606th Special Operations Squadron
606th Special Operations Squadron | |
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Insignia | |
606th Air Commando Squadron emblem |
The 606th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive unit of the
Organization
The 606th Special Forces Squadron was composed of two sections, the Fairchild C-123 Provider section which was under the call sign of "Candlestick", and the U-10 Helio Courier section which was under the call signs of "Loudmouth" and "Litterbugs" (and "Clown" for Civil Action missions).
History
C-123s had been used in
Although starting out as a flare support flight, the UC-123s had added night
By 1969, heavy
North American T-28 Trojans, call sign "Zorro" also flew with the 606th. Twelve of them moved to Nakhon Phanom in June 1966 along with Douglas A-26 Invader "Nimrods".[4] After being credited with 67 truck strikes during the week of 2 through 9 November 1966, a detachment of Douglas A-26 Invader "Nimrods" was attached to the 606th. In September 1967, this detachment plus the T-28 "Zorro" forward air controllers were spun off into the 609th Special Operations Squadron.[5]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 606th Air Commando Squadron, Composite and activated on 12 January 1966 (not organized)
- Organized on 8 March 1966
- Redesignated 606th Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968
- Inactivated on 15 June 1971
Assignments
- Pacific Air Forces, 12 January 1966 (not organized)
- 2d Air Division)
- 634th Combat Support Group, 8 April 1966
- 56th Air Commando Wing(later 56th Special Operations Wing), 8 April 1967 - 15 June 1971
Stations
- Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, 8 March 1966 - 15 June 1971
Aircraft
- Fairchild UC-123B
- Fairchild UC-123K
- North American T-28 Trojan
- Helio U-10 Courier
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Presidential Unit Citation | 1 November 1967-30 Sep 1968 | 606th Air Commando Squadron (later 606th Special Operations Squadron)[6] | |
Presidential Unit Citation | 1 November 1968-1 May 1969 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Presidential Unit Citation | 1 October 1969 - 30 April 1970 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Combat "V" Device |
1 October 1968-30 September 1969 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Air For**ce Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 1 December 1970-15 June 1971 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
1 April 1966-1 August 1968 | 606th Air Commando Squadron[7][note 2] | |
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | 1 August 1968 1968-15 June 1971 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Vietnam Air | 8 March 1966 – 28 June 1966 | 606th Air Commando Squadron[6] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive | 29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967 | 606th Air Commando Squadron[6] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II | 9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968 | 606th Air Commando Squadron[6] | |
Vietnam Air/Ground | 22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968 | 606th Air Commando Squadron[6] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III | 1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968 | 606th Air Commando Squadron (later 606th Special Operations Squadron)[7] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV | 1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive | 23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 | 9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 | 3 November 1969 – 30 April 1970 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Sanctuary Counteroffensive | 1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Southwest Monsoon | 1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Commando Hunt V | 1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] | |
Commando Hunt VI | 15 May 1971 – 15 June 1971 | 606th Special Operations Squadron[7] |
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
- Anthony, Maj Victor B. (March 1973). "The Air Force in Southeast Asia: Tactics and Techniques of Night Operations 1961-1970" (PDF). Office of Air Force History. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- Halliday, John T. " Flying Through Midnight: A Pilot's Dramatic Story of His Secret Missions Over Laos During the Vietnam War", Scribner, published Nov 2005, ISBN 978-0743274883.
- AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
- AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976