page_title: Chuck Wilson (pilot)
section_title: U-2 Dragon Lady
hierarchical_section_title: Chuck Wilson (pilot) / Military career / U-2 Dragon Lady
caption_attribution_description: English: USAF Lt. Colonel Charles P. Wilson II, commander of the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, stands in front of a Lockheed U-2 aircraft at Osan Air Base, South Korea in 1995.
context_page_description: Charles Paul Wilson II is a retired United States Air Force colonel who is notable for his work in political-military affairs, national security policy, defense acquisition, and business development. He commanded four different military units at the squadron and wing organizational levels. Wilson performed operational testing of the prototype S1034 pressure suit and flew the first operational mission of the Lockheed U-2S spy plane. He is a rated US Air Force command pilot with over 3,800 flight hours.
  After retiring from the Air Force, Wilson worked as a business executive in the aerospace industry. He is a docent at the National Air and Space Museum, author, and a frequent military aviation speaker. Wilson is active in veterans' affairs and has made significant contributions including serving in leadership roles of increasing responsibility.
context_section_description: In 1986, Wilson was selected to fly the Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady, a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. During the Cold War, he served on multiple operational deployments flying missions over contested areas of the world. Wilson advanced to flight instructor in the U-2 and in 1993 commanded the 4402nd Reconnaissance Squadron (Provisional), known as the Desert Dragons, at Taif Air Base, Saudi Arabia. A provisional squadron is one created for a limited time to accomplish a specific mission. The 4402nd was formed to continue reconnaissance operations over Iraq after the end of the 1991 Gulf War in order to ensure compliance with United Nations (UN) resolutions. U-2s from the 4402nd flew Olive Branch missions to provide imagery for the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) that searched for evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi government did not approve of these overflights, and Wilson's first U-2 mission for the UN was targeted by Iraqi anti-aircraft weapons. The U-2s operating in-theater at this time had outdated defensive capabilities. Wilson's mission report was instrumental in obtaining funding for the "Band Aid" upgrades to the U-2's defensive systems. The U-2 flies at altitudes where the air pressure is too low for an unprotected person to survive. During his tour with the 4402nd, Wilson performed operational testing of the prototype S1034 pressure suit manufactured by the David Clark Company to evaluate its suitability in the U-2.
  In 1995, Wilson was assigned command of the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Blackcats, that operated from Osan Air Base, South Korea. The squadron received the U-2S with an upgraded General Electric F118-101 engine that provided significant weight and fuel savings over the previous Pratt & Whitney J75 engine. On October 20, 1995, Wilson flew the first U-2S operational mission. Under Wilson's leadership, the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron received the 1995 Lockheed Advanced Development Corporation (Skunkworks) "Hughes Trophy," distinguishing the unit as the best reconnaissance squadron in the 9th Reconnaissance Wing that year. The 5th RS was also nominated for the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
  Promoted to colonel in 1997, Wilson was assigned as the commander of the Air Force Command and Control Training and Innovation Center (AFC2TIC) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The center of excellence was renamed as the Air Force Command and Control Training and Innovation Group (AFC2TIG) in April 1999 and renamed again in 2004 as the 505th Command and Control Wing. Wilson's organization re-engineered airpower command and control (C²) at the operational level of war. Air Operations Centers worldwide were restructured with trained staff, standardized equipment, and worked with a deliberate process that is used across the globe. The team trained warfighters of different experience levels. On short notice and at the direction of the chief of staff, AFC2TIG trained every active duty Air Force general officer on the Theater Battle Management Core System. Wilson led and managed this group of over 3,000 personnel and 13 disparate Air Force units located across the United States.
caption: 5th RS Commander Wilson with Lockheed U-2 at Osan Air Base, South Korea in 1995
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