17th Special Operations Squadron

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17th Special Operations Squadron
17th Special Operations Squadron Emblem
17th Special Operations Squadron Patch
Active2 March 1942 – 27 April 1946
20 October 1952 – 25 September 1953
1 June 1969 – 30 September 1971
1 April 1989 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeSpecial Operations
Part ofAir Force Special Operations Command
353d Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQKadena Air Base
Motto(s)No Mission Too Demanding
Mascot(s)Jackal
Decorations DUC
PUC
AFOUA w/V Device
PPUC
RVGC w/ Palm

The 17th Special Operations Squadron (17 SOS) is part of the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates MC-130J Commando II aircraft providing special operations capability. Air crews are specially trained in day and night, low-level delivery of troops and equipment via airdrop or airland operations and flying using night vision goggles.

Mission

Equipped with the MC-130P Combat Shadow, the squadron is tasked with providing aerial refueling to special operations helicopters. Air crews are specially trained in day and night, low-level delivery of troops and equipment via airdrop or airland operations and flying using night vision goggles.[1]

History

World War II

The 17th Observation Squadron (Light) was constituted on 5 February 1942 and activated on 2 March 1942 at Providence, Rhode Island with Air Force Combat Command. On the same day the squadron moved to Salinas Army Air Base, California, joining the 71st Observation Group there. It was equipped with Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Douglas O-46, North American O-47, and Curtiss O-52 Owl light observation aircraft. From around May to around September it flew antisubmarine patrols off west coast of the United States. On 4 July, the squadron was redesignated the 17th Observation Squadron. Between 1942 and 1943 the 17th was reequipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc, Bell P-39 Airacobra and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. On 24 January it was moved to Esler Field, Louisiana. The 17th was relocated to Laurel Army Airfield, Mississippi, on 31 March, where it was redesignated as the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) and began training on the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber, in preparation for combat in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.[2][3]

After completing its training, the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron was sent to Milne Bay in New Guinea, where it arrived on 6 November. It moved forward to Dobodura Airfield on 22 November, flying its first combat mission on 28 January 1944.[2] The 17th flew armed reconnaissance missions, conducting long range and photo reconnaissance while attacking targets of opportunity. It inflicted damage on Japanese shipping in the Bismarck Sea and the Solomon Sea, destroying several ships.[3] On 23 February, three B-25s from the squadron flew unopposed at low altitude for 90 minutes over Manus Island and Los Negros Island, checking for the presence of Japanese troops and finding no signs of activity, concluding erroneously that the islands had been evacuated.[4] On 27 February, when the Battle of Los Negros began with an Allied landing on that island, three B-25s from the squadron sortied to provide a smoke screen for the invasion beaches if required, but were not used due to cloud cover.[5]

The squadron moved up to Finschhafen in March, remaining there until 30 June.[2] Aerial reconnaissance photographs taken by the squadron provided the information for a 28 March strike by fighters on the main Japanese seaplane base in the Solomon Islands in the Shortland–Poporang area, which claimed eight float planes and a destroyer.[6] The squadron conducted daily search missions along the coast from Finschhafen to Geelvink Bay, blockading the port of Hollandia and inflicting heavy losses on its shipping along with other Allied air and naval assets. In April, the 17th sank three "sea trucks" (small wooden cargo ships).[7] On 7 April, it cooperated with a PT boat raid against Karkar Island.[8] Following two days of bad weather, twelve B-25s from the 17th Squadron successfully dropped food and supplies to the 21st Infantry, who had made the main landing at Hollandia, at Dazai on 26 April.[9] On 28 April, twelve B-25s of the 17th attacked coastal targets between Sarmi and Sawar.[10]The squadron's aerial photography during that week revealed that the Sarmi area was too heavily manned by Japanese to build an airfield there.[11]

Its air echelon was moved up to Wakde on 25 May to provide air cover for the invasion of Biak, leaving the ground crews behind at Finschhafen.[12] On 27 May, when the invasion of Biak began, four B-25s from the squadron provided the first air cover for the invasion troops shortly after first light.[13] The 17th's aircraft provided direct air support to the troops on Biak when called upon, but were endangered by trigger-happy friendly anti-aircraft gunners. On 28 May, a B-25 from the squadron that was cleared to drop pictures on the beachhead was shot down by friendly fire.[14] The Japanese began attempted to send a reinforcement convoy of troop-laden destroyers to Biak on 8 June after an air raid on Wakde on the night of 5–6 June damaged many Allied aircraft, leaving the 17th Squadron the only aviation unit available to intercept the first convoy. Ten B-25s from the squadron led by squadron commander Major William G. Tennille, Jr. spotted the convoy, which they reported to consist of two cruisers and four destroyers, at 1250 hours near Amsterdam Island. Two larger destroyers were misidentified as cruisers. The squadron made a low-level attack, sinking the destroyer Harusame and damaging three other ships. Three aircraft, including Tennille's plane, were shot down, and the remainder were so badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire that the entire 17th Reconnaisssance air echelon was sent back to Finschhafen two days later to reform.[15][2] Tennille and Lieutenant Howard Wood posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions.[3]

On 27 June the replenished air echelon began moving to recently captured Mokmer Airfield on Biak, completing the move by 2 July.[16] It was joined by the ground echelon after 30 June.[2] On 2 July, the squadron sent three missions of B-25s to provide air support to the invasion troops in the Battle of Noemfoor, bombing and strafing Japanese positions.[17] On 20 August, the squadron's B-25s conducted low level photography over the Talaud Islands, covered by a bombing raid from the 345th Bomb Group.[18] The 17th was originally planned to relocated to Morotai after the capture of its airfields in October, but the move was cancelled so that it could prepare for relocation to Tacloban on Leyte after the Allied landings on that island.[19]

On 2 November its ground echelon landed at Tacloban,[20] although the air echelon remained primarily at Biak until 23 December, when it was flown into Elmore Field at San Jose on Mindoro.[2][21] On 30 December, the 17th and 110th Reconnaissance Squadron cooperated with the 675th Bombardment Squadron to attack a Japanese convoy off northwest Luzon, sinking a frigate and three cargo vessels. At Elmore the squadron's operations were limited by a crew shortage, which prompted Fifth Air Force commander Major General Ennis Whitehead to request crews from Far East Air Forces on 1 January 1945.[22] In the first week of January, the FEAF Combat Replacement and Training Center sent the needed B-25 crews to the squadron.[23] The ground echelon arrived at Elmore on 7 January.[2]

The squadron flew its last combat mission on 25 July 1945.[24]

Postwar

Around 21 October, the squadron was attached to the 91st Reconnaissance Wing, and it moved to Yokota Air Base on 26 October. It was attached to V Bomber Command on 10 November. The 17th was permanently assigned to V Bomber Command on 1 February 1946, and was was inactivated at Yokota on 27 April.[2]

The squadron was activated but unmanned from, 1952–1953.[24]

Vietnam War

It flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, 1 June 1969 – 30 September 1971.[24]

Special Operations Squadron

Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The 17th aided in Baguio earthquake relief missions in the Republic of the Philippines from 16–31 July 1990. In 2005, the unit supported Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, the relief effort from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2011, the unit supported Operation TOMODACHI, the relief effort from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. In 2013, the unit supported Operation DAMAYAN, the relief effort from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Republic of the Philippines.[24]

Operations

Lineage

17th Reconnaissance Squadron

  • Constituted as 17th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942
Activated on 2 March 1942
Redesignated 17th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943
Inactivated on 27 April 1946
  • Consolidated with 17th Liaison Squadron and 17th Special Operations Squadron as 17th Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985

17th Liaison Squadron

  • Constituted as 17th Liaison Squadron on 19 September 1952
Activated on 20 October 1952
Inactivated on 25 September 1953
  • Consolidated with 17th Reconnaissance Squadron and 17th Special Operations Squadron as 17th Special Operations Squadron on 19 September 1985

17th Special Operations Squadron

  • Constituted as 17th Special Operations Squadron on 11 April 1969
Activated on 1 June 1969
Inactivated on 30 September 1971
  • Consolidated with 17th Reconnaissance Squadron and 17th Liaison Squadron on 19 September 1985 (remained inactive)
Activated on 1 August 1989[24]

Assignments

Bases stationed

Aircraft

References

Notes

  1. ^ "353rd Special Operations Group". 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer 1982, pp. 96–97.
  3. ^ a b c "17th Special Operations Squadron History". 353rd Special Operations Group. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 559.
  5. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, pp. 562, 564.
  6. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, pp. 211–212.
  7. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 599.
  8. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 601.
  9. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 607.
  10. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 624.
  11. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 620.
  12. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 629.
  13. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 635.
  14. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 637.
  15. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 638.
  16. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 642.
  17. ^ Craven & Cate 1950, p. 658.
  18. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 300.
  19. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 313.
  20. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 387.
  21. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 398.
  22. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 401.
  23. ^ Craven & Cate 1981, p. 407.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Haulman, Daniel L. (2 November 2016). "17 Special Operations Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

Bibliography

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