Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; June 2024

The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

For the first month this year, it seemed there wasn't an exercise of some sort or a visiting unit flying out of the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center (perhaps potential visitors think it's too hot during the Summer to visit?). That, however, didn't prevent June from being an eventful month. A new unit began flying out of MCAS Beaufort, USCG Sector Charleston made some communications changes, there was a lot of AWACS activity, and a road trip to Columbia, SC (check the link for a full radio report along with information on the places I visited and some of the places I ate) gave me the opportunity to better listen to 20th FW F-16s from Shaw AFB and 169th FW F-16s and 1-151 AVN AH-64Es from McEntire JNGB.

Road Trip Radio Report: Midland and Pee Dee South Carolina History - Columbia, Camden, and Darlington, SC; 10-13 June 2024

From Monday, 10 June through Thursday, 13 June, I took a road trip through Columbia, Camden, and Darlington, SC visiting some historic sites while staying in Cayce, just east of Columbia. In Columbia, I visited Historic Columbia and toured some of their historic homes and gardens. In Camden, I visited the Historic Camden living history park. In Darlington, I visited the museum at Darlington Raceway (maybe not everyone would consider Darlington a historic site, but a motor sport fan surely would). Along the way, I made stops in Sumter to visit Thomas Sumter's grave, in Eutawville to visit the Eutaw Springs battlefield, in Pineville to visit Francis Marion's grave, and in Walterboro to visit the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial. It was also an interesting trip radio-wise; there was a lot of activity from both Shaw AFB, McEntire JNGB, and Fort Jackson; the Palmetto 800 system was busy with public safety communications from the region; and railroads were quite busy, especially in and close around Columbia. I also discovered that the VHF TRS at Shaw AFB was no longer a stand alone system, but now part of the USAF 57C system. Unusual for me, I also had a few amateur radio QSOs along the way.

Historic Columbia's hub - the Robert Mills House in downtown Columbia, SC

Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; May 2024

The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

May 2024 was a month in which I didn't have as much radio time as I would have liked, but the time I did have made for yet another outstanding month of monitoring. The month began with a USMC Amphibious Readiness Group working in the area and that was closely followed by another exercise and more visiting units at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center. The month also began with some indication that VMFA-533 at MCAS Beaufort may be back in the air. Finally, a new AirEvac Base was identified in Coastal Georgia.

Sentry Savannah 2024 Final Report

It sounds like we can tie a bow on Sentry Savannah today. This morning I caught some 71st FS F-22s, 7th FTS T-38s, and 157th FS F-16s departing Savannah to head home. Just as I turned on the radios, I also heard something that sounded like F-35s (I never heard their callsign) with Atlanta Center getting cleared direct to Montgomery, so the 100th FS F-35s may have departed this morning as well. In one piece of good fortune this morning, I was also able to finally ID who HECKLER is; they're the 103rd ACS, CT ANG. A social media post about the exercise linked to this article, which tells how the 103rd ACS worked with the Georgia ARNG to "successfully deploy and execute a cloud-based radar and radio connection of the Tactical Operations System-Lite (TOC-L)."

Here's a final report on what I heard when I was able to listen.

Air Combat Exercise Sentry Savannah 2024 Underway at Savannah-Hilton Head IAP

Note: Updated after the 9 May 2024 morning sorties

Sentry Savannah 2024, an air combat exercise, got underway in Savannah on Monday. Described as "the National Guard Bureau’s premier counter air exercise specializing in fourth and fifth-generation fighter tactics,” it is held at the Georgia Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Center/Air Dominance Center at Savannah-Hilton Head IAP. This year's participants include F-22As and T-38s from the 71st FS and 7th FTS at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, F-35As from the 100th FS at ANGB Dannelly Field, and F-16CMs from McEntire JNGB. So far, they've been flying morning and afternoon sorties out to the SEALORD controlled Special Use Areas off the South Carolina/Georgia/Florida coast. Tanker support has been from 185th ARW KC-135Rs flying out of Hunter AAF and 157th ARW KC-46s flying out of Myrtle Beach. Intercept control is being provided by HECKLER, a callsign I've not heard before.

Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; April 2024

 The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

April was yet another terrific month for military monitoring in Coastal Georgia; the first four months of 2024 have been extraordinary. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd ID was in the field for part of the month, with a lot of radio traffic on the US Army 98D TRS coordinating their training. The 23rd Wing from Moody AFB conducted an exercise, part of which was held at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center (CRTC/ADC). A short road trip up to Beaufort County, SC gave me the opportunity to do some listening around MCRD Parris Island and a two and a half day road trip to the Space Coast gave me the opportunity to do some listening around Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral SFS as well as catch a night launch in person. 

Aerospace History, a SpaceX Night Launch, and Wildlife - Space Coast Road Trip Radio Report; 26-28 April 2024

This past Saturday was Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Family Day, and a friend invited me along for a base tour; since it coincided with my weekend off, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I left Savannah on Friday and came back on Sunday. In addition to the Cape Canaveral SFS visit, I was able to visit the Merritt Island NWR and take in my first in person night launch when SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 on Saturday night. And as always, a trip to the Space Coast makes for interesting radio listening. It was a truly enjoyable road trip that in the end seemed all to short.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday night, 27April 2024. The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) can be seen on the right, and LC-39B, lit up for work, can be seen to the left of the launch.

Fort Fremont and Naval History in Port Royal; Mini Road Trip Radio Report; 6 April 2024

After having breakfast with some of the Coastal Amateur Radio Society crew yesterday morning, I drove roughly hour and a half from Savannah up to the Port Royal Sound area of South Carolina to visit the Fort Fremont Preserve on St Helena Island. It's a place that I've had on my want to visit list for several years, but since their visitors center is only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and I work most weekends, I hadn't yet found the opportunity to visit. Since I was off, had no plans, and the weather was beautiful, I made a last minute decision to visit. On the radio side of things, it was a beneficial visit because it uncovered a flaw in my radio programming.

Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; March 2024

The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

Even though several area units were deployed overseas, March was still a terrific month for military monitoring. Several units visited the Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center (CRTC/ADC) at Savannah Hilton Head IAP, making up the shortfall of activity from the deployed units. Some of the visiting units participated in an exercise at the CRTC/ADC while they were here. An overnight road trip to Charleston gave me the opportunity to listen to some Charleston area activity. Several good late winter/early spring VHF/UHF band openings (some particularly good ones during the last week of the month) allowed me to listen up into South Carolina and down into Florida beyond my normal range.

History and Nature in Lowcountry South Carolina - Charleston Overnight Road Trip Radio Report; 24/25 March 2024

On Sunday and Monday, I took an overnight road trip to Moncks Corner and Charleston, South Carolina to visit some of the area's historic sites. On Sunday I visited the Biggin Church Ruins and Old Santee Canal Park near Moncks Corner and visited Boone Hall Plantation on Monday before returning to Savannah. I didn't plan it this way because I planned this trip before I read the book, but I just finished reading John W. Gordon's South Carolina and The American Revolution: A Battlefield History before the trip, so Sunday's portion of the trip gave me the opportunity to walk the ground of some of the skirmishes and battles I read about around Biggin Church and at Fort Fairlawn.

Of course, I took the radios along and listened to MilCom/Aviation, FedCom, Public Safety, Marine VHF, and Railroad communications during the trip. As usual, there was no shortage of something to listen to in the Charleston area. VHF and UHF Amateur Radio was more active on Sunday than on Monday (the SCHearts linked repeater network was linked together for the weekend) and I've included a list of repeaters that I heard active during the trip.

Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; February 2024

The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

February was a continuation of what has been a remarkable first two months of 2024 for military monitoring in Coastal Georgia. Two more units visited the Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center (CRTC/ADC) at Savannah-Hilton Head IAP; I can't remember ever having units visit back-to-back-to-back-to-back like we've had in January and February. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade at Hunter AAF is back up to speed after recently returning from a deployment to Europe and the skies over Savannah are once again filled with CH-47s, UH-60s, HH-60s, and AH-64s. It's also worth mentioning that there were several good VHF/UHF band openings toward Charleston to the north and Jacksonville to the south late the month. It all certainly made for fun listening. 

Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring Recap; January 2024

The Monthly Military Monitoring Recap consists of frequencies and callsigns that I've heard in use in Coastal Georgia and during my travels (usually around South Carolina and Florida). Special Operations, Intelligence, and real-world Combat Air Patrol information will not be posted. Gulfstream (Savannah) and Boeing (Charleston) flight test frequencies and callsigns are also included as well as US Coast Guard, non-law enforcement FedCom, and civilian medevac callsigns, N-numbers, and frequencies. 

January turned out to be a better monitoring month than I'd hoped. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade began flying again after returning from a deployment to Europe; it was nice to hear the skies over Savannah busy with their activity again. The 165th AW received their first C-130J late in the month, which means they'll be flying again soon as well. In addition to the planned road trip to Florida's Space Coast providing some variety from the normal things heard at home, there was unexpected activity at the Georgia ANG's Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center (CRTC/ADC). 

Update on 71st FS Training at the Savannah CRTC/ADC

I had a good opportunity to monitor yesterday afternoon's 71st FS activity out of the Savannah CRTC/ADC at Savannah-Hilton Head IAP. Based on what I heard, it sounds like this week's activity is a Sentry Savannah exercise. Unlike last week, when they flew in the afternoon and evening, yesterday the flew in the morning and the afternoon. VMFAT-501 F-35Bs and VFC-12 F/A-18s also participated yesterday, both flying out of MCAS Beaufort. Here's an updated list of frequencies and callsigns in use:

71st Fighter Squadron Training at the Savannah Air Dominance Center

When I returned home from my Space Coast Road Trip, I discovered that some visitors had arrived at the Savannah Air Dominance Center at the Savannah-Hilton Head IAP. It turned out that they were 71st Fighter Squadron (FS) F-22As. They didn't fly over the weekend or on the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, but they did start flying on Tuesday. More visitors arrived during the holiday on Monday: 7th Fighter Training Squadron (FTS) T-38As. On Tuesday, the 71st FS F-22As flew during the afternoon and evening, joined by 7th FTS T-38As during the afternoon. During the evening flights, the F-22s were joined by a 434th ARW KC-135R for aerial refueling operations. Afterwards, the KC-135 landed at Hunter AAF, where it may remain for more aerial refueling with the F-22s throughout the rest of the week. 

Space Coast Road Trip Radio Report; 8-13 January 2024

Last week I took a road trip to Florida's Space Coast to take in nature and wildlife at the Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island NWR and the past, present, and future of space travel at the Kennedy Space Center. Throughout the week, I also enjoyed listening to the wide variety of communications in the Space Coast area - aviation and Military communications, NASA and federal communications, private space company communications, and more. I also took a boat tour of the Banana River and Port Canaveral while I was there and that yielded a wonderful surprise. The weather was somewhat uncooperative on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but it still turned out to be a terrific trip. Some excellent meals were had at restaurants along the way, including a great meal with friends. Overall, it was a wonder, enjoyable trip - one that is becoming an annual thing.