1st Special Operations Squadron

1st Special Operations Squadron
1st Special Operations Squadron Patch
Active	1 August 1939 – 1 May 1942 24 October 1949 – 22 July 1952 8 April 1953 – 18 January 1954 17 June 1963 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Special Operations
Size	3 MC 130H Combat Talon 2 aircraft
Part of	Air Force Special Operations Command 353d Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Kadena Air Base
Decorations	PUC AFOUA w/V Device RVGC w/ Palm

The 1st Special Operations Squadron (1 SOS) is part of the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates MC-130 Combat Talon II aircraft providing special operations capability. Air crews are trained in night low-level flying, using night vision goggles.

To deliver troops and equipment into denied areas during adverse weather conditions at night by airdrop or landing.

The 1st conducted gunnery testing and training from 1939–1942. It flew administrative airlift from 1949–1952 and 1953–1954.

The 1st flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 8 July 1963 – 7 November 1972 and 15 December 1972 – 28 January 1973. It also trained Vietnamese Air Force pilots in counter-insurgency operations from, July 1963 – November 1972. It acquired the Combat Talon mission from the redesignated 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 15 December 1972. Three MC-130 Combat Talons from the 1st SOS led the Night One mission of Operation Eagle Claw, the hostage rescue mission in Iran, in April 1980.

The 1st operates the MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft in support of joint and allied special operations forces.

The 1st Special Operations Squadron was originally constituted as the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Composite (1st ACS), and activated on 17 June 1963 under Pacific Air Forces. It organized on 8 July 1963 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, and was assigned to the 34th Tactical Group. It was reassigned the following year, on 8 July, to the 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing (although attached to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, from 21 November 1965 – 8 March 1966). Relocating to Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, it was reassigned to the 2nd Air Division on 18 February 1966, and reassigned again to the 14th Air Commando Wing on 8 March 1966. Redesignated the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Fighter, on 15 August 1967, it was reassigned on 20 December 1967 to the 56th Air Commando Wing (redesignated the 56th Special Operation Wing in August 1968), and moved to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB (Royal Thai Navy Base), Thailand. On 1 August 1968 the 1st ACS was redesignated as the 1st Special Operations Squadron (1st SOS).