1st Special Operations Squadron

1st Special Operations Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm^[1]
1st Special Operations Squadron Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
1st Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 20 May 1966)
Unofficial 1st Air Commando Squadron emblem

The 1st Special Operations Squadron is part of the

night vision goggles to deliver troops and equipment into denied areas during adverse weather conditions at night by airdrop or landing.^[2]

History

The 1st conducted gunnery testing and training from 1939 to 1942. It flew administrative airlift from 1949 to 1952 and 1953–1954.[1]

The 1st flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 8 July 1963 – 7 November 1972 and 15 December 1972 – 28 January 1973. It also trained

MC-130 Combat Talons from the 1st SOS led the Night One mission of Operation Eagle Claw, the hostage rescue mission in Iran, in April 1980.^[3]

The 1st operated the MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft until 2020, and now flies MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of joint and allied special operations forces.[1]

Vietnam War

The 1st Special Operations Squadron was originally constituted as the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated on 17 June 1963 under

56th Air Commando Wing (redesignated the 56th Special Operation Wing in August 1968), and moved to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base, Thailand. On 1 August 1968 the 1st was redesignated as the 1st Special Operations Squadron.^[4]^[5]^[6]

The 1st saw extensive combat in Southeast Asia, from 8 July 1963 – 7 November 1972 and from 15 December 1972 – 28 January 1973. In its early years in Southeast Asia, the squadron flew a variety of aircraft, beginning with the

Helio U-10 Courier (1963–1966); Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1963–1966); RB–26 (1963–1964); A–1 (1964–1972); FC-47 (1964–1965); AC-47 (1965); and the C (later MC)-130 beginning in 1972.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Among its pilots was Major

Tchepone, Laos from 10 to 13 April 1972.^[12]^[3]

Post-Vietnam operations

Following the end of combat operations at the end of 1972, the 1st was reassigned to the

353rd Special Operations Group), on 6 April 1989. The 1st SOS relocated to Kadena AB, Japan, on 5 February 1992.^[1]

In August 2000, a crew from the 1st SOS, along with another from the 17th SOS, flew a C-130 each to deliver 19 tons of disaster relief aid across the Pacific to assist in Vietnam's worst flooding in a century. Nearly 22,000 pounds of plastic sheeting, 3,600 blankets and 5,000 water containers were flown from Guam to Okinawa and then on to Vietnam by the two Kadena-based C-130s.[13]^[4]

Post 2000 assignments

As an integral part of the

353rd Special Operations Group, the 1st Special Operations Squadron operated the MC-130H Combat Talon II until 2020. They currently operate the MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of joint and allied special operations forces. This aircraft is capable of delivering troops and equipment into denied areas at night by airdrop or landing. Its aircrews are specially trained in night low-level flying, using night vision goggles.^[13] The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for all U.S. Air Force special operations activities throughout the USPACOM theater. The group contains more than 1000 Airmen and six squadrons.^[2]

Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. In 2005, the unit supported Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, the relief effort from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2011, the unit supported Operation TOMODACHI, the relief effort from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

Operation DAMAYAN, the relief effort from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Republic of the Philippines.^[15]

Lineage

1st Pursuit Squadron

Constituted as the 1st Pursuit Squadron (Single Engine) and activated on 1 August 1939

Redesignated 1 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), on 6 December 1939

Disbanded on 1 May 1942

Reconstituted and consolidated with the 1st Liaison Squadron and the 1st Special Operations Squadron as the 1st Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985 [1]

1st Liaison Squadron

Constituted as the 1st Liaison Flight on 27 September 1949

Activated on 24 October 1949

Inactivated on 22 July 1952

Redesignated 1st Liaison Squadron on 13 February 1953

Activated on 8 April 1953

Inactivated on 18 January 1954

Consolidated with the 1 Pursuit Squadron and the 1st Special Operations Squadron as the 1st Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985^[1]

1st Special Operations Squadron

Constituted as the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Composite and activated on 17 June 1963 (not organized)

Organized on 8 July 1963

Redesignated 1 Air Commando Squadron, Fighter, on 15 August 1967

Redesignated 1st Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968

Consolidated with the 1 Pursuit Squadron and the 1st Liaison Squadron on 19 September 1985^[1]

Assignments

23d Composite Group
(later Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment; Air Corps Proving Ground Group), 1 August 1939 – 1 May 1942
Twelfth Air Force, 24 October 1949 (attached to 2602d Tow Target Squadron until 22 May 1950; 1st Tow Target Squadron after 27 May 1950)
Fourteenth Air Force, 1 July 1950 (attached to 1st Tow Target Squadron)
Tactical Air Command, 1 August 1950 (attached to 1st Tow Target Squadron)
Ninth Air Force, 10 August 1951 – 22 July 1952 (attached to 1st Tow Target Squadron)
Ninth Air Force, 8 April 1953 – 18 January 1954 (attached to
479th Fighter-Bomber Wing
)
Pacific Air Forces, 17 January 1963 (not organized)
34th Tactical Group, 8 July 1963
6251st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 July 1965 (attached to 3d Tactical Fighter Wing after 21 November 1965)

2d Air Division, 18 February 1966 (attached to 3d Tactical Fighter Wing)
14th Air Commando Wing, 8 March 1966
56th Air Commando Wing (later 56th Special Operations Wing), 20 December 1967
18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 December 1972
18th Tactical Fighter Group
, 1 May 1978
3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 January 1981
2d Air Division, 1 March 1983
Twenty-Third Air Force, 1 February 1987
353d Special Operations Wing (later 353 Special Operations Group), 6 April 1989 – present^[1]

Stations

Maxwell Field
, Alabama, 1 August 1939
Army Air Base, Orlando
, Florida, c. 1 September 1940
Eglin Field
, Florida, 29 June 1941 – 1 May 1942
Biggs Air Force Base
, Texas, 24 October 1949 – 22 July 1952
George Air Force Base, California, 8 April 1953 – 18 January 1954
Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 July 1963
Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, 5 January 1966
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 20 December 1967
Okinawa
, 15 December 1972
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 1 January 1981
Kadena Air Base, Japan, 5 February 1992 – present^[1]

Aircraft operated

Curtiss P-36 Hawk (1939–1942)
Curtiss YP-37 (1939–1940)
Douglas O-38 (1940)
Martin B-12
(1940)
Lockheed C-40 Electra
(1940)
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
Stinson L-13 (1949–1952)
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
(1952)
de Havilland Canada L-20 Beaver
(1952, 1953–1954)
Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (1953–1954)
North American T-28 Trojan (1963–1964)
Helio U-10 Courier (1963–1966)
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1963–1966)
Douglas B-26 Invader (1963–1964)
Douglas RB-26 Invader (1963–1964)
Douglas A-1 Skyraider (1964–1972)
Douglas FC-47 (later AC-47 Spooky) (1964–1965)
Lockheed MC-130 Combat Talon (1972 – 2020)^[1]

Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (2020–Present)

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Haulman, Daniel L. (31 October 2016). "1 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^ ^a ^b "353rd Special Operations Group". Air Force Special Operations Command. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^ ^a ^b 1st Special Operations Squadron History (2012).
^ ^a ^b ^c "1st SOS History". Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
^ ^a ^b Hukee (2013), p. 91.
^ ^a ^b Mutza (2003), pp. 79–80.
^ Hukee (2013), pp. 41–2.
^ Mutza (2003), pp. 109–112.
^ "Namesakes for Hurlburt Field Streets". Hurlburt Field. 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
^ "Valor Awards for Vincent Joseph Hickman". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
^ "Valor Awards for John Edgar Lackey". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
^ "Valor Awards for James C. Harding". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
^ ^a ^b Pike, John. "1st Special Operations Squadron [1st SOS]". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^ "353rd Special Operations Group History". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^ Dreyer, Kristine (27 January 2014). "353rd SOG supports Operations Damayan". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

Bibliography

353d Special Operations Group fact sheet (AFSOC)
Hukee, Byron E. (2013). USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing.
ISBN 978-1-78096-068-5
.

Mutza, Wayne (2003). The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam: The Spad's Last War. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
ISBN 0-7643-1791-1
.

External links

"1st Special Operations Squadron History". 353d SOG. United States Air Force. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2015.

[1SOSfacts-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Haulman, Daniel L. (31 October 2016). "1 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[:0-2] "353rd Special Operations Group". Air Force Special Operations Command. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[FOOTNOTE1st_Special_Operations_Squadron_History2012-3] 1st Special Operations Squadron History (2012).

[1st_sos_history-4] "1st SOS History". Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.

[FOOTNOTEHukee201391-5] Hukee (2013), p. 91.

[FOOTNOTEMutza200379–80-6] Mutza (2003), pp. 79–80.

[FOOTNOTEHukee201341–2-7] Hukee (2013), pp. 41–2.

[FOOTNOTEMutza2003109–112-8] Mutza (2003), pp. 109–112.

[Hurlburt-9] "Namesakes for Hurlburt Field Streets". Hurlburt Field. 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

[Valor_Hickman-10] "Valor Awards for Vincent Joseph Hickman". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

[Valor_Lackey-11] "Valor Awards for John Edgar Lackey". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

[Valor_Harding-12] "Valor Awards for James C. Harding". Military Times. Springfield, Virginia: Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

[globalsecurity.org-13] Pike, John. "1st Special Operations Squadron [1st SOS]". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[14] "353rd Special Operations Group History". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[15] Dreyer, Kristine (27 January 2014). "353rd SOG supports Operations Damayan". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

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