Lineage. Constituted as 319 Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) on 9 Aug 1944. Activated on 1 Sep 1944. Redesignated as 319 Troop Carrier Squadron on 29 Sep 1945. Inactivated on 27 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 319 Troop Carrier Squadron, Commando, and activated on 18 Apr 1962. Organized on 27 Apr 1962. Redesignated as: 319 Air Commando Squadron, Troop Carrier, on 8 Nov 1964; 319 Air Commando Squadron, Tactical Airlift, on 1 May 1967; 319 Special Operations Squadron on 8 Jul 1968. Inactivated on 15 Jan 1972. Activated on 1 Oct 2005.
Assignments. 1 Air Commando Group, 1 Sep 1944; 69 Composite Wing, 2 Sep 1945; Tenth Air Force, c. 27 Sep-27 Dec 1945. 1 Air Commando Group (later, 1 Air Commando Wing; 1 Special Operations Wing), 18 Apr 1962; 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing, 15 Jul 1969; 1 Special Operations Wing, 30 Jul 1969-15 Jan 1972. 16 Operations (later, 1 Special Operations) Group, 1 Oct 2005-.
Stations. Asansol, India, 1 Sep 1944 (operated from various forward bases in Burma, 4 Dec 1944-17 May 1945); Warazup, Burma, 27 May 1945; Loping, China, 2 Sep 1945; Hu Hsien, China, 7 Oct 1945; India, c. 1 Nov-27 Dec 1945. Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 27 Apr 1962; England AFB, LA, 15 Jan 1966; Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 30 Jul 1969-15 Jan 1972. Hurlburt Field, FL, 1 Oct 2005-.
Commanders. Unkn, Sep 1944-Jan 1945; Maj O. A. Sucker, by Feb 1945; Maj Orlo L. Austin, by Apr 1945; Lt Col Lester L. Bear, May 1945; Maj Alfred Kaufman, 29 Oct 1945; None (not manned), Nov-Dec 1945. Capt Arnold A. Tillman, 27 Apr 1962; Lt Col Richard N. Broughton, 1 Jul 1962; Lt Col William C. Thomas, 11 Mar 1963; Maj Robert D. Bollacker, 1 Jan 1966; Lt Col Russel R. Uhlmann, 2 Feb 1966; Lt Col Earl J. Fitzsimmons, 28 Jul 1966; Lt Col Herman E. Luebbert, 6 Apr 1967; Lt Col Robert F. Theisen, 22 May 1967; Lt Col James D. Metcalf, 15 Feb 1968; Lt Col Lonnie C. Hughes, by Aug 1969; Lt Col Robert L. Self, 29 Sep 1969; Lt Col Robert E. Hubeli, 25 Jun 1971-15 Jan 1972. Lt Col Michael J. Dargenio, 12 Oct 2005; Lt Col William G. Holt, 17 Jul 2008; Lt Col Peter C. McDonough, 18 Jun 2010; Lt Col Jeffrey Johnson, 12 Aug 2011; Lt Col Patrick C. Daley, 9 Jan 2012; Lt Col Stanley B. Arant, 1 Jun 2013-.
Aircraft. C-47, 1944-1945; CG-4A, 1944-1945. C-46, 1962-1964; C-47, 1962-1966; U-10, 1963-1966; C-123, 1963-1972; T-28, 1965. U-28A, 2005-.
Operations. Provided airlift support and flew aerial resupply missions to commando bases in China-Burma-India (CBI) theater; conducted airborne drop and glider operations for Allied troops in Burma, central China, and French Indo-China, Oct 1944-Oct 1945; not manned, Nov-Dec 1945. From 1962 to 1965, deployed personnel and equipment to support early counterinsurgency operations and foreign civic action programs in Southeast Asia. Conducted training programs in special air warfare tactics and techniques for USAF and foreign air forces; and provided airlift support to U.S. Army Special Forces. Provided intratheater support for special operations forces, 2005-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; Central Burma; China Defensive; China Offensive. Afghanistan: Consolidation II; Consolidation III. Iraqi: Iraqi national Resolution; Iraqi Surge.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Sep 2006-30 Jun 2007. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2009; 1 Oct 2009-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2011-30 Sep 2013; 1 Oct 2013-30 Sep 2015. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: Jul 1963-Jun 1965; 1 Jul 1969-15 Apr 1971; [1 Oct 2005]-31 Aug 2006.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 11 Aug 2016.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Aug 2013.
Supersedes statement prepared in Oct 2013.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Jul 2010.
Prepared by TSgt David Dollman.