20th Special Operations Squadron
| 20th Special Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] | |
| Insignia | |
| 20th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 9 December 1993)[1] |  |
| 20th Special Operations Squadron unofficial Pony Express emblem |  |
| 20th Helicopter Squadron emblem[2] |  |
| 20th Observation Squadron emblem (approved 31 October 1942[3] |  |
The 20th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates Bell Boeing CV-22 Ospreys on special operations missions. It traces its history back to the activation of the 20th Observation Squadron (Light) at Savannah, Georgia, in March 1942.
The squadron conducts day or night low-level penetration into hostile enemy territory, to accomplish clandestine infiltration and exfiltration, aerial gunnery support and resupply of special operations forces throughout the world.[4]
History
World War II
The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron trained for aerial
China-Burma-India Theater from 31 January 1944 to 5 May 1945.[1]
Light transportation
The 20th Helicopter Squadron was activated in 1956 to perform traditional helicopter missions with
Piasecki H-21 Workhorses for the Tactical Air Command
. It was inactivated in 1960.
Vietnam War
In 1965, the unit's
Sikorsky CH-3 helicopters were transferred to Southeast Asia and the squadron began participating in unconventional warfare and special operations in Laos and North Vietnam as Operation Pony Express
.
In 1967, the 20th was joined by the
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base
, and the Pony Express ceased to exist. The heritage of the 20th was carried on by the 20th UH-1's Green Hornets.
- Aircraft and crew losses
- 31 March 1967, MAJ Robert L Baldwin, piloting UH-1F Tail No 65-07932 was shot and killed in Laos.[5]
- 26 November 1968, CAPT James P. Fleming earned the Medal of Honor for the rescue of a 7-man Special Forces team near Đức Cơ, South Vietnam.[4]
- 27 November 1968, UH-1F Tail No 65-07942 operating from Ban Me Thuot East Airfield was shot down near Phu Nhai Village, Rotanokiri Province, Cambodia, 16 km west of Duc Lo, South Vietnam while trying to infiltrate a Special Forces team. The Crew Chief, SSgt Gene P. Stuifbergen[6] and 4 of the Special Forces team were trapped in the burning wreckage and were all listed as KIA-BNR.
- 3 January 1969, UH-1F Tail No 63-13164 operating from Ban Me Thuot was making its second attempt to extract a Special Forces patrol in Cambodia. As they came to a hover above the trees, enemy fire struck the fuel cells setting the aircraft on fire. They were able to accelerate the aircraft and attempted a landing in a small jungle clearing, but the engine failed just short of the clearing and the helicopter crashed into the trees. The crew chief, Sgt Ronald Zenga, was pinned under the aircraft and died in the ensuing fire.[7]
- 17 January 1969, Pony Express 20 CH-3C Tail No 62-12582 operating from
- 26 March 1969, UH-1F Tail No 63-13158 operating from Ban Me Thuot crashed and burned near Dục Mỹ, north of Nha Trang, South Vietnam. The aircraft experienced severe vibration and auto-rotation was initiated, but during the descent the main rotor severed the tail boom. All 5 crewmen were killed.[11][12][13][14][15]
- 13 April 1969, Capt James O. Lynch, piloting UH-1F, AF Ser. No. 65-07937, operating from Ban Me Thuot was shot and killed while extracting a reconnaissance team near Pleiku, South Vietnam.[16]
- 14 March 1970, UH-1P, AF Ser. No. 64-15491, operating from Ban Me Thuot was shot down while supporting a LRRP mission near Duc Lap, South Vietnam. The pilot, Capt Dana A. Dilley, was killed in the crash.[17] R.A. the Rugged Man tells the story of his father's (Sgt John A. Thorburn) part in this crash in the song "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story".
- 19 March 1970, UH-1P, AF Ser. No. 65-07944, operating from Ban Me Thuot was shot down near Darlac, South Vietnam. The pilot, copilot and a gunner were killed in the crash.[18][19][20]
- 25 September 1970, UH-1P, AF Ser. No. 64-15484, operating from Ban Me Thuot hit trees while turning to avoid a mid-air collision with a
- 4 December 1971, a UH-1N operating from Ban Me Thuot came under fire near Saigon. The gunner, Sgt Thomas E. Fike, was killed.[23]
The Green Hornets continued to perform unconventional warfare missions for seven years, until inactivation in 1972.
-
SOS Huey in Laos -
SOS UH-1Ps over Cambodia -
UH-1P formerly operated by the 20th SOS on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force -
UH-1P Tail No 64-15493, probably used by 20th SOS, at Hurlburt Field
1976 Reactivation
Upon reactivation in 1976 at
night vision goggles.[4]
In 1983, the UH-1Ns began two years of support as part of then Vice President
Homestead Air Force Base, Florida in 1985.[4]
In 1986, the 20th flew the specially equipped and highly capable
Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low and started flying the upgraded MH-53J Pave Low III in 1988.[4]
In December 1989, members of the 20 SOS were mobilized as part of a joint task force for
The 20th was among the first units to deploy to
MacKay Trophy for their accomplishments.[4]
Squadron personnel deployed in support of Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, providing support to a
Purple Heart Medals and the Cheney Award.[4]
MH-53J Pave Low
helicopter over wreckage of the USAF CT-43A approximately 3 kilometers north of the Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, 4 April 199620 SOS crews were also involved in the search and rescue operations resulting from the
American Embassy evacuations in Monrovia, Liberia – airlifting more than 2,000 evacuees to safety. The squadron deployed crews and aircraft to Southwest Asia in support of United States Central Command and Operation Desert Thunder in February 1998. The Pave Low gave the theater commander a night, all-weather personnel recovery capability, unparalleled in the U.S. inventory.[4]
In 1999, the Pave Low III's were upgraded to the MH-53M Pave Low IV. The M model brought more technology and superior avionics to the mission, furthering the capabilities and resources available to the crews flying the helicopter. These new technologies were battle tested during
Operation Allied Force when the 20 SOS rescued downed pilots from a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, earning two Silver Stars and numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses.[4]
In 2001, the 20th was quick to respond in the initial recovery efforts at
Global War on Terror continues.[4]
To date, the Green Hornets have flown direct assaults on numerous high-profile targets and effected the rescue and exfiltration of hundreds of US and allied soldiers. Included among these actions are the daylight
medevac of 32 injured soldiers in the midst of a battle and the rescue of a downed aircrew deep in hostile territory, which earned the squadron its second MacKay Trophy.[4]
Lineage
- 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Constituted as the 20th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942
- Activated on 2 March 1942
- Redesignated 20th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943[note 1]
- Redesignated 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943[note 2]
- Inactivated on 27 November 1945
- Consolidated with the 20th Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
- 20th Special Operations Squadron
- Constituted as the 20th Helicopter Squadron on 24 February 1956
- Activated on 9 July 1956
- Discontinued and inactivated on 8 March 1960
- Activated on 24 September 1965 (not organized)
- Organized on 8 October 1965
- Redesignated 20 Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968
- Inactivated on 1 April 1972
- Activated on 1 January 1976
- Consolidated with the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
Assignments
- Air Force Combat Command, 2 March 1942
- Army Air Forces, 9 March 1942
- 76th Observation Group(later 76th Reconnaissance Group, 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group), 12 March 1942
- III Reconnaissance Command, 23 August 1943
- Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, 26 December 1943 (attached to 5306th Photographic and Reconnaissance Group (Provisional), 26 December 1943, Tenth Air Force, 17 January 1944)
- Tenth Air Force, 7 March 1944 (attached to 5320th Air Defense Wing [Provisional] March–May 1944)
- 8th Photographic Group(later 8 Reconnaissance Group), 25 April 1944
- Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, October–27 November 1945
- 314th Troop Carrier Wing)
- 354th Tactical Fighter Wingafter 16 July 1959)
- Pacific Air Forces, 24 September 1965 (not organized)
- 2nd Air Division, 8 October 1965 (attached to 6250th Combat Support Group after c. 10 December 1965)
- 14th Air Commando Wing(later 14 Special Operations Wing), 8 March 1966)
- 483d Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 September 1971 – 1 April 1972
- 1st Special Operations Wing, 1 January 1976
- 1st Special Operations Group (later 16th Operations Group, 1st Special Operations Group, 22 September 1992
- 27th Special Operations Group, 1 December 2009 – present[1]
Stations
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|
Aircraft
- Douglas A-20 Havoc (1942–1943)
- Douglas DB-7 Boston(1942–1943)
- Stinson L-1 Vigilant (1942–1943)
- Piper L-4 Grasshopper(1942–1943)
- Republic P-43 Lancer (1942–1943)
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1942–1945)
- L-5 Sentinel(1942–1945)
- North American B-25 Mitchell (1942–1945)
- North American P-51 Mustang (1945)
- Piasecki H-21 (1956–1960)
- Sikorsky CH-3 (1965–1969, 1976–1980)
- Bell UH-1 Huey (1967–1972, 1976–1985)
- Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low (1980–2008)
- Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey (2008 – )[1]
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ This squadron is not related to the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, later the 410th Bombardment Squadron or the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, later the 20th Intelligence Squadron.
- ^ This squadron is not related to the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, later the 20th Intelligence Squadron.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 20 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Approved either 22 May 1957 or 7 July 1958. Endicott, p. 478.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 108–109
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Library: Fact Sheet 20th Special Operations Squadron". 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 8 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "MAJ Robert L Baldwin". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "SSGT Gene P Stuifbergen". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "SGT Ronald P Zenga". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "MAJ Walter W Martin". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Richard A Fleming". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "SSGT Albert J Davis". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "LTC Frank A DiFiglia". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Walter C Booth". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Robert W Fields". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "TSGT Jesse C Bowman". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "SGT Antonio L Alho". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT James O Lynch". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Dana O Dilley". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "MAJ Clyde W Enderle". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Carlos A Estrada". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "TSGT James W Greenwood". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "CAPT Jackie P Heil". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "MSGT Gerald A Cooper". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "SGT Thomas E Fike". The Virtual Wall.
- ^ "About Us: Fact Sheet MH-53 Pave Low". 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Fort Walton Beach, Florida, "Today in Local History", Northwest Florida Daily News, Thursday 18 June 2015, Volume 69, Number 137, page A5.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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