5th Special Operations Squadron

5th Special Operations Squadron
U-28A as flown by the squadron
Active	1944–1946; 1965–1969; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Special Operations
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Hurlburt Field
Motto(s)	Truth Shall Make Them Free
Engagements	Vietnam War
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation Gallant Unit Citation Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
5th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 5 August 1966, modified 4 January 2008)[1]

The 5th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 919th Special Operations Wing. The 5th is based at Hurlburt Field,^[2] 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 Air Warfare Center's U-28, AC-130U, MC-130H, C-145, C-146 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 Air Warfare Center at Hurlburt. While 5th SOS members perform duty at Hurlburt as part of AFSOWC, the squadron administratively falls under the 919th Special Operations Wing, a USAF Reserve unit headquartered at Duke Field, Fla.

History

The 5th transported men and supplies to and evacuated casualties from forward areas in Southwest and Western Pacific from, December 1944 – September 1945.^[1]

A 5th SOS U-10B over Vietnam, 1969.

It conducted psychological operations and humanitarian programs during the Vietnam War from, 1965–1969.^[1]

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.^[1]

Operations

• 

Vietnam War

• 

Operation Enduring Freedom

• 

Operation Iraqi Freedom^[3]

Lineage

5th Combat Cargo Squadron

• Constituted as the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron on 25 April 1944

Activated on 1 May 1944

Inactivated on 15 January 1946

• Disbanded on 8 October 1948
• Reconstituted and consolidated with the 5th Special Operations Squadron as the 5th Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985^[1]

5th Special Operations Squadron

• Constituted as the 5th Air Commando Squadron (Psychological Operation) and activated on 2 August 1965 (not organized)

Organized on 8 August 1965

Redesignated 5 Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968

Inactivated on 15 October 1969

• Consolidated with the 5th Combat Cargo Squadron on 19 September 1985
• Activated in the Reserve on 1 December 1994^[1]

Assignments

• 2d Combat Cargo Group, 1 May 1944 – 15 January 1946
• Pacific Air Forces, 2 August 1965 (not organized
• 2d Air Division, 8 August 1965
• 14th Air Commando Wing (later 14th Special Operations Wing), 8 March 1966 – 15 October 1969
• 919th Operations Group (later 919th Special Operations Group), 1 December 1994 – present^[1]

Stations

• Syracuse Army Air Base, New York, 1 May 1944
• Baer Field, Indiana, 9 - 27 October 1944
• Biak, Netherlands East Indies, November 1944
• Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 15 May 1945
• Okinawa, 16 August 1945
• Yokota Air Base, Japan, September 1945 - 15 January 1946
• Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 August 1965
• Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, 5 September - 15 October 1969
• Duke Field, Florida, 1 December 1994
• Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 1 October 1999
• Hurlburt Field, Florida, 26 January 2009 - present^[1]

Aircraft

• Curtiss C-46 Commando (1944–1945)
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1944–1945)
• Helio U-10 Courier (1965–1969)
• Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow (1994–2008)
• Pilatus U-28A (2008–present)^[1]
• Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II (2015-present)
• Lockheed AC-130U Spooky II (2013–present)

References

Notes

1. Robertson, Patsy (June 13, 2011). "Factsheet 5 Special Operations Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
2. Reservist training
3. "Factsheet 919th Special Operations Wing". 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. April 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2016.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

• "5th Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet". 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. August 2, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
• "919th Special Operations Wing Fact Sheet". 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. September 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2016.