Air Force Special Operations Command

• 1st Air Commando Group: Late 1943 – November 1945
• Operation Carpetbagger: Early 1944 – July 1945[9][10][11]

• Air Resupply and Communications Service: 23 February 1951 – 12 October 1956
• Combined Command Reconnaissance Activities, Korea: December 1951 – December 1953
• B Flight, 6167th Operations Squadron: 1 April 1952 – 31 December 1953
• 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron: c. March 1951 – 1955
• 6006th Air Intelligence Service Squadron: c. 1953 – 1955
• 22nd Crash Rescue Boat Squadron: c. July 1952 – 1954
• 581st Air Supply and Communications Wing: July 1951 – September 1955
• 582nd Air Supply and Communications Wing
• 580th Air Supply and Communications Wing[11][12]

• 129th Air Resupply Group: April 1955 – c. 1975
• 130th Air Resupply Group: October 1955 – c. 1960
• 135th Air Resupply Group: August 1955 – c. 1971
• 143rd Special Operations Group: November 1955 – 1975
• 1045th Observation, Evaluation, and Training Group: 23 February 1951 – 1 January 1954[11][13]

• Jungle Jim / 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron
• Farm Gate[14]
• Operation Waterpump
• Raven Forward Air Controllers
• Project 404
• Palace Dog
• 56th Air Commando Wing[11][15][16]

• 4400th Combat Crew Training Group
• 1st Special Operations Wing
• Twenty-Third Air Force[11][17]

• Military Airlift Command, 1 March 1983
• United States Air Force, 22 May 1990 – present[6]

• Scott AFB, Illinois, 1 March 1983
• Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 August 1987 – present[17]

• Air Forces Special Operations Center (redesignated 623d Air and Space Operations Center): 13 December 2005 – 1 January 2008
• Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Forces Special Operations Forces): 1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013
• AFSOC Operations Center: 4 April 2013 – present[18]
• 2nd Air Division, 1 March 1983 – 1 February 1987
• Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 1 March 1983 – 1 August 1989
• Air Rescue Service, 1 August 1989 – 1993
• 1st Special Operations Wing, 1 February 1987 – present
• 24th Special Operations Wing, 12 June 2012 – present
• 27th Special Operations Wing, 1 October 2007 – present
• 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 October 1983 – 1 August 1989
• 352nd Special Operations Wing, 1 October 1983 – present
• 353nd Special Operations Group, 6 April 1989 – present
• 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing: 1 January 1984 – 1 February 1990
• 492nd Special Operations Wing: 10 May 2017 – present
• 720th Special Tactics Group: 1 October 1987 – 12 June 2012
• 724th Special Tactics Group: 29 April 2011 – 12 June 2012
• 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing (later, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing): 1 October 1983 – 21 May 1990
• USAF Special Operations School, 1 February 1987 – 22 May 1990
• Air Force Special Operations Training Center, 8 October 2008 – 11 February 2013
• Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, 11 February 2013 – 10 May 2017[19]

Air Force Special Operations Command OrBat

Several U.S. and Russian-built aircraft of the
Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center belonging to the 6th Special Operations Squadron

MH-53J Pave Low III helicopters near Hurlburt Field, circa 2001; upgraded to MH-53M Pave Low IV configuration, the last examples were retired from AFSOC service in late 2008 and replaced by the
CV-22B Osprey

AC-130U Spooky gunship over Hurlburt Field

MC-130H Combat Talon II infiltration/exfiltration and aerial refueling aircraft

MC-130J Commando II aircraft on the tarmac at the Lockheed Martin / Air Force Plant 6 facility at Dobbins ARB, Georgia

EC-130J Commando Solo III psychological warfare/information warfare aircraft

The following list contains the flying and Special Tactics squadrons of the Air Force Special Operations Command:

• 1st Special Operations Wing,[20] Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • 1st Special Operations Group
    • 4th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130U Spooky
    • 8th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey
    • 15th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130H Combat Talon II
    • 34th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A
    • 65th Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper
    • 73nd Special Operations Squadron, AC-130J Ghostrider[21]
    • 319th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A

• 24th Special Operations Wing,[22] Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • Special Tactics Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
    • 17th Special Tactics Squadron, Fort Benning, Georgia
    • 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina
    • 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
    • 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
    • 26th Special Tactics Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
  • 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope Field, North Carolina
    • 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field

• 27th Special Operations Wing,[23] Cannon AFB, New Mexico
  • 27th Special Operations Group
    • 3rd Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper
    • 9th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130J Commando II
    • 12th Special Operations Squadron, Expeditionary MQ-9 Reaper launch and recovery
    • 16th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130W Stinger II
    • 20th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey
    • 33rd Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper
    • 318th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A

• 352nd Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, UK (supporting EUCOM, AFRICOM, CENTCOM)
  • 752nd Special Operations Group
    • 7th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey
    • 67th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130J Commando II
    • 321st Special Tactics Squadron

• 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan (supporting INDOPACOM)
  • 1st Special Operations Squadron, MC-130J Commando II[24]
  • 21st Special Operations Squadron, at Yokota Air Base (CV-22B Osprey)[25]
  • 320th Special Tactics Squadron

• 492nd Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida[26]
  • 492nd Special Operations Training Group
    • United States Air Force Special Operations School[27]
    • 6th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A, Duke Field, Florida
    • 18th Flight Test Squadron
    • 19th Special Operations Squadron, training AC-130U/J, MC-130H, U-28A crews
    • 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron, ground training
    • 524th Special Operations Squadron, C-146A Wolfhound, Duke Field, Florida
    • 551st Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, training AC-130W, MQ-9, MC-130J, CV-22B crews

• 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma[28]
  • 137th Special Operations Group
    • 185th Special Operations Squadron, MC-12W Liberty
    • 138th Combat Training Flight, ground training

• 193rd Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Pennsylvania[29]
  • 193rd Special Operations Group
    • 193rd Special Operations Squadron, EC-130J Commando Solo III

Additionally the Air Force Special Operations Command would gain the following units from Air Mobility Command or Air Combat Command aligned Air National Guard wings:[29]

• 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville Air National Guard Base, Kentucky
• 125th Special Tactics Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon
• 209th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Mississippi Air National Guard, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Mississippi
• 280th Special Operations Communications Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, Dothan Regional Airport, Alabama

The Air Force Reserve Command units of Air Force Special Operations Command are:

• 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Florida[30]
  • 919th Special Operations Group
    • 2nd Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper, Hurlburt Field, Florida
    • 5th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A
    • 711th Special Operations Squadron, C-145A Skytruck
    • 859th Special Operations Squadron, C-146A Wolfhound

AFSOC regularly operates the following aircraft:[34]

• AC-130J Ghostrider / AC-130U Spooky II / AC-130W Stinger II
• CV-22B Osprey
• C-32 (Boeing 757)
• EC-130J Commando Solo III
• MC-130H Combat Talon II / MC-130J Commando II
• C-145A Skytruck
• C-146A Wolfhound
• C-208B Caravan
• U-28A
• MQ-9 Reaper
• RQ-11 Raven
• Scan Eagle
• Wasp III

Additionally, AFSOC, through its Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, possess and operates a small number of the following aircraft for its special training mission and Aviation Foreign Internal Defense (FID) missions:

• C-130E Hercules
• An-26 Curl
• C-47T Sky Train
• C-212 Aviocar
• CN-235-100
• Mi-17 Hip
• UH-1H and UH-1N Huey[35]

New AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft based on the Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules tanker variant are being acquired and sent to certain AFSOC units. MC-130J aircraft have already entered service while the AC-130J continues developmental testing in preparation for an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with AFSOC projected for FY 2017[36][37][38]

In December 1982, the Air Force transferred responsibility for Air Force special operations from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Military Airlift Command (MAC). Consequently, in March 1983, MAC activated Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF) at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. This new numbered air force's responsibilities included worldwide missions of special operations, combat rescue, weather reconnaissance and aerial sampling, security support for intercontinental ballistic missile sites, training of USAF helicopter and HC-130 crewmen, pararescue training, and medical evacuation.[11]

In October 1983, 23 AF helped rescue Americans from the island nation of Grenada. During the seven-day operation, centered at Point Salines Airport, 23 AF furnished MC-130s, AC-130s, aircrews, maintenance, and support personnel. An EC-130 from the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard (ANG) also played a psy-war role. Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) James L. Hobson, Jr., an MC-130 pilot and commander of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, was later awarded the Mackay Trophy for his actions in leading the air drop on the Point Salines Airport.[39]

In May 1986, the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act led to the formation of the United States Special Operations Command. Senators William Cohen and Sam Nunn introduced the Senate bill, and the following month Congressman Dan Daniel introduced a like measure in the House of Representatives. The key provisions of the legislation formed the basis to amend the 1986 Defense Authorizations Bill. This bill, signed into law in October 1986, in part directed the formation of a unified command responsible for special operations. In April 1987, the DoD established the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and Army GEN James J. Lindsay assumed command. Four months later, 23 AF moved its headquarters from Scott AFB to Hurlburt Field, Florida.

In August 1989, Gen Duane H. Cassidy, USAF, CINCMAC, divested 23 AF of its non-special operations units, e.g., search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, etc. Thus, 23 AF served a dual role: still reporting to MAC, but also functioning as the air component to USSOCOM.[11]

From late December 1989 to early January 1990, 23 AF participated in the invasion of the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause. Special operations aircraft included both active duty AC-130H and Air Force Reserve AC-130A Spectre gunships, EC-130 Volant Solo psychological operations aircraft from the Air National Guard, HC-130P/N Combat Shadow tankers, MC-130E Combat Talons, and MH-53J Pave Low and MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. Special tactics Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen provided important support to combat units.[11]

Spectre gunship crews of the 1 SOW earned the Mackay Trophy and Tunner Award for their efforts, with an Air Force Reserve AC-130A Spectre crew from the 919th Special Operations Group (919 SOG) earning the President's Award. An active duty 1st SOW MC-130 Combat Talon crew ferried the captured Panamanian President, Manuel Noriega, to prison in the United States. Likewise, the efforts of the 1 SOW maintenance people earned them the Daedalian Award.[11]

On 22 May 1990, General Larry D. Welch, USAF, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, redesignated Twenty-Third Air Force as Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). This new major command consisted of three wings: the 1st, 39th and 353rd Special Operations Wings as well as the 1720th Special Tactics Group (1720 STG), the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, and the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center.[11]

Currently, after major redesignations and reorganizations, AFSOC direct reporting units include the 16th Special Operations Wing, the 352nd Special Operations Group, the 353rd Special Operations Group, the 720th Special Tactics Group (720 STG), the USAF Special Operations School and the 18th Flight Test Squadron (18 FLTS). During the early 1990s a major reorganization occurred within AFSOC. The 1720 STG became the 720 STG in March 1992; the transfer of ownership of Hurlburt Field from Air Mobility Command (AMC, and formerly MAC) to AFSOC in October 1992, followed by the merger of the 834th Air Base Wing (834 ABW) into the 1 SOW, which assumed host unit responsibilities. A year later the 1 SOW became the 16 SOW in a move to preserve Air Force heritage.[40][41][42]

Meanwhile, the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center (SMOTEC), which explored heavy lift frontiers in special operations capabilities, while pursuing better equipment and tactics development, was also reorganized. In April 1994, the Air Force, in an effort to standardize these types of organizations, redesignated SMOTEC as the 18th Flight Test Squadron (18 FLTS).[43]

From early August 1990 to late February 1991, AFSOC participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, the protection of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait. Special tactics personnel operated throughout the theater on multiple combat control and combat rescue missions. Special operations forces performed direct action missions, combat search and rescue, infiltration, exfiltration, air base ground defense, air interdiction, special reconnaissance, close air support, psychological operations, and helicopter air refuelings. Pave Low crews led the helicopter assault on radars to blind Iraq at the onset of hostilities, and they also accomplished the deepest rescue for which they received the Mackay Trophy.[44]

MC-130E/H Combat Talons dropped the BLU-82, the largest conventional bombs of the war and, along with MC-130P Combat Shadows, dropped the most psychological warfare leaflets, while AC-130A and AC-130H Spectre gunships provided valuable fire support and armed reconnaissance. However, the AC-130 community also suffered the single greatest combat loss of coalition air forces with the shoot down of an AC-130H, call sign Spirit 03, by an Iraqi SA-7 Grail surface-to-air missile. All fourteen crew members aboard Spirit 03 were killed.[45][46]

In December 1992, AFSOC special tactics and intelligence personnel supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. In late 1994, AFSOC units spearheaded Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and in 1995 Operation Deliberate Force in the Balkans.[47]

Then-MSgt Bart Decker from the 23rd STS, on horseback in the Balkh valley, during the initial days of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon, Washington D.C., on 11 September 2001 pushed the United States special operations forces to the forefront of the war against terrorism. By the end of September 2001, AFSOC deployed forces to southwest Asia for Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan to help destroy the al Qaeda terrorist organization and remove the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. AFSOC airpower delivered special tactics forces to the battle ground and they in turn focused U.S. airpower and allowed Afghanistan's Northern Alliance ground forces to dispatch the Taliban and al Qaeda from Afghanistan. AFSOC personnel also deployed to the Philippines to help aid that country's efforts against terrorism.[47]

US Air Force Special Operations had a long-term presence in the Philippines during Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines.[48]

In March 2003, AFSOC again deployed forces to southwest Asia this time in support of what would become Operation Iraqi Freedom – the removal of Saddam Hussein and his Baathist government. The command's personnel and aircraft teamed with SOF and conventional forces to quickly bring down Saddam Hussein's government by May 2003. AFSOC forces continued to conduct operations in support of the new Iraqi government against insurgents and terrorists.[47]