319th Special Operations Squadron

319th Special Operations Squadron

USAF Pilatus U-28 at Niamey Airport, Niger
Active 1944–1945; 1962–1972; 2005–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Special Operations
Part of Air Force Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ Hurlburt Field, Florida
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt. Col. Allison Black[1]
Insignia
319th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 21 June 2006)[2]

The 319th Special Operations Squadron was first activated in September 1944 as the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) and served in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It provided airlift support and conducted airborne drops and glider operations for Allied troops in Burma, central China, and French Indochina in the last year of World War II.

The squadron was activated in April 1962 at Hurlburt Field, Florida and deployed planes and crews from Hurlburt for special air warfare and civic actions missions, then trained aircrews on special operations airlift at England Air Force Base, Louisiana until being inactivated as the 319th Special Operations Squadron in June 1972.

On 1 October 2005, the squadron was again activated as part of an overall expansion of the Air Force Special Operations Command. It operates the Pilatus U-28A.

Mission

The 319th Special Operations Squadron mission is to provide intra-theater support for special operations forces and it is currently equipped with the U-28A, a modified version of the Pilatus PC-12. The U-28A was selected for its versatile performance and ability to operate from short and unimproved runway surfaces.

History

World War II

C47 releases rations near Myitkyina, Burma

The 319th was first activated in India as the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) in September 1944. The squadron served in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It provided airlift support and flew aerial resupply missions in support of various commando units, such as Merrill's Marauders and the Chindits and conducted airborne drops and glider operations for Allied troops in Burma, central China, and French Indochina in the last year of World War II. After the end of the war, the squadron moved to China, where it continued operations until October 1945. In November 1945, the squadron returned on paper to India, but was not manned or equipped. It was inactivated there in December 1945.[2]

Vietnam War

C-123K Provider formerly of the 319th Special Operations Squadron

The squadron was redesignated the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron, Commando, and organized at Hurlburt Field, Florida in April 1962. The squadron initially operated Curtiss C-46 Commandos, but also Douglas C-47 Skytrains, and Helio U-10 Courier, and North American T-28 Trojans until moving to England Air Force Base, Louisiana in 1966. The squadron frequently deployed crews and airplanes to Southeast Asia for civic action and counterinsurgency missions.[2]

At England, the squadron concentrated on training United States and foreign aircrews with the Fairchild C-123 Provider. It continued this mission after returning to Hurlburt three years later. It was inactivated in 1972 as the Air Force reduced its size following United States withdrawal from the Vietnam War.[2]

Present era

On 1 October 2005, the squadron was again activated as part of an overall expansion of the Air Force Special Operations Command. It was equipped with the U-28A, a modified version of the Pilatus PC-12, able to operate from short and unimproved runway surfaces.[3][4] The 319th provides airlift support to United States Army Special Forces, and provides intratheater support for special operations.[2]

Lineage

Activated on 1 September 1944
Inactivated on 27 December 1945
Organized on 27 April 1962
Inactivated on 15 January 1972
Activated on 1 October 2005[2]

Assignments

Stations

  • Asansol, India, 1 September 1944 (operated from various forward bases in Burma, 4 December 1944 – 17 May 1945)
  • Warazup, Burma, 27 May 1945
  • Loping, China, 2 September 1945
  • Hu Hsien, China, 7 October 1945
  • India, c. 1 November 1945 – 27 December 1945
  • Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), Florida, 27 April 1962
  • England Air Force Base, Louisiana, 15 January 1966
  • Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), Florida, 30 July 1969 – 15 January 1972
  • Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 October 2005 – present[2]

Aircraft

  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1945, 1962–1966
  • Waco CG-4A, 1944–1945
  • Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1962–1964
  • Helio U-10 Courier, 1963–1966
  • Fairchild C-123 Provider, 1963–1972
  • North American T-28 Trojan, 1965
  • Pilatus U-28A, 2005–present[2]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V device1 September 2006–30 June 2007319th Special Operations Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit AwardJuly 1963–June 1965319th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 319th Air Commando Squadron)[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1969–15 April 1971319th Special Operations Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 [October 2005]–31 August 2006319th Special Operations Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2007–30 June 2009319th Special Operations Squadron[5]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
India-Burma1 September 1944 – 28 January 1945319th Troop Carrier Squadron[6]
Central Burma29 January 1945 – 15 July 1945319th Troop Carrier Squadron[6]
China Defensive1 September 1944 – 4 May 1945319th Troop Carrier Squadron[6]
China Offensive5 May 1945 – 2 September 1945319th Troop Carrier Squadron[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Humphrey, Kelly, "'Angel of Death' takes command of 319th SOS", Hurlburt Warrior, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Friday 8 May 2015, Volume 9, Number 19, page 3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Robertson, Patsy (4 January 2008). "Factsheet 319 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104607/u-28a.aspx
  4. ↑ Humphrey, Kelly, "'Angel of Death' takes command of 319th SOS", Hurlburt Warrior, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Friday 8 May 2015, Volume 9, Number 19, page 3.
  5. ↑ "Air Force Recognition Programs". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 391-392

Bibliography

External links

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