SEASPRAY
Encyclopedia
SEASPRAY was a clandestine U.S. Army
special operations
unit. Its existence within the U.S. Department of Defense was held secret insofar as it testifies to the close links between the United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency
.
Established on 2 March 1981, SEASPRAY was charged with the clandestine transport of elements of special operations units in the course of their operations. The management of the unit was entrusted to a joint CIA/U.S. Army command. SEASPRAY may have been established in response to President Carter
's 1978 Executive Order 12036
, which generally prohibited the use of the United States Armed Forces
in "special activities."
On one hand, the CIA became the only branch to run clandestine operations abroad, but lacked the resources to do so; on the other hand, the Army had the equipment but not the authority to carry out clandestine operations. A joint unit was created to bring these assets together. SEASPRAY operated many air assets, including various Cessna
and Beechcraft
light fixed-wing airplanes, and modified FLIR-equipped Hughes 500MD rotary-wing aircraft equipped to transport up to nine operators.
At first, the unit had 10 pilots, the best flyboys out of the Army's 4,000. Hundreds were evaluated by the CIA, and the best of the best were chosen. Finally, a commercial cover was devised, so that the unit could engage in covert operations, and not be identified as a part of the military. The cover was a CIA company, Aviation Tech Services, which let the helicopters appear as they were privately owned. The unit itself was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and was named the First Rotary Wing Test Activity. Another secret headquarters for Seaspray was located in Tampa Bay
at MacDill Air Force Base
, to support operations in Central America
.
Seaspray would be involved in countless covert operations, most of which the public will never know of. They conducted intelligence missions, transported foreign leaders, and participated in counter-terrorist exercises and missions with Delta Force
and other CT units. A few times, Seaspray helicopters were loaned to the Drug Enforcement Administration
to combat drug smuggling. In one particular incident, a Seaspray pilot observed as a tanker off the Florida
coast, unloaded "cargo" to high speed boats. Eventually, the Seaspray force grew to nine fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters. Seaspray could get things done quickly, and they were generally well-liked in the special operations community. When Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) needed a Boeing 737 airplane for a counter-terrorist exercise, the U.S. Air Force told them it would take three months to get one. Seaspray delivered the 737 in 3 days.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
special operations
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
unit. Its existence within the U.S. Department of Defense was held secret insofar as it testifies to the close links between the United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
.
Established on 2 March 1981, SEASPRAY was charged with the clandestine transport of elements of special operations units in the course of their operations. The management of the unit was entrusted to a joint CIA/U.S. Army command. SEASPRAY may have been established in response to President Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's 1978 Executive Order 12036
Executive Order 12036
Executive Order 12036 is a United States Presidential Executive Order signed on January 24, 1978, by President Jimmy Carter that imposed restrictions on and reformed the U.S. Intelligence Community along with further banning indirect U.S. involvement in assassinations. The EO was designed to...
, which generally prohibited the use of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
in "special activities."
On one hand, the CIA became the only branch to run clandestine operations abroad, but lacked the resources to do so; on the other hand, the Army had the equipment but not the authority to carry out clandestine operations. A joint unit was created to bring these assets together. SEASPRAY operated many air assets, including various Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
and Beechcraft
Beechcraft
Beechcraft is an American manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. Previously a division of Raytheon, it has been a brand of Hawker Beechcraft since 2006....
light fixed-wing airplanes, and modified FLIR-equipped Hughes 500MD rotary-wing aircraft equipped to transport up to nine operators.
At first, the unit had 10 pilots, the best flyboys out of the Army's 4,000. Hundreds were evaluated by the CIA, and the best of the best were chosen. Finally, a commercial cover was devised, so that the unit could engage in covert operations, and not be identified as a part of the military. The cover was a CIA company, Aviation Tech Services, which let the helicopters appear as they were privately owned. The unit itself was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and was named the First Rotary Wing Test Activity. Another secret headquarters for Seaspray was located in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
at MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, to support operations in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
.
Seaspray would be involved in countless covert operations, most of which the public will never know of. They conducted intelligence missions, transported foreign leaders, and participated in counter-terrorist exercises and missions with Delta Force
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
and other CT units. A few times, Seaspray helicopters were loaned to the Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
to combat drug smuggling. In one particular incident, a Seaspray pilot observed as a tanker off the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast, unloaded "cargo" to high speed boats. Eventually, the Seaspray force grew to nine fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters. Seaspray could get things done quickly, and they were generally well-liked in the special operations community. When Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) needed a Boeing 737 airplane for a counter-terrorist exercise, the U.S. Air Force told them it would take three months to get one. Seaspray delivered the 737 in 3 days.
See also
- Glossary of "Killer Elite", a Michael SmithMichael Smith (newspaper reporter)Michael Smith is a British journalist for The Sunday Times who specializes in defence and intelligence issues. He is well known for, among other things, obtaining the document known as the Downing Street memo...
book about the Intelligence Support ActivityIntelligence Support ActivityThe United States Army Intelligence Support Activity , frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity or ISA, and nicknamed The Activity is a United States Army Special Operations unit originally subordinated to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command...
(see the following entries : First Rotary Wing Test Activity, Lights Contraception Division and Quasar Talent] - SpecialOperations.com
- SourceWatch.org
- SpecEncyclopaedia