Aircraft is Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II, serial 88-195 from the 1st Special Operations Squadron during an exercise in Bangladesh on 9 June 2006. The squadron carried cargo and passengers and air-evacuated wounded soldiers to Australia until it moved to Leyte in mid-January 1945. The sulfur sign at the point of the fix on the disc historically dramatizes the enormity of the power which can be delivered to such a place as a result of the skill of the group. 320th Special Tactics Squadron 4. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for all air special operations activities throughout the Pacific. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando): : 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (ground echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 5 January 1945; air echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 16 January 1945). In addition, the group transported personnel, dropped supplies to ground troops and guerrilla forces, evacuated casualties from front-line strips, adjusted artillery fire, and flew courier and mail routes. On 31 August 2001, the 31st Special Operations Squadron was inactivated.[10][11]. Also maintained helicopter air refueling operations and Later, on Luzon, the fighters continued bombing and strafing missions. The 353d Special Operations Group consists of the following squadrons: 1. The 353d Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. The last 553d Reconnaissance EC-121R mission occurred on 6 December 1971. The 318 TCS participated in the evacuation of allied prisoners of war from Japan. The 353rd Special Operations Group organized exercise Gryphon Jet from June 17-26, 2020 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The U.S. Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group organized exercise Gryphon Jet from June 17-26, 2020 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. From December 1996 periodically deployed aircraft and personnel to Italy to support NATO operations in the Balkans and to Southwest Asia to support allied operations against Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Joshua Thompson) PHOTO DETAILS / DOWNLOAD HI-RES 4 of 10. The unit was assigned to Fifth Air Force in the Philippines in 1944 for operations with North American P-51 Mustangs, Douglas C-47 Skytrains, and Stinson L-5 Sentinels. Defense.gov News Photo 110316-F-UI176-556 - Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group off-load and upload new gear at Sendai Airport Japan on March 16 2011. The 353d Special Operations Group is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific, a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command. By the end of October 1945, the group moved to Chitose Air Base, Japan. The flying personnel of the 3d and 4th Fighter Squadrons, as well as some enlisted members of their engineering sections, were air-transported to Nadzab, New Guinea, where they received the group's new P-51 aircraft. The group's origins date to 1944 … Col. Jason Kirby, 353rd Special Operations Group commander, addresses the audience during an assumption of command ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 1, 2019. 160th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 15 December 1945). Moved to Thailand in increments beginning mid-September 1967 and began day and night unarmed reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia on 25 November 1967. The 353rd Special Operations Wing activated in Apr 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations. When activated, the 3d Air Commando Group trained to establish and maintain an airstrip behind enemy lines, to provide for its own supply and air defense, to attack targets in the enemy's rear areas, and to furnish air support for ground operations. 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. The 353rd Special.jpg 2,100 × 1,397; 1.28 MB The group operated the base and the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron provided most of the resupply. Mission The 353rd Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. 209 talking about this. The demi-globe represents the unit's ability to perform its functions anywhere in the world. While on Luzon, this squadron also para-dropped supplies to ground forces. Get a rare look at the group's aircraft and operations. In addition, the group provided air support to ground forces, flew fighter sweeps to Formosa, and escorted heavy bombers on bombing missions to Formosa and the China coast. 31st Special Operations Squadron: 6 April 1989 – 31 August 2001. The in dark and light coloration of the batcat suggests the day and night flying capabilities of the Group. Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Aircrews are specially trained in night, low-level flying using night vision goggles. Also maintained helicopter air refueling operations and Gained a weather flight in April 1996 and began providing weather support for U.S. Army Special Forces at Torii Station, Japan. 320th Special Tactics Squadron: 1 January 1993 – present, 753d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 2019 – present, Chitose Air Base, Japan, C. 27 October 1945 – 25 March 1946, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 31 October 1967 – 15 December 1970, Clark Air Base, Philippines, 6 April 1989 (operated from Okinawa, after July 1991), This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 03:02. The 353 SOG is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. The separated squadrons flew patrol missions in New Guinea until joining the group on Leyte in January 1945. In June 1945 Laoag became the staging field for flights to Okinawa. 353d Operations Support Squadron 5. At Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base, the air commandos of the 353rd Special Operations Group fly the MC-130 all over the region. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. Began combat in the Philippines by flying bombing and strafing missions against airdromes on Mindanao. In 2011, the unit supported Operation TOMODACHI, the relief effort from the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. The group's headquarters, liaison, and airdrome squadrons, as well as its medical dispensary and the ground echelons of the 3d Fighter Squadron (Commando) and 318th Troop Carrier Squadron sailed from the west coast in early November 1944, arriving on Leyte on 1 December 1944. In February 1996 developed Taegu Air Base in South Korea as a special operations training base. A wing detachment at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, performed combat evaluation of YQU-22A aircraft and associated equipment, December 1968 – August 1969. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for all U.S. Air Force special operations activities throughout the U.S. Pacific Command theater. In 1989, the consolidated unit was activated as the 353d Special Operations Wing. In 2018, the unit assisted with the Thai cave rescue. The 353rd Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/671462.pdf, "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Group (AFSOC)", "Approved insignia of the 353d Special Operations Group", "The 353rd SOG bids farewell to the Combat Talon II", "Special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at US air base in Tokyo", "Two special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at Yokota AB", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron (AFSOC)", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Support Squadron (AFSOC)", House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=353rd_Special_Operations_Group&oldid=994514722, Special operations groups of the United States Air Force, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, 753rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, at Yokota Air Base, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, V Fighter Command, c. 11 May 1945 – 25 March 1946 (remained under operational control of 308th Bombardment Wing through 28 May 1945, under operational control of, Thirteenth Air Force, 31 October 1967 – 15 December 1970 (under operational control of. The 353d Special Operations Group is an integral part of the Air Force Special Operations Command and is home-based at Kadena Air Base, Japan. 318th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (detached 1 May – 14 August 1944; ground echelon detached 12 September – 1 November 1944; air echelon detached 12 September 1944 – c. 18 February 1945), 1st Special Operations Squadron: 6 April 1989 – present, 17th Special Operations Squadron: 1 August 1989 – present. 353rd Special Operations Group completes Exercise Teak Net 16-1 "This year is the third year in a row where the 353rd SOG has come to New Zealand," said Maj. Christopher Izell, Exercise Teak Net mission commander." [10], The 320th Special Tactics Squadron was assigned to the group on 1 January 1993.[10]. The 353d Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. The 554th Reconnaissance squadron was inactivated with that squadron number then assigned to what was Detachment 1 at Nakon Phanom RTAFB. Beginning in February 1967, the 553d Reconnaissance Wing trained to support a special electronic reconnaissance program utilizing 30 Lockheed EC-121R Batcat aircraft, with a C-121G used for pilot and flight engineer training. The group's origins date to 1944 … and equipment into denied areas during adverse weather conditions at night by airdrop or landing. By February 1946 the squadrons were reduced to paper strength and the group inactivated the next month. From July to early September 1970 the wing provided combat evaluation of the QU-22B aircraft and on 1 October 1970 the QU-22Bs were placed in full operation, reducing the need for EC-121s. The group is comprised of more than 800 Airmen and is the only Air Force Special Operations unit in the Pacific. The group set up air-ground support stations that directed aircraft to targets and tactical radio ground stations situated with U.S. and guerrilla ground forces. The ceremony recognized two newly-activated special operations squadrons at Yokota. The 353rd Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.[5]. The liaison squadrons received their L-5s in late January 1945, and thereafter evacuated wounded from advanced points, flew courier, search and rescue, and reconnaissance missions, spotted for signal aircraft warning battalions, and dropped supplies to allied and guerrilla forces. The two units were consolidated in 1985 under the wing designation. The 353rd Special Operations Wing activated in Apr 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations. Under the operational control of the Commander, Special Operations Command Pacific, the 353rd SOG plans and executes general war and contingency operations Redesignated as the 353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992,[10] but continued operations as before. The 353rd Special Operations Wing was activated on 6 April 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations. In April 1945, the group, less the liaison squadrons, moved from Mandaldan, on the Lingayen Gulf, to Laoag, in northwest Luzon, in recently captured territory 150 miles behind enemy lines. 31 talking about this. The 353rd Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 353rd Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. The ground echelon of the 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando) sailed a week later and arrived on Leyte in early January 1945. At Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base, the air commandos of the 353rd Special Operations Group fly the MC-130 all over the region. Maintained capabilities by participating in joint/combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities. Defense.gov News Photo 110316-F-UI176-556 - Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group off-load and upload new gear at Sendai Airport Japan on March 16 2011. 353d Maintenance Squadron 6. The 353 SOG is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command.. During maintenance, the aircraft are taken apart so maintainers can perform preventive maintenance and identifying problems before they arise. 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