Lineage. The 15 Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) (constituted as 520 Bombardment Squadron [Heavy] on 13 Oct 1942; activated on 18 Oct 1942; redesignated as 15 Antisubmarine Squadron [Heavy] on 29 Nov 1942; disbanded on 2 Nov 1943; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 15 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (constituted on 28 Mar 1944; activated on 1 Apr 1944; inactivated on 15 Apr 1946; activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1947; inactivated on 27 Jun 1949) and the 15 Special Operations Squadron (constituted as 15 Air Commando Squadron, and activated, on 13 Feb 1968; organized on 15 Mar 1968; redesignated as 15 Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968; inactivated on 31 Oct 1970). Activated on 1 Oct 1992.
Assignments. 378 Bombardment Group, 18 Oct 1942 (attached to 25 Antisubmarine Wing, 20 Nov 1942–); 26 Antisubmarine Wing, 14 Dec 1942 (remained attached to 25 Antisubmarine Wing to c. Jul 1943); Second Air Force, 17 Oct–2 Nov 1943. 16 Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944–15 Apr 1946. 445 Bombardment Group, 1 Aug 1947–27 Jun 1949. Pacific Air Forces, 13 Feb 1968; 14 Air Commando (later, 14 Special Operations) Wing, 15 Mar 1968–31 Oct 1970. 1 Special Operations (later, 16 Operations; 1 Special Operations) Group, 1 Oct 1992–.
Stations. Jacksonville Muni Aprt, 18 Oct 1942 (air echelon operated from Langley Field, VA, 3 Jun–3 Jul 1943 and from Drew Field, FL, Jul 1943); Batista Field, Cuba, 25 Jul 1943; Jacksonville AAFld, FL, c. 1 Oct 1943; Wendover Field, UT, 17 Oct–2 Nov 1943. Dalhart AAFld, TX, 1 Apr 1944; Fairmont AAFld, NE, 15 Aug 1944–7 Mar 1945 (air echelon operated from Boringuen Field, Puerto Rico, c. 9–25 Jan 1945); Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945–15 Apr 1946. Hill Field, (later, AFB), UT, 1 Aug 1947–27 Jun 1949. Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 15 Mar 1968–31 Oct 1970. Eglin Air Force Aux Field #9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 1 Oct 1992–.
Commanders. Maj Albert J. Wheeler, 18 Oct 1942; Maj Frederick M. O’Neill, 9 Feb 1943-unkn (at least through Sep 1943). None (unmanned), 1 Apr-10 Jul 1944; Maj William A. Garland, 11 Jul 1944; Lt Col Richard W. Kline, 1 Mar 1945- c. 27 Feb 1946; none (unmanned), c. 28 Feb-15 Apr 1946. Unkn, 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949. Lt Col Dow A. Rogers Jr., 15 Mar 1968; Lt Col Thomas F. Hines, 29 Apr 1968; Lt Col Russell A. Bunn, 4 Sep 1968; Lt Col John R. Dummer, 27 Mar 1969; Lt Col John F. Newell Jr., 5 Aug 1969; Lt Col Leo W. Tubay, 23 Feb-31 Oct 1970. Lt Col William E. Saier, 1 Oct 1992; Lt Col Charles R. Lovett, 30 Jun 1994; Lt Col Clarence E. Glausier III, 24 May 1996; Lt Col Steven K. Weart, 17 Jul 1998; Lt Col David H. Sammons Jr., 1 Jun 2000; Lt Col Frank E. Fields, 4 Jun 2002; Lt Col Robert Toth, 1 Jun 2004; Lt Col Tony D. Baurenfiend, 5 Jul 2006; Lt Col Christopher J. Ireland, 22 May 2008; Lt Col David W. Diehl, 3 Jun 2009; Lt Col Patrick Wolfe, 27 Jul 2010; Lt Col Richard A. Carrell, 4 Jun 2012-.
Aircraft. O–47, 1942; B–25, 1942–1943; B–34, 1942–1943; B–24, 1943. B–17, 1944–1945; B–29, 1944–1946. C–130, 1968–1970. MC–130, 1992–.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, Oct 1942–Sep 1943. Combat in Western Pacific, 16 Jun–14 Aug 1945. Combat and combat rescue in Southeast Asia, 15 Mar 1968–31 Oct 1970. Conducted day and night infiltration/exfiltration, resupply, and reconnaissance missions into unfriendly territory, 1993-. Participated in numerous training exercises, 2008-2009.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon. Afghanistan: Liberation; Consolidation I; Consolidation III. Iraq: Iraqi Liberation; Iraqi Transition; Iraqi Governance; Iraqi National Resolution; Iraqi Sovereignty; Iraqi New Dawn.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 29 Jul–6 Aug 1945. Presidential Unit
Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Jan 1966-15 Nov 1970; 21 Jun 1968–30 Jun 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 15 Mar–20 Jun 1968; 1 Jul–31 Oct 1970; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Sep 2006-30 Jun 2007. Gallant Unit Citation: 6 Oct 2001-30 May 2003. 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: 1 Oct 1992–15 Apr 1994; 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Sep 2004-31 Aug 2006. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 15 Mar 1968–31 Oct 1970.
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 27 Nov 1992; 9 May 2019.
Prepared by TSgt David Dollman.