEAD ARB, FLORIDA – A U.S. Air Force C-130 is delivering 50,000 hand-held radios for distribution to Haitian earthquake survivors by the recent devastating earthquake.
The radios will be distributed by JTF-Haiti and are expected to arrive later this week.
The small emergency radios are both solar-powered and hand-cranked and do not require batteries.
Radios are being distributed in order for affected citizens to receive news and important information concerning international relief efforts.
In close coordination with the government of Haiti, JTF-Haiti is currently broadcasting news, public health, safety and information regarding relief efforts via a military aircraft equipped with FM and AM broadcasting capability.
Public safety messages are broadcasting in the following frequencies:
92.4 FM, 104.1 FM, 1030 AM.
The role of U.S. military forces during this humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort is to rapidly respond with critically needed supplies and medical services in those areas the Haitian government deems necessary.
U.S. Department of Defense forces are part of a larger, unified United States federal response to the Government of Haiti’s request for humanitarian aid. U.S. Southern Command is working with the Department of State, USAID, the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and others to aggressively provide life-sustaining services to the people of Haiti.