Lineage. Constituted as 23 Fighter Control Squadron (Special) on 10 Jan 1943. Activated on 6 Feb 1943. Redesignated as 23 Fighter Control Squadron on 20 Sep 1943. Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945. Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948. Reconstituted, and consolidated (1 Mar 1992) with the 1723 Combat Control Squadron which was designated, and activated, on 1 Jul 1984. Redesignated as: 1723 Special Tactics Squadron on 1 Apr 1990; 23 Special Tactics Squadron on 31 Mar 1992.
Assignments. 23 Fighter Group, 6 Feb 1943; Fourteenth Air Force, by Dec 1943; 68 Composite Wing, 16 Mar 1945; Tenth Air Force, 1 Aug 1945; Fourteenth Air Force, Oct 1945. Twenty-Third Air Force, 1 Jul 1984; 1720 (later, 720) Special Tactics Group, 1 Oct 1987-.
Stations. Kunming, China, 6 Feb 1943; Kweilin, China 21 Apr 1944; Liuchow, China, Sep 1944; Kunming, China, Sep 1944; China, 6 Jan-Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 27-28 Oct 1945. Eglin Auxiliary Airfield #9 (later, Hurlburt Field), FL, 1 Jul 1984-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater; China Defensive 1942-1945; China Offensive, 1945. Afghanistan: Liberation of Afghanistan; Consolidation I; Consolidation II; Consolidation III. Iraq: Iraqi Surge; Iraqi New Dawn.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Sep 2001-31 Aug 2003. Gallant Unit Citation: 1 Jan 2006-31 Dec 2007. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jan 2008-30 Sep 2009; 1 Oct 2009-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2016-30 Sep 2018. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1987-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989-30 Apr 1990; 1 Aug 1991-30 Sep 1992; 31 Mar 1992-31 Jul 1993; 1 Aug 1993-31 Jul 1995; 1 Aug 1995-31 Jul 1997; 1 Sep 2001-31Aug 2003; 1 Oct 2012-30 Sep 2014.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 19 Oct 2021.
Supersedes statement prepared on 31 Aug 1995.
Emblem. Approved on 1 Jul 1987; latest rendering, 26 Mar 2021.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.