9th Special Operations Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 9th Special Operations Squadron


caption= 9th Special Operations Squadron Patch
dates= 1 April 1944 - 18 October 1948
2 January 1951 - 15 September 1963
9 January 1967 - 29 February 1972
1 March 1988 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Special Operations
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Special Operations Command
1st Special Operations Wing
1st Special Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Eglin Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Night Wings
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 9th Special Operations Squadron (9 SOS) is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It operates MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in support of special operations. The 9th SOS specializes in the use of night vision goggles and close interval formation tactics to refuel large helicopter formations.

Mission

Clandestine penetration of enemy territory using low-level formation procedures to provide aerial refueling of special operations helicopters and the insertion, extraction, and resupply of special operations forces by low or high altitude airdrop or airland operations. [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3490 9 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

History

The 9th flew combat missions in Western Pacific from, 27 January 1945 – 14 August 1945. No personnel were assigned from, 25 April 1947 until its deactivation on 18 October 1948. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

While retaining combat capability, the 9th trained B-52 crews for Strategic Air Command from 15 July 1959-September 1963. It flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, March 1967-January 1972. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

It has trained for special operations, refueling and resupply missions using modified C-130 aircraft since 1988. It has seen combat in Panama, 20 December 1989-14 January 1990 and Southwest Asia, 16 January 1991 – 5 April 1991. It routinely deployed personnel and aircraft to contingency operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia from, 1991-2001. The squadron has participated in combat operations in Afghanistan since October 2001 and Iraq since March 2003. [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3490 9 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

=Operations [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3490 9 SOS Fact Sheet] ] =

*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Just Cause
*Operation Desert Storm
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

*9th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944 - 1950)
*9th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1950 - 1952)
*9th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1952 - 1967)
*9th Air Commando Squadron (Psychological Operations) (1967 - 1968)
*9th Special Operations Squadron (1968 - Present)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

*6th Bombardment Group (1944 - 1948)
*6th Strategic Aerospace Wing (1951 - 1963)
*Pacific Air Forces (1967)
*14th Special Operations Wing (1967 - 1971)
*315th Tactical Airlift Wing (1971 - 1972)
*39th Special Operations Wing (1988 - 1989)
*1st Special Operations Wing (1989 - Present)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

*Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
*Grand Island Army Air Field, Nebraska (1944)
*North Field, Tinian (1944 - 1946)
*Clark Field, Luzon (1946 - 1947)
*Kadena Air Base, Japan (1947 - 1948)
*Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico (1951 - 1963)
*Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam (1967)
*Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam (1967 - 1969)
*Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam (1969 - 1970)
*Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam (1970 - 1972)
*Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1988 - Present)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html AFHRA 9 SOS Page] ]

*B-17 Flying Fortress (1944)
*B-29 Superfortress (1944 - 1947, 1951 - 1952)
*B-36 Peacemaker (1952 - 1957)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1957 - 1963)
*C-47 Skytrain (1967 - 1972)
*U-10 Super Courier (1967)
*O-2 Skymaster (1967 - 1972)
*HC-130 Hercules (1988 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0009sos.html USAF 9th Special Operations Squadron History]
* [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3490 9th Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also