<< Combat Index home Combat Index Military Insignia US Air Force Insignia US Air Force Wings 1 Special Operations Squadron Unit Insignia Description: On a Blue disc within a narrow Gold border a White pale and over all a Red eagle displayed eye Gold detailed Blue, outlined and detailed White, grasping in its talon in dexter base the end of an arrow bendwise that is banded with two, in saltire with one and one palewise all Gold and grasping in its talon in sinister base a Gold rose compass highlighted White. Approved on 20 May 1966. Lineage The 1st Pursuit Squadron (constituted 1st Pursuit Squadron [Single Engine] and activated, on 1 Aug 1939; redesignated 1st Pursuit Squadron [Interceptor], on 6 Dec 1939; disbanded on 1 May 1942; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 1st Liaison Squadron (constituted 1st Liaison Flight on 27 Sep 1949; activated on 24 Oct 1949; inactivated on 22 Jul 1952; redesignated 1st Liaison Squadron on 13 Feb 1953; activated on 8 Apr 1953; inactivated on 18 Jan 1954) and 1st Special Operations Squadron (constituted 1st Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated, on 17 Jun 1963; organized on 8 Jul 1963; redesignated: 1st Air Commando Squadron, Fighter, on 15 Aug 1967; 1st Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968). Assignments 23d Composite Group (later, Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment; Air Corps Proving Ground Group), 1 Aug 1939–1 May 1942. Twelfth Air Force, 24 Oct 1949 (attached to 2602d Tow Target Squadron, 24 Oct 1949–22 May 1950; 1st 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 479th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 8 Apr 1953–18 Jan 1954). Pacific Air Forces, 17 Jun 1963; 34th Tactical Group, 8 Jul 1963; 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 Jul 1965 (attached to 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 21 Nov 1965–8 Mar 1966); 2d Air Division, 18 Feb 1966; 14th Air Commando Wing, 8 Mar 1966; 56th Air Commando (later, 56th Special Operations) Wing, 20 Dec 1967; 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Dec 1972; 18th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 May 1978; 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jan 1981; 2d Air Division, 1 Mar 1983; Twenty-third Air Force, 1 Feb 1987; 353d Special Operations Wing (later, 353d 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 RTAFB, 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. 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 Dec 1972. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Dec 1970–30 Nov 1971; 1 Dec 1971–29 Feb 1972. 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. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Oct 1967–15 Dec 1972.