[ProudVet77]

I remember that morning. Thank you Jimmy Carter.
Truth is that Delta Force could not have freed them. Nor could the Navy SEALs. It would have taken a combined arms operation, with maybe SOFs going into the compound after we blew the cr@p out of everything for 2 miles and created an air dominance zone.

[SteveMcKing]

I believe I once read that the C-130 was specially fitted for vertical take-off and landings, or that they experimented with the idea but it crashed miserably during testing. It was specifically intended for this mission.