1 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)

Lineage. The 1 Pursuit Squadron (which was constituted as 1 Pursuit Squadron [Single Engine], activated on 1 Aug 1939, redesignated as 1 Pursuit Squadron [Interceptor], on 6 Dec 1939, disbanded on 1 May 1942, and reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) was consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 1 Liaison Squadron (which was constituted as 1 Liaison Flight on 27 Sep 1949, activated on 24 Oct 1949, inactivated on 22 Jul 1952, redesignated as 1 Liaison Squadron on 13 Feb 1953, activated on 8 Apr 1953, and inactivated on 18 Jan 1954) and 1 Special Operations Squadron (which was constituted as 1 Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated, on 17 Jun 1963, organized on 8 Jul 1963, redesignated as 1 Air Commando Squadron, Fighter, on 15 Aug 1967; 1 Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968). 

 

Assignments. 23 Composite Group (later, Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment; Air Corps Proving Ground Group), 1 Aug 1939-1942.  Twelfth Air Force, 24 Oct 1949 (attached to 2602 Tow Target Squadron, 24 Oct 1949-22 May 1950; 1 Tow Target Squadron, 27 May 1950-22 Jul 1952); Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1950; Tactical Air Command, 1 Aug 1950; Ninth Air Force, 10 Aug 1951-22 Jul 1952.  Ninth Air Force, 8 Apr 1953-18 Jan 1954 (attached to 479 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 8 Apr 1953-18 Jan 1954).  Pacific Air Forces, 17 Jan 1963; 34 Tactical Group, 8 Jul 1963; 6251 Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 Jul 1965 (attached to 3 Tactical Fighter Wing, 21 Nov 1965-8 Mar 1966); 2 Air Division, 18 Feb 1966; 14 Air Commando Wing, 8 Mar 1966; 56 Air Commando (later, 56 Special Operations) Wing, 20 Dec 1967; 18 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Dec 1972; 18 Tactical Fighter Group, 1 May 1978; 3 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jan 1981; 2 Air Division, 1 Mar 1983; Twenty-Third Air Force, 1 Feb 1987; 353 Special Operations Wing (later, 353 Special Operations Group), 6 Apr 1989-. 

 

Stations. Maxwell Field, AL, 1 Aug 1939; Orlando, FL, c. 1 Sep 1940; Eglin Field, FL, 29 Jun 1941-1 May 1942.  Biggs AFB, TX, 24 Oct 1949-22 Jul 1952; George AFB, CA, 8 Apr 1953-18 Jan 1954.  Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 8 Jul 1963; Pleiku AB, South Vietnam, 5 Jan 1966; Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 20 Dec 1967; Kadena AB, Japan, 15 Dec 1972 (segment of squadron operated from Nakhon Phanom TTAFB, 15 Dec 1972-28 Jan 1973); Clark AB, Philippines, 1 Jan 1981; Kadena AB, Japan, 5 Feb 1992-. 

 

Aircraft. P-36, 1939-1942; YP-37, 1939-1940; O-38, 1940; B-12, 1940; C-40, 1940; P-40, 1941-1942.  L-13, 1949-1952; C-45, 1952; L-20, 1952; L-20, 1953-1954; H-19, 1953-1954.  B-26, 1963-1964; T-28, 1963-1964; U-10, 1963-1966; C-47, 1963-1966; RB-26, 1963-1964; A-1, 1964-1972; FC-47, 1964-1965; AC-47, 1965; C (later, MC)-130, 1972-. 

 

Operations. Gunnery testing and training, 1939-1942.  Flew administrative flights, 1949-1952 and 1953-1954.  Combat in Southeast Asia, 8 Jul 1963-7 Nov 1972 and 15 Dec 1972-28 Jan 1973.  Trained Vietnamese Air Force pilots in counterinsurgency operations, Jul 1963-Nov 1972.  After Vietnam conflict, served in Philippines and later Japan to train for and perform special operations missions as needed.

 

Service Streamers. None.

 

Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; 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; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.   

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

 

Decorations. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Aug 1964-15 Apr 1965; 8 Mar 1966-7 Mar 1967; 1 Nov 1968-1 May 1969; 1 Oct 1969-30 Apr 1970; 1 Apr-15 Nov 1972.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 1 Dec 1970-30 Nov 1971; 1 Dec 1971-29 Feb 1972; 2 Sep 2004-1 Sep 2006; 1 Oct 2006-30 Sep 2008.  Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2010-30 Sep 2012; 1 Oct 2012-30 Sep 2014.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May 1963-31 Jul 1964; 1 Apr 1974-31 Mar 1976; 1 Apr 1976-31 Dec 1977; 1 Sep 1978-30 Sep 1979; 1 Oct 1979-31 May 1980; 15 Feb 1980-30 Apr 1982; 1 Feb 1986-31 Jan 1988; 6 Apr 1989-5 Apr 1991; 13 Oct 2000-1 Sep 2002; 2 Sep 2002-1 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2010.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Oct 1967-15 Dec 1972. 

 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 28 Oct 2016.

 

Aircraft, and Operations through 28 Oct 2016.

 

Emblem. Approved on 20 May 1966; latest rendering, 25 Sep 2019. 

 

Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman