65 Special Operations Squadron

Lineage. Constituted as 65 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940.  Activated on 15 Jan 1941.  Redesignated as 65 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 21 Sep 1943.  Inactivated on 29 Apr 1946.  Redesignated as 65 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, and activated, on 1 Oct 1946.  Redesignated as 65 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 2 Jul 1948.  Inactivated on 31 Jan 1970.  Redesignated as 65 Strategic Squadron on 7 Apr 1986.  Activated on 1 Jul 1986.  Inactivated on 2 Oct 1991.  Redesignated as 65 Special Operations Squadron on 26 Sep 2018.  Activated on 17 Dec 2018.

Assignments. 43 Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941-29 Apr 1946.  43 Bombardment Group, 1 Oct 1946; 43 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-31 Jan 1970.  43 Strategic (later, 43 Bombardment Wing, Heavy), 1 Jul 1986; 376 Strategic Wing, 1 Jul 1990-2 Oct 1991.  1 Special Operations Group, 17 Dec 2018-. 

Stations. Langley Field, VA, 15 Jan 1941; Bangor, ME, 29 Aug 1941-17 Feb 1942; Sydney, Australia, 28 Mar 1942; Williamstown, Australia, 23 Jun 1942; Torrens Creek, Australia, 15 Aug 1942; Iron Range, Australia 13 Oct 1942; Mareeba, Australia, 7 Nov 1942; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 20 Jan 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, c. 11 Dec 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, Mar 1944; Owi, Schouten, Islands, c. 11 Jul 1944; Tacloban, Leyte, c. 24 Nov 1944; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 16 Mar 1945; Fort William McKinley, Luzon, 10 Dec 1945-29 Apr 1946.  Davis-Monthan Filed, AZ, 1 Oct 1946; Carswell AFB, TX, 15 Mar 1960; Little Rock AFB, AR, 1 Sep 1964-31 Jan 1970.  Andersen AFB, Guam, 1 Jul 1986; Kadena AB, Japan, 11 Dec 1990-2 Oct 1991.  Hurlburt Field, FL, 17 Dec 2018-. 

Aircraft. B-25, 1941; B-17, 1941-1943; B-24, 1942-1945.  B-29, 1946-1950; B-50, 1948-1954; B-47, 1954-1960; B-58, 1960-1970.  B-52, 1986-1990; KC-135, 1990-1991.   

Operations. Antisubmarine missions, Dec 1941-Jan 1942; combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 12 Nov 1942-12 Aug 1945; not fully manned or equipped, 23 Nov 1945-29 Apr 1946.  From 1946-1970, the squadron participated in a series of exercises and combat simulations to maintain ability to perform long-range strategic bombardment operations.  Between 1986 and 1991, served wings providing strategic bombardment and aerial refueling services in Guam and Japan.      

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.  

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua [12 Nov] 1942-23 Jan 1943; Bismarck Sea, 2-4 Mar 1943.  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 1960-1 Aug 1962; 30 Jun 1990-30 Jun 1991. 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 15 Nov 2018.

Aircraft, and Operations through 2 Oct 1991. 

Supersedes addendum statement prepared on 6 May 1986.

Emblem. Approved on 9 Sep 1954; latest rendering, 10 Sep 2019. 

Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.