353rd Special Operations Wing
353rd Special Operations Wing | |
---|---|
Active | 1944–1946; 1967–1970; 1989–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Special operations |
Size | 721 personnel authorized[1]
|
Part of | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
Insignia | |
353rd Special Operations Wing emblem | |
353rd Special Operations Group emblem[note 2][2][3] | |
353rd Special Operations Group emblem[note 3][4] |
The 353rd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.[5]
The
The second predecessor of the Wing is the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, which conducted electronic surveillance, particularly of the
Mission
The 353rd Special Operations Wing is the
Units
The 353rd Special Operations Wing consists of the following squadrons:[6]
- 1st Special Operations Squadron, at Kadena Air Base (MC-130J Commando II)[7]
- 21st Special Operations Squadron, at Yokota Air Base (CV-22B Osprey)[8][9]
- 320th Special Tactics Squadron, at Kadena Air Base (Pararescue, Combat Controller, SOWT)
- 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Kadena Air Base
- 753rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Yokota Air Base[8]
- 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, at Kadena Air Base
History
World War II
When activated, the 3rd Air Commando Group trained to establish and maintain an airstrip behind enemy lines, to provide for its own supply and air defense, to attack targets in the enemy's rear areas, and to furnish air support for ground operations. The group's headquarters, liaison, and airdrome squadrons, as well as its medical dispensary and the ground echelons of the
The separated squadrons flew patrol missions in New Guinea until joining the group on Leyte in January 1945. Began combat in the Philippines by flying bombing and strafing missions against airdromes on
In April 1945, the group, less the liaison squadrons, moved from Mandaldan, in
In August 1945, the group moved to
Vietnam War
Beginning in February 1967, the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing trained to support a special electronic reconnaissance program utilizing 30
Strength of the wing was reduced in both personnel and equipment, and in mid-December 1970 the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing inactivated. One reconnaissance squadron, the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron, was reassigned to the
Special operations in the Pacific
The 353rd Special Operations Wing was activated on 6 April 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations. Maintained capabilities by participating in joint/combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities. Also maintained helicopter
Following the destruction of Clark Air Base during the volcanic eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991, the group temporarily operated from bases on Okinawa, then officially relocated there in February 1992, with one squadron moving forward to South Korea.
Redesignated as the 353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992,[10] but continued operations as before. The group consisted of the 1st, 17th and 31st Special Operations Squadrons together with 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron and 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron.[10]
The 320th Special Tactics Squadron was assigned to the group on 1 January 1993.[10]
In February 1996 developed
From December 1996 periodically deployed aircraft and personnel to Italy to support NATO operations in the Balkans and to Southwest Asia to support allied operations against Iraq.
On 31 August 2001, the
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. In 2013, the unit supported Operation Damayan, the relief effort from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In 2018, the unit assisted with the Thai cave rescue.
Lineage
- 3rd Air Commando Group
- Established as the 3rd Air Commando Group on 25 April 1944
- Activated on 1 May 1944
- Inactivated on 25 March 1946
- Disestablished on 8 October 1948
- Reestablished and consolidated with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing as the 353rd Reconnaissance Wing on 31 July 1985[2]
- 553rd Reconnaissance Wing
- Established as the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing on 9 February 1967 (not organized)
- Organized on 25 February 1967
- Inactivated on 15 December 1970
- Consolidated with the 3rd Air Commando Group as the 353rd Reconnaissance Wing on 31 July 1985
- 353rd Special Operations Wing
- Redesignated 353rd Special Operations Wing on 21 March 1989
- Activated on 6 April 1989
- Redesignated 353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992
- Redesignated 353rd Special Operations Wing on 14 July 2021[2]
Assignments
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Components
- World War II
- 3rd Fighter Squadron (Commando): 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (air echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 7 January 1945).
- 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando): 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (ground echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 5 January 1945; air echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 16 January 1945).
- 157th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 10 November 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 10 November 1945).
- 159th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 15 December 1945).
- 160th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 15 December 1945).
- 318th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (detached 1 May – 14 August 1944; ground echelon detached 12 September – 1 November 1944; air echelon detached 12 September 1944 – c. 18 February 1945)
- Vietnam War
- 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron: 25 February 1967 – 15 December 1970
- 554th Reconnaissance Squadron: 25 February 1967 – 15 December 1970
- Post consolidation
- 1st Special Operations Squadron: 6 April 1989 – present
- 17th Special Operations Squadron: 1 August 1989 – 6 July 2021
- 21st Special Operations Squadron: 1 July 2019 – present[12]
- 31st Special Operations Squadron: 6 April 1989 – 31 August 2001
- 320th Special Tactics Squadron: 1 January 1993 – present
- 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron (later 353rd Maintenance Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron): 1 October 1989 – present[13]
- 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron (later 353rd Operations Support Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron): 1 October 1992 – present[14]
- 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: unknown – present
- 753rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 2019 – present[12]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1944
- North American F-6 Mustang, 1944
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1945
- Waco CG-4, 1944
- North American P-51 Mustang, 1944, 1945–1946
- Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1944, 1945
- Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman, 1944, 1945
- Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star, 1967–1970
- Beechcraft YQU-22 Pave Eagle, 1968–1969
- Beechcraft QU-22 Pave Eagle, 1970
- Lockheed MC-130E Combat Talon/H, 1989–2012
- Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II, 1989-2020
- Lockheed HC (later MC)-130P, 1989–2014
- Lockheed HC-130N Combat King, 1989–2014
- Lockheed MC-130J Commando II, 2014–present
- Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 1989– ?
- Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant, 1989–1990
- Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low, 1990–2001
Awards
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |
1 October 2010 – 30 September 2012 | 353rd Special Operations Group[15] | |
"V" Device |
1 April 1967 – 31 May 1968 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 1 July 1968 – 15 April 1969 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 2 September 2004 – 1 September 2006 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2008 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 6 April 1989 – 5 April 1991 | 353rd Special Operations Wing[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1993 – 31 May 1995 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 September 1995 – 31 August 1997 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 16 October 1998 – 31 May 2000 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 13 October 2000 – 1 September 2002 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 September 2002 – 1 September 2004 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] | |
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945 | 3rd Air Commando Group[2] | |
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
1 April 1967 – 15 December 1970 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] | |
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 31 January 2002 – 31 July 2002 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
- ^ "Special Operations Forces, Opportunities exist to improve transparency of funding and assess potential to lessen some deployments" (PDF). United States Government Accountability Office. July 2015. GAO-15-571.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Musser, James (14 October 2021). "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 287-288
- ^ "Approved insignia of the 353rd Special Operations Group". National Archives Catalog. 1 January 1995. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ a b "About the 353rd SOG". 353rd Special Operations Group. 353 Special Operations Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Units". 353rd Special Operations Group. 353 Special Operations Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ 1st Lieutenant Douglas, Renee. "The 353rd SOG bids farewell to the Combat Talon II". 353rd Special Operations Group. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Combat Aircraft Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. September 2019. p. 11.
- ^ "Special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at US air base in Tokyo". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "353rd Special Operations Group History". 353rd Special Operations Group. 353 Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (10 December 2007). "Factsheet 31 Rescue Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ a b Correll, Diana Stancey (2 July 2019). "Two special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at Yokota AB". Air Force Times. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (30 August 2011). "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (20 August 2011). "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Support Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ Dreyer, Kristine (30 December 2012). "BATCATS earn Meritorious Unit Award". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.