320th Special Tactics Squadron

320th Special Tactics Squadron
320th Special Tactics Squadron
	Squadron personnel training for personnel recovery
Active	1943–1945; 1992–present;
Country	Special Operations
Part of	Air Force Special Operations Command; 353d Special Operations Group;
Garrison/HQ	Kadena Air Base
Engagements	World War II; War in Afghanistan;
Decorations	Combat "V" Device; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation;
Insignia
320th Special Tactics Squadron emblem (approved 9 December 1994)

The 320th Special Tactics Squadron (320th STS) is a Special Tactics unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, based at Kadena Air Base.

The 320th was originally constituted in 1943 during

353rd Special Operations Group

.

History

World War II

The 320th STS was originally constituted as the 320th Fighter Control Squadron, an aircraft warning unit, during

Thirteenth Air Force until 14 July. In October it was transferred to XIII Fighter Command, and on 29 October moved to Luzon. The squadron became part of XIII Bomber Command on 2 November and left Luzon for Vancouver Barracks on 30 November. After arriving at Vancouver Barracks on 14 December, it was inactivated on 18 December. The 320th was disbanded on 8 October 1948.^[1]

Special Tactics Squadron

The squadron was reconstituted and redesignated as the 320th Special Tactics Squadron on 20 February 1992, and activated at

353d Special Operations Group.^[1]

During

MC-130H Combat Talon II and evacuated the men to a hospital on Guam. Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, in Operation Tomodachi, the relief effort, pararescuemen from the 320th flew numerous search and rescue missions.^[3] On 28 June 2018 a team from the 320th assisted in the rescue of the trapped boys soccer team in the Tham Luang Cave. ^[4]

Lineage

Constituted as 320th Fighter Control Squadron on 30 March 1943

Activated on 1 April 1943

Inactivated on 18 December 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948

Reconstituted and redesignated 320th Special Tactics Squadron on 20 February 1992

Activated on 31 March 1992 [1]

Assignments

Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
, 1 April 1943
Orlando Fighter Wing, 1 November 1943
85th Fighter Wing
, 1 April–1 June 1945)
85th Fighter Wing, 15 June 1945 (under operational control of
Thirteenth Air Force
, 15 June–14 July 1945)
XIII Fighter Command, October 1945
XIII Bomber Command, 2 November 1945
Unknown, 30 November–18 December 1945
720th Special Tactics Group, 31 March 1992
353d Special Operations Group, 1 January 1993–present^[1]

Stations

Orlando Army Air Base

, 1 April 1943

Camp Stoneman, 20 November–11 December 1943
Guadalcanal, 30 December 1943
Toem, New Guinea, 30 September 1944
Wakde, 15 December 1944
Biak, 11 February 1945
Mindoro, 22 February 1945
Puerto Princesa
, 1 March 1945
Luzon, 29 October–30 November 1945
Vancouver Barracks, 14–18 December 1945
Kadena Air Base, 31 March 1992–present^[1]

Awards and campaigns

Award	Dates	Notes
Combat "V" Device	2 September 2004 – 1 September 2006	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	1 October 2006 – 30 September 2008	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 1993 – 31 May 1995	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 September 1995 – 31 August 1997	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	16 October 1998 – 31 May 2000	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	13 October 2000 – 1 September 2002	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	2 September 2002 – 1 September 2004	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 August – 30 September 2010	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation	17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945	320th Fighter Control Squadron^[1]
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation	31 January – 31 July 2002	320th Special Tactics Squadron^[1]

Campaign	Dates	Notes
New Guinea	24 January 1943 – 31 December 1944	320th Fighter Control Squadron^[1]
Luzon	15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945	320th Fighter Control Squadron^[1]
Southern Philippines	27 February 1945 – 4 July 1945	320th Fighter Control Squadron^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Robertson, Patsy (2 December 2011). "320 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
^ "353rd Special Operations Group". 353d Special Operations Group Public Affairs Office. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
^ "353rd Special Operations Group History". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
^ "Tham Luang cave rescue", Wikipedia, 11 August 2022, retrieved 11 August 2022

[AFHRA-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Robertson, Patsy (2 December 2011). "320 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2017.

[2] "353rd Special Operations Group". 353d Special Operations Group Public Affairs Office. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2017.

[3] "353rd Special Operations Group History". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2017.

[4] "Tham Luang cave rescue", Wikipedia, 11 August 2022, retrieved 11 August 2022

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