C-5B Galaxy - Special Operations Low Level II | SOLL II

A gigantic C-5B Galaxy cargo aircraft pictured at night.

Between the mid-80s and April 2004, the Air Force maintained specially trained Special Operations Low Level II (SOL II) aircrews which operated C-5 Galaxy SOLL II aircraft.

These C-5s were modified for the SOLL II role.

Upgrades included an ECM package, titled 'Pacer Snow', which consisted of AN/ALE-40 flare dispensers AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems.

SOLL II C5s were operated by the 'Night Riders' of the 436th Airlift Wing out of Dover Air Force Base, who are believed to have carried out a number of sorties in support of SOF.

A typical SOLL II mission involves flying a blacked-out aircraft into hostile or sensitive airspace in order to clandestinely deliver cargo.

C-5 SOLL II crews would place duct tape over internal lighting in order to be able to use Night Vision Goggles (NVGs).

The precise nature of other modifications made to C-5 SOLL II birds are not publicly known but they were likely to include enhanced communications and countermeasures.

The C-5 Galaxy was eventually replaced in the SOLL II role by the C-17 SOLL II aircraft and associated crews.

The aircraft, as flown by the 9th Airlift Squadron, 436th Airlift Wing, is still capable of the cladestine insertion, extraction and air drop of SOF.