| 5th Special Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
 5th Special Operations Squadron Patch | |
| Active |
1 May 1944 – 15 January 1946 2 August 1965 – 15 October 1969 1 December 1994 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Special Operations |
| Part of |
Air Force Reserve Command 10th Air Force 919th Special Operations Wing 919th Special Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Eglin Air Force Base |
| Decorations |
 PUC  GUC  Army MUC  AFOUA w/ V Device Outstanding Unit Award  PPUC  RVGC w/ Palm |
The 5th Special Operations Squadron (5 SOS) is part of the 919th Special Operations Wing. The 5th is based at Hurlburt Field,[1] Florida. It operates U-28 aircraft providing special operations capability.
Mission[]
The 5th Special Operations Squadron provides an Instructor cadre for the Air Force Special Operations Training Center's U-28 and Combat Aviation Advisor programs. It also provides intratheater support to Special Operations Forces worldwide in support of National Command Authorities taskings.
The 5th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., is a Total Force Integration unit whose members participate in the Active Duty mission of the Air Force Special Operations Training Center at Hurlburt. While 5th SOS members perform duty at Hurlburt as part of AFSOTC, the squadron administratively falls under the 919th Special Operations Wing, a USAF Reserve unit headquartered at Duke Field, Fla. Lt. Col. Pat Ryan is the current commander.
History[]
The 5th transported men and supplies to and evacuated casualties from forward areas in Southwest and Western Pacific from, December 1944 – September 1945.[2]
It conducted psychological operations and humanitarian programs during the Vietnam War from, 1965–1969.[2]
It has trained for special operations, inflight refueling of special operations helicopters, and resupply missions, using modified C-130 aircraft since 1995. The 5th has periodically deployed to support special operations contingency operations worldwide.[2]
Operations[3][]
Lineage[2][]
- 5th Combat Cargo Squadron (1944–1965)
- 5th Air Commando Squadron (Psychological Operation) (1965–1968)
- 5th Special Operations Squadron (1968 – present)
Assignments[2][]
- 2d Combat Cargo Group (1944–1946)
- 2d Air Division (1965–1966)
- 14th Special Operations Wing (1966–1969)
- 919th Special Operations Wing (1994 – present)
Bases stationed[2][]
A 5th SOS U-10B over Vietnam, 1969.
- Syracuse Army Air Base, New York (1944)
- Baer Field, Indiana (1944)
- Biak, Netherlands East Indies (1944–1945)
- Dulag, Leyte (1945)
- Okinawa (1945)
- Yokota Air Base, Japan (1945–1946)
- Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam (1965–1969)
- Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnem (1969)
- Bien Thuy Air Base, South Vietnam (1965-1969)
- Eglin Air Force Base Auxiliary Field Three (Duke Field), Florida (1994–1999)
- Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1999–2008)
- Hurlburt Field, Florida (2008 – present)
Aircraft Operated[2][]
- C-46 Commando (1944–1945)
- C-47 Skytrain (1944–1945)
- AC-47 Spooky (1965–1969)
- U-10 Super Courier (1965–1969)
- MC-130P Combat Shadow (1994–2008)
- U-28 (2007 – present)
References[]
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 5th Special Operations Squadron. |
- USAF 5th Special Operations Squadron History
- 5th th Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet
- 919th Special Operations Wing Fact Sheet
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The original article can be found at 5th Special Operations Squadron and the edit history here.