73d Special Operations Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 73d Special Operations Squadron


caption= 73d Special Operations Squadron Patch
dates= 26 February 1918 - 4 July 1919
15 July 1931 - 1 November 1943
16 June 1950 - 15 June 1961
1 October 2006 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Special Operations
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Special Operations Command
27th Special Operations Wing
27th Special Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Cannon Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
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The 73d Special Operations Squadron (73 SOS) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft in support of sqecial operations.

Mission

History

The 73d managed an airpark with the Second Army from, c. 15 November 1918-1919. It then trained for pursuit and attack missions (1931-1939) and for bombardment missions (1939-1941). The squadron conducted reconnaissance in support of flood-relief in southern California during March 1938. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

It flew combat missions in the Northern Pacific from, December 1941-August 1943 and performed airlift support for Strategic Air Command bases in the Continental United States and overseas from 1950-1961. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

It was reactivated in 2006 to operated the new MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft. [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123029625 73 SOS Activation] ] The 73d was the flying first special operations squadron to move to Cannon Air Force Base after the fighter squadrons left. [ [http://www.cannon.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123065965 73 SOS move to Cannon AFB] ]

Operations [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

*World War I
*World War II

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

*73d Aero Squadron (1918 - 1927)
*73d Headquarters Squadron (1927 - 1929)
*73d Pursuit Squadron (1929 - 1935)
*73d Attack Squadron (1935 - 1939)
*73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939 - 1950)
*3d Strategic Support Squadron (1950 - 1985)
*73d Special Operations Squadron (1985 - Present)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

*2d Day Bombardment Group (1918 - 1919)
*17th Bombardment Group (1931 - 1941)
*28th Composite Group (1941 - 1943)
*Second Air Force (1943, 1950 - 1959)
*4238 Strategic Wing (1959 - 1961)
*1st Special Operations Wing (2006 - 2008)
*27th Special Operations Wing (2008 - Present)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

*Waco, Texas (1918)
*Call Field, Texas (1918)
*Garden City, New York (1918)
*Saint-Maixent, France (1918)
*Delouze-Rosières, France (1918)
*Colombey-les-Belles, France (1918)
*Ourches, France (1918 - 1919)
*Hazelhurst Field, New York (1919)
*March Field, California (1931 - 1940)
*McChord Field, Washington (1940 - 1941)
*Elmendorf Field, Alaska (1941 - 1943)
*Umnak, Alaska (1943)
*Amchitka, Alaska (1943)
*Paine Field, Washington (1943)
*Pyote Army Air Field, Texas (1943)
*Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1950 - 1953)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1953 - 1961)
*Hurlburt Field, Florida (2006 - 2008)
*Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico (2008 - Present)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp 73 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

*P-12 (1931 - 1934, 1935 - 1936)
*P-26 Peashooter (1934 - 1935)
*A-17 Nomad (1936 - 1940)
*B-18 Bolo (1939 - 1942)
*B-26 Marauder (1942 - 1943)
*B-25 Mitchell (1942 - 1943)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1950 - 1961)
*MC-130W Combat Spear (2006 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0073sos.asp USAF 73d Special Operations Squadron History]

External links

* [http://www.cannon.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123065965 New Cannon Units Q&A]