Where are the USAF Special Ops CV-22's???

Remember the Libyan War?

Remember the rescue of the downed F-15 pilots by the Marine Corps' MEU flying MV-22's backed  up by CH-53's and escorted by AV-8B's?

I always assumed that USAF Combat Search and Rescue was stationed on land and that it would take them too long to get there.

I thought wrong.  Check this out from SLD.

First, the Libyan TRAP mission showed the ready now nature of joint basing of the AV-8 and MV-22s on the USS Kearsage.
Colonel Mark Desens, Commander 26th MEU:
When we learned that a F-15 crew had ejected east of Benghazi, we immediately focused our efforts on getting ready to rescue them.

The mission was given to us for two reasons: one, first and foremost, was the uncertain environment. We didn’t know what was going on on the ground with the pilot. The second is we were the most ready and had the most responsive assets, most notably, the MV-22. Backed up by CH-53s and Harriers, we had very potent reaction force in case we needed to fight to get the crew out or reinforce the recovery or crash site. As an aside, a recovery asset launching from land base — the next closest locations being Sigonella or Souda Bay — would have been four or more hours.

There were USAF HH-60G rescue helicopters embarked on the Ponce to give a CSAR capability with improved reaction times. However, you’re comparing 270 knots versus 140. It would have taken at least 45 minutes longer for a helicopter to get there. U.S. forces may well have not been the first to reach that pilot without the MV-22. Given the situation, that was not acceptable. The other thing is that for a helo, a direct flight path (to save time) to the pilot would have gone through Benghazi, a potential threat area at the time. The Osprey could chart a very different path, avoiding any potential air defense threats.

Again the speed and range of the Osprey coupled with the ability to have Marines on the ground to secure the perimeter was the key.

So USAF Combat Search and Rescue was forward deployed (aboard a Navy Amphib...very ironic considering all the talk about the contribution of the Gator Navy being irrelevant).

They just didn't have the tools to get the job done.  Correction.  They didn't have the tools on hand to get the job done.

I've wondered why we haven't seen the CV-22 used more often.  The MH-53J was rode HARD.  It seems as if the USAF is still in an evaluation period with their aircraft.

Either way, the USAF in general and SOCOM in particular has got to get this equipment into the fight in a big way.  If not then they need to give the aircraft to the Marine Corps.  We can use them if they won't.