19th Special Operations Squadron

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"19th Tactical Airlift Squadrons" redirects here. For the 19th Airlift Squadron, see 19th Airlift Squadron. For the 19th Military Airlift Squadron, see 19th Military Airlift Squadron.

19th Special Operations Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
19th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 23 August 1996)[1]
19th Air Commando Sq emblem
Patch with 19th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 19 September 1941)[2]

The 19th Special Operations Squadron is an Air Force Special Operations Command unit, part of the 492nd Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It conducts crew training for AC-130 and Lockheed MC-130 aircraft.

History

World War II

The 19th was established as a GHQ Air Force medium bomber squadron in 1940 as a result of the buildup of the United States Army Air Corps after the outbreak of World War II in Europe. It trained with a mix of Douglas B-18 Bolos and Martin B-26 Marauders.

After the

Townsville, Australia, against Rabaul, New Britain. In addition to frequent raids against Rabaul, the 19th flew against enemy shipping, facilities, and troop concentrations in New Guinea and provided close air support for Allied troops fighting there, until being withdrawn from combat in January 1943. With refurbished B-26s, the 19th moved to New Guinea and returned to combat in mid-July 1943.[3]

The squadron was again re-equipped, with

Okinawa and flew reconnaissance missions over Japan.[3]

The 19th flew training missions in the Far East until being moved to

March Air Force Base, California in May. The 19th again deployed to England from November 1949 to February 1950 where the squadron flew training sorties to Germany and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.[3]

Korean War

The squadron then deployed in July 1950 to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and flew its first combat mission over Korea on 13 July, hitting marshaling yards at Wonsan, North Korea. Bombing missions over both North Korea and South Korea followed, with targets such as bridges, industrial facilities, and railroads. The squadron flew its last combat mission on 19 October, and returned to the USA on 30 October.[3]

Back at March AFB, the 19th trained

French Morocco. Later the 19th deployed from April–June 1957 to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and from there, flew missions to Japan and Korea. In November 1957, the 19th BS received a forward alert obligation, initially sending five B-47s to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, for six months of cold weather training, then rotating a single aircraft with aircrew for two to four weeks at a time. The alert aircraft were sent in November 1958 to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and then in January 1959 to Andersen AFB, Guam. The 19th ceased operational flying in February 1963 and ferried its B-47s to other units and was inactivated on 15 March 1963.[3]

Vietnam War

The 19th Air Commando Squadron was organized on 8 October 1964, at

U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese forces. A Royal Thai Air Force contingent was attached to the squadron from mid-1966 until inactivation. Whenever Tan Son Nhut Air Base came under rocket and mortar attacks, the 19th would operate for up to two weeks at a time from Phan Rang Air Base. The 19th also flew increased missions during the Tet Offensive of 1968 and shared in a Navy Presidential Unit Citation for support to U.S. Marines defending Khe Sanh from January to March 1968. In June to August 1970, the 19th flew airlift, airdrop, and evacuation missions in support of Allied forces fighting in Cambodia. On 19 April 1971, the 19 SOS began to transfer the C-123s to South Vietnam and the squadron flew its last combat mission on 30 April. The 19th ceased all operations in early May and was inactivated on 10 June 1971. On 19 September 1985, the unit was redesignated and combined with the 19th Tactical Intelligence Squadron.[3]

Modern era

The 19th SOS was reactivated on 24 May 1996, at Hurlburt Field. It currently conducts all formal aircrew training for the AC-130U and U-28A. That training includes the initial mission qualification, requalification, aircraft commander upgrade, instructor upgrade and refresher training. Additionally, the 19th SOS provides training for the CV-22, C-145, MC-130H, and will soon be training all AC-130J aircrew. The 19th SOS uses advanced aircrew training devices (simulators) as well as training coded aircraft for flight and ground training. The Special Operations Forces Aircrew Training System contractor provides the 19 SOS administrative support to training operations, courseware development and maintenance, classroom and flightline instruction and operations and maintenance of training and mission rehearsal devices.[3]

Operations

Lineage

Assignments

  • 22d Bombardment Wing
    after 10 February 1951)
  • 22d Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 15 March 1963
  • Pacific Air Forces, 14 September 1964 (not organized)
  • 315th Troop Carrier Group
    (later 315th Air Commando Group), 8 October 1964
  • 315th Air Commando Wing
    (later 315th Special Operations Wing, 315th Tactical Airlift Wing), 8 March 1966 – 10 June 1971
  • 16th Operations Group (later 1st Special Operations Group), 24 May 1996[1]
  • 492d Special Operations Wing, c. 10 May 2017 – present[4][5]

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Patsy (7 December 2007). "Factsheet 19 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 101-102
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "19th Special Operations Squadron". United States Air Force. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Air Force Special Operations Command Units: 492nd Special Operations Wing". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. ^ Assignment information in Robertson, except as noted.
  6. ^ Air Commandos retire final AC-130H Spectre gunship – Cannon.AF.mil, 26 May 2015
  7. ^ "AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 9 December 2017.

Bibliography

Further Reading
  • Brosius, Jr., J.W. (1944). The Marauder:A Book of the 22nd Bomb Group. Sydney, Australia: Halstead Press.
  • Schroeder, Frederick A. (1985). Ducimus "We Lead" 22nd Bomb Group. Daytona Beach, FL: Hall Publishing Co.
  • Watkins, Robert A. (2013). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. V, Pacific Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. pp. 72–73.
    ISBN 978-0-7643-4346-9
    .     (Markings of unit B-24, B-25 and B-26 aircraft during World War II)

External links
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