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524th Special Operations Squadron

The 524th Special Operations Squadron is an active squadron of the United States Air Force, based at Duke Field, Florida, with the 492d Special Operations Wing.

524th Special Operations Squadron
A C-146A Wolfhound operated by the 524th
Active1941–1945; 1946–2007; 2009–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSpecial Operations
Part ofAir Force Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQCannon AFB
Nickname(s)Hounds of Heaven
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
Korean War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
524th Special Operations Squadron emblem[note 1]
524th Fighter Squadron emblem[note 2][1]

History edit

World War II edit

Southwest Pacific edit

The squadron was first activated by General Headquarters Air Force in early 1941 as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, attached to the 27th Bombardment Group at Hunter Field, Georgia and equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bombers. In August the squadron was redesignated the 91st Bombardment Squadron and was assigned directly to the 27th Group.[1] On 21 October the squadron was ordered to the Philippines in response to the growing crisis in the Pacific and it sailed on 1 November.[2]

 
Douglas A-24 Banshee Dive Bomber formerly with the 27th Bombardment Group at Charters Towers Airfield, Australia

The squadron arrived at Fort William McKinley in the Philippines and prepared for delivery of its A-24 Banshee dive bombers, however when the Imperial Japanese Army attacked the Philippines in December the situation had not changed. Unknown to the men of the squadron, to avoid capture or destruction of their aircraft, the ship carrying the planes was diverted to Australia. Members of the squadron flew to Australia to pick up their A-24s from the USAT Meigs. However, because swift Japanese advance prevented the airmen in Australia from returning to the Philippines, these members of the air echelon of the 27th group were ordered to operate from Brisbane.[2]

The ground echelon of the 27th was evacuated south from Luzon on 25 December to the Bataan Peninsula, arriving to form the 2nd Battalion (27th Bombardment Group), Provisional Infantry Regiment (Air Corps). For the 99 days following the attack on Pearl Harbor until their surrender to the Japanese after the Battle of Bataan, the men of the squadron and other ground elements of the 27th Bombardment Group and other Air Corps units in the Philippines became the only Air Force units in history to fight as an infantry regiment and to be captured as a unit. After surrendering, they were forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March. Of the 880 or so Airmen who were taken prisoner, fewer than half survived captivity. However, a number of officers and enlisted men of the 27th Bomb Group were evacuated out of the Philippines in five United States Navy submarines just before it was overrun by the Japanese during April.[note 3] On the night of 3 May 1942 these subs managed to sneak into Manila Bay and evacuate American personnel from Corregidor to Java and Fremantle, Western Australia. The squadron continued to participate in combat in the Southwest Pacific 4 May 1942.

On 12 February pilots of the 91st flew their A-24s to Malang Java in the Netherlands East Indies to defend the island. From 27 February through 1 March, three A-24s of the 91st participated in Battle of the Java Sea. For its efforts in the Philippines and the Southwest Pacific during late 1941 and early 1942, the squadron received three Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC).[2]

On 25 March the surviving 27th Bombardment Group personnel were assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group at Charters Towers Airfield in Queensland, Australia. The remaining A-24 aircraft were added to the 8th Bombardment Squadron. On 4 May the unmanned and unequipped 91st Bombardment Squadron was transferred back to the United States.[2]

Mediterranean Theater edit

The squadron was re-manned and re-equipped at Hunter Field with the Douglas A-20 Havoc light bomber. After additional training in Mississippi and Louisiana, the group moved to Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat Airfield, Algeria, arriving on 26 December[1] to enter combat in North Africa with Twelfth Air Force.

 
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Maintenance and support personnel went by sea to North Africa while aircrews and the A-20s flew to South America then across to North Africa, In North Africa, the A-20s were sent to other groups and the 91st was redesignated as the 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and equipped with the North American A-36 Apache dive bomber. The squadron flew its first combat missions of the war from Korba Airfield, Tunisia on 6 June 1943. The 524th was redesignated the 524th Fighter Squadron in May 1944 and converted first to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, then to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.[1]

During Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, operations included participation in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands and supporting ground forces. In the Italian Campaign the squadron covered the landings at Salerno and received a DUC for preventing three German armored divisions from reaching the Salerno beachhead on 10 September 1943. In addition, the group supported the Fifth Army during the Allied drive toward Rome.[2]

The squadron took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, and assisted Seventh Army's advance up the Rhone Valley, receiving a fifth DUC for helping to disrupt the German retreat on 4 September 1944.[2] The 524th took part in the air interdiction of the enemy's communications in northern Italy, and assisted in the Allied drive from France into Germany during the last months of the war. The unit was at Biblis, Germany on V-E Day.[2] The squadron remained in Germany with the Army of Occupation until October 1945 before returning to the US, where it was inactivated upon arriving at the port of embarkation in November.[1]

Army of Occupation Duty edit

Within a year, the 524th was again activated under the United States Air Forces Europe as part of the occupation forces in Germany at Fritzlar Air Base when the 27th Fighter Group took over the mission, personnel, and P-47 Thunderbolts of the inactivating 366th Fighter Group.[2][3] Less than a year later, in June 1947, the squadron was transferred without personnel or equipment to Bad Kissingen Airfield, then to Andrews Field, Maryland where it was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC).

Strategic Air Command edit

 
27th Fighter Wing North American F-82E Twin Mustangs and a Boeing B-29 Superfortress at Kearney AFB.

SAC moved the squadron to Kearney Army Air Field Nebraska the following month as Kearney was taken out of caretaker status. At Kearney the 524th was initially equipped with the North American P-51D Mustang. The mission of the squadron was to fly long-range escort missions for SAC Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. In 1948 the 524th upgraded to North American F-82 Twin Mustangs.[1] With the arrival of the F-82s, the older F-51s were sent to Air National Guard units. The first production F-82Es reached the 27th in early 1948, and almost immediately the unit deployed to McChord AFB, Washington in June where its squadrons stood on alert on a secondary air defense mission due to heightened tensions resulting from the Berlin Airlift. The 27th could launch an escort mission if conflict broke out in Europe. From McChord, the group flew its Twin Mustangs on weather reconnaissance missions over the northwest Pacific, but problems were encountered with their fuel tanks. Unused Northrop F-61 Black Widow external tanks were found at Hamilton AFB, California that could be modified for the F-82 which were fitted on the pylons of the Twin Mustang that solved the problem. With a reduction in tension, the unit returned to its home base in Nebraska during September.

In January 1949, Eighth Air Force planned a large airshow at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. All of its assigned units were to participate in a coordinated flyover. Kearney AFB was socked-in with a blizzard on the day of the show. Nevertheless, paths were cut through the snow for the aircraft to taxi and somehow the F-82s got airborne, joining up with SAC bombers over Oklahoma on schedule. The flyover by the Twin Mustangs was a tremendous success, with SAC leadership being amazed that the F-82 was truly an all-weather aircraft and the unit able to carry out their mission despite the weather.

In early 1949, the squadron began carrying out long-range escort profile missions. Flights to Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Washington DC were carried out. For President Truman's 1949 inauguration, the squadron's parent 27th Fighter Wing launched 48 aircraft to fly in the review in formation down Pennsylvania Avenue. Another flyover over the newly dedicated Idlewild Airport in New York City soon followed, with the aircraft flying non-stop from Kearney AFB. Two months later SAC decided to close Kearney AFB and the 524th transferred to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas on 16 March.[1]

 
27th Fighter-Escort Group F-84Gs at Bergstrom AFB in 1952

At Bergstrom, the 524th transitioned to jet aircraft with Republic F-84E Thunderjet in 1950. It was redesignated the 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 1 February, to reflect the squadron mission.[1] By the end of summer, the transition to the Thunderjets was complete and the Twin Mustangs were mostly sent to reclamation, with a few being sent to Far East Air Forces (FEAF) or Alaska as replacement aircraft or for air defense duties.

The squadron participated in the deployment of 180 F-84s from Bergstrom AFB to Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base Germany in September 1950, via Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, and England, delivering the Thunderjets to the 36th Fighter-Bomber Group. This operation won the unit's parent 27th Fighter-Escort Wing the Mackay Trophy for 1950.[4] This was the second long-range mass flight of jet fighter aircraft in aviation history. This feat was repeated in October when aircraft were ferried to Neubiberg Air Base, Germany.

Korean War edit

 
Republic F-84E Thunderjet at Taegu AB (K-2), South Korea, 1951

In November 1950, the 524th received orders to deploy to Japan to support FEAF in the Korean War. The squadron departed Bergstrom on 11 November refueling at Williams AFB, Arizona en route to San Diego, California. The squadron sailed on three aircraft carriers.[note 4] By 30 November the ground echelon arrived at Kimpo Air Base (K-14), South Korea, preparing for the arrival of the air echelon which unloaded in Japan. Once unloaded from the transport carriers, the aircraft were barged to Kisarazu Air Base where they were preflighted for a short flight to Yokota Air Base. However, due to the open air deck shipment the aircraft had salt air induced corrosion, landing gear damage and some aircraft also had flat tires.

On 1 December FEAF split the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing into forward and rear echelons. Advanced headquarters and operational squadrons were at Taegu Air Base (K-2), South Korea; while support units and the rear echelon were located at Itazuke Air Base, Japan. The advanced echelon would rely on the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing for logistical support, while the rear echelon would rely on the 6160th Air Base Wing.

For the next six months, the unit flew missions in support of ground forces, earning another DUC for missions between 26 January and 21 April 1951.[1] These missions included close support of the largest paratroop landing in the Korean War and escort for B-29 Superfortress bombers on raids over North Korea, including air-to-air combat with enemy MiG-15 fighters.

In June the unit began to give combat orientation to their replacements, the newly arrived 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing. They also assisted the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing to transition from Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars to F-84Es. The 524th was relieved from attachment to FEAF and returned to Bergstrom in August. Once at Bergstrom, the squadron's parent 27th Fighter-Escort Group became non-operational and the squadron was attached directly to the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing as SAC implemented the Dual Deputate organization.[1][note 5]

Cold War edit

 
524th TFS F-100F Super Sabre 56-3878 fighter trainer in natural metal finish

On 20 January 1953 the squadron was redesignated as the 524th Strategic Fighter Squadron[1] to reflect the changed emphasis on strike missions and the decreasing need for escort missions. With the arrival of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress into the SAC inventory, the fighter escorts were no longer necessary for the new fast jet bombers, which flew missions individually, not in large formations. On 1 July 1957, the 27th wing was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) and the squadron became 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron.[1]

TAC assigned the squadron to Twelfth Air Force and the unit re-equipped with the new McDonnell F-101A Voodoo, which had been planned under SAC. Its mission was to deliver a centerline nuclear bomb to a target. The F-101A was capable of little else and although designated as a fighter aircraft, it had poor aerial combat capabilities and would not have fared well in any air-to-air combat against enemy aircraft although its speed was demonstrated when it broke the world speed record on 12 December 1957.[5]

The squadron became the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1958[1] when USAF ended the distinction between "Fighter-Bomber" and "Fighter-Day" units. In 1959 the Voodoo's days at Bergstrom ended after the installation returned to SAC to operate as a B-52 and KC-135 base.[6] Rather than inactivate a unit with such a distinguished history, the 524th and other elements of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing moved on paper to Cannon AFB, New Mexico,[5] where they took over the mission, personnel and North American F-100 Super Sabres of the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was inactivated.[7]

As United States involvement in the Vietnam War expanded, the squadron deployed twice to Takhli RTAFB, Thailand in 1963 and 1964. However, by 1965 deployed squadrons in Southeast Asia were replaced by squadrons permanently stationed there and the squadron made its final Pacific deployment to Misawa AB, Japan in 1965.[1] As USAF F-100 resources were transferred to these squadrons, the 524th's mission, like that of most TAC fighter units in the US, focused on combat crew training.[5] The squadron conducted F-100 replacement training from 1 January 1966 to 6 March 1969.[1]

 
F-16 of the 524th Fighter Squadron

With the withdrawal of the F-100 from Vietnam in 1970, and the phaseout of the aircraft from the active Air Force inventory, the 27th TFW began conversion to the General Dynamics F-111. Loaned F-111As from Nellis AFB, Nevada facilitated training while the squadron waited for its own planes. By July 1972, the last operational active duty Air Force F-100s were transferred to the Air National Guard. Beginning in January 1980 the 524th served as the 27th wing's primary F-111 training squadron. The squadron conducted overseas deployments to maintain combat readiness of its personnel and aircraft from 1984 to 1989.[1] From September 1992 to July 1993 squadron aircrews and support personnel rotated to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Provide Comfort.

F-16 Operations edit

In 1995 the squadron began to transition to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. With the arrival of the F-16s, the squadron's F-111s were sent to storage. The F-111 in various forms had been at Cannon AFB for 29 years.

On 15 January 1998, the 524th ventured to the Middle East for their first overseas deployment since transitioning to the F-16. The unit was the major force provider for the 524th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, where it was assigned to the 4404th Operations Group, Provisional. Later that year, it deployed to Hill AFB, Utah for Exercise Combat Hammer. During the exercise, they dropped inert GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs and fired live AGM-65 Maverick antitank missiles on Utah test range. The hit rate was one of the highest ever seen in the Air Force, showcasing the lethality of the Block 40 F-16.

During Operation Allied Force in 1999, the squadron was "on-call" duty to augment forces. The quick termination of hostilities precluded the unit from seeing action.

On 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., aircraft from the squadron went on air defense alert. In December 2002, the 524th deployed to Kuwait and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, dropping nearly a million pounds of precision guided munitions, more than any other F-16 Block 40 squadron in history.

Special Operations edit

On 1 April 2009, Air Force Special Operations Command prepared for the expansion of the 27th Special Operations Group by activating the 7524th Special Operations Squadron, Provisional at Cannon Air Force Base. As the squadron approached full strength, the 524th was activated again as the 524th Special Operations Squadron and assumed the provisional unit's mission, personnel, and equipment.

On 19 November 2009 a Bombardier Dash 8 crashed, destroying the aircraft and injuring all nine passengers and crew, three seriously. An investigation blamed the crash on crew error, citing the crew's failure to load an adequate amount of fuel on the aircraft for the flight and refusing to turn back or seek an alternate landing site as it became apparent that the aircraft did not have sufficient fuel to reach its destination. The Air Force declined to provide details as to whether the crew was punished for the crash.[8] Around 31 May 2017, the 524th SOS was relocated to Duke Field to become part of the 492d Special Operations Wing, in order to better coordinate with its reserve Total Force partner unit, the 919th Special Operations Wing's 859th Special Operations Squadron.[9]

Lineage edit

  • Constituted as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 August 1941
Redesignated 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943
Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 30 May 1944
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
  • Activated on 20 August 1946
Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 22 July 1947
Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 1 December 1949
Redesignated 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 1 February 1950
Redesignated 524th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953
Redesignated 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 July 1957
Redesignated 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 524th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 8 July 1980
Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991.
Inactivated on 20 September 2007
Redesignated 524th Special Operations Squadron on 23 September 2009
Activated on 1 October 2009[1]

Assignments edit

  • 27th Bombardment (later, 27th Fighter-Bomber; 27th Fighter) Group
Attached on 15 January 1941
Assigned 14 August 1941 – 7 November 1945
  • Ground echelon attached to: 5th Interceptor Command as infantry unit: 2 January – 9 April 1942
  • 27th Fighter (later, 27th Fighter-Escort) Group, 20 August 1946 (attached to 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 30 June 1951 – 12 August 1951, 27th Fighter-Escort Wing, 25 August 1951 – 15 June 1952)
  • 27th Fighter-Escort (later, 27th Strategic Fighter; 27th Fighter-Bomber; 27th Tactical Fighter; 27th Fighter) Wing, 16 June 1952 (attached to 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 17 June 1959 – 8 July 1959)
  • Turkish United States Logistics Command, 10 February 1961 – 16 June 1961
  • 4158th Strategic Wing, 30 October 1961 – 14 November 1961
  • 2d Air Division, 9–c. 27 June 1963 and 21 January–19 March 1964
  • 39th Air Division, 1 December 1964 – 28 March 1965
  • 27th Operations Group, 1 November 1991 – 20 September 2007.
  • 27th Special Operations Group, 1 October 2009[1]
  • 492d Special Operations Group, May 2017[9]

Stations edit

Aircraft edit

Awards and campaigns edit

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
  Distinguished Unit Citation 7 December 1941– ca. Apr 1942 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  Distinguished Unit Citation 8 December 1941–22 December 1941 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  Distinguished Unit Citation 6 January 1942–8 March 1942 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  Distinguished Unit Citation 10 September 1943 Italy 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron[1]
  Distinguished Unit Citation 4 September 1944 France 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Distinguished Unit Citation 26 January 1951–21 April 1951 Korea 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 15 August 1968 – 15 August 1969 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1981 – 30 June 1982 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1988 – 31 December 1989 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron[1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 April 1992–30 September 1992 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation 7 December 1941 – ca. April 1942 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  Korean Presidential Unit Citation 9 November 1950 – 31 May 1951 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
  Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  East Indies 91st Bombardment Squadron[1]
  Sicily 91st Bombardment Squadron[1][note 6]
  Naples-Foggia 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron[1]
  Anzio 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron[1][note 7]
  Rome-Arno 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron[1][note 7]
  Northern France 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Southern France 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  North Apennines 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Rhineland 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Central Europe 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Air Combat, EAME Theater 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  World War II Army of Occupation 524th Fighter Squadron
  Chinese Communist Forces Intervention 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
  First United Nations Counteroffensive 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
  Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
  United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive 524th Fighter-Escort Squadron[1]
  Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  National Resolution 16 December 2005 – 9 January 2007 524th Fighter Squadron[1]
  Iraqi Surge 10 January 2007 – 20 September 2007 524th Fighter Squadron[1]

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Approved 21 January 1955, newest rendition approved on 19 July 2010.
  2. ^ Approved 21 January 1955.
  3. ^ The submarines were: USS Seawolf (SS-197), USS Seadragon (SS-194), USS Sargo (SS-188), USS Swordfish (SS-193) and the USS Spearfish (SS-190).
  4. ^ The carriers were: USS Bairoko (CVE-115), USS Bataan (CVL-29) and USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88).
  5. ^ Under this plan flying squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Operations and maintenance squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance
  6. ^ Redesignated 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron during campaign
  7. ^ a b Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron during campaign

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax Dollman, TSG Davis (17 October 2017). "Factsheet 524 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 78–79
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 250–252
  4. ^ "Mackay 1950–1959 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved 23 September 2013. The Mackay Trophy is awarded for the most meritorious flight of the year by an Air Force person, persons, or organization.
  5. ^ a b c Ravenstein, pp. 50–52
  6. ^ Mueller, pp. 29–34
  7. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 159–160
  8. ^ Rolfsen, Bruce (11 May 2010). "Spec ops pilots refuse fill-up, crash-land plane". Military Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Washburn, Michael (31 May 2017). "524th SOS relocates from Cannon to Duke Field". 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Field number in Johnson
  11. ^ Field number in Endicott

Bibliography edit

  • Endicott, Judy G., ed. (2001). The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950–1953 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. ISBN 0-16-050901-7.
  • Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

Further reading edit

  • Bartsch, William H. (2003). 8 December 1941: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor. Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series No. 87. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-60344-741-6. LCCN 2002152713.
  • Edmonds, Walter D. (1993) [1951]. They Fought With What They Had: The Story of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific, 1941–1942 (reprint ed.). New York, NY: Time-Life Books. ISBN 978-0-80949-758-4. LCCN 92038619.
  • Martin, Adrian R.; Stephenson, Larry W. (2008). Operation Plum: The Ill-Fated 27th Bombardment Group and the Fight for the Western Pacific. Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series No. 117. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-60344-019-6. LCCN 2007-048110.
  • May, Mary Cathrin (2006). The Steadfast Line: The Story of the 27th Bombardment Group (Light) in World War II. Tallahassee, FL: Self Published.

524th, special, operations, squadron, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, 2021, active, squadron, united, states, force, based, duke,. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article May 2021 The 524th Special Operations Squadron is an active squadron of the United States Air Force based at Duke Field Florida with the 492d Special Operations Wing 524th Special Operations SquadronA C 146A Wolfhound operated by the 524thActive1941 1945 1946 2007 2009 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleSpecial OperationsPart ofAir Force Special Operations CommandGarrison HQCannon AFBNickname s Hounds of HeavenEngagementsSouthwest Pacific TheaterMediterranean Theater of OperationsEuropean Theater of OperationsKorean WarOperation Iraqi FreedomDecorationsDistinguished Unit CitationAir Force Meritorious Unit AwardAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit CitationKorean Presidential Unit CitationInsignia524th Special Operations Squadron emblem note 1 524th Fighter Squadron emblem note 2 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 1 1 Southwest Pacific 1 1 2 Mediterranean Theater 1 2 Army of Occupation Duty 1 3 Strategic Air Command 1 3 1 Korean War 1 4 Cold War 1 5 F 16 Operations 1 6 Special Operations 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 2 4 Awards and campaigns 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 3 3 Bibliography 4 Further readingHistory editWorld War II edit Southwest Pacific edit The squadron was first activated by General Headquarters Air Force in early 1941 as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron attached to the 27th Bombardment Group at Hunter Field Georgia and equipped with Douglas B 18 Bolo medium bombers In August the squadron was redesignated the 91st Bombardment Squadron and was assigned directly to the 27th Group 1 On 21 October the squadron was ordered to the Philippines in response to the growing crisis in the Pacific and it sailed on 1 November 2 nbsp Douglas A 24 Banshee Dive Bomber formerly with the 27th Bombardment Group at Charters Towers Airfield AustraliaThe squadron arrived at Fort William McKinley in the Philippines and prepared for delivery of its A 24 Banshee dive bombers however when the Imperial Japanese Army attacked the Philippines in December the situation had not changed Unknown to the men of the squadron to avoid capture or destruction of their aircraft the ship carrying the planes was diverted to Australia Members of the squadron flew to Australia to pick up their A 24s from the USAT Meigs However because swift Japanese advance prevented the airmen in Australia from returning to the Philippines these members of the air echelon of the 27th group were ordered to operate from Brisbane 2 The ground echelon of the 27th was evacuated south from Luzon on 25 December to the Bataan Peninsula arriving to form the 2nd Battalion 27th Bombardment Group Provisional Infantry Regiment Air Corps For the 99 days following the attack on Pearl Harbor until their surrender to the Japanese after the Battle of Bataan the men of the squadron and other ground elements of the 27th Bombardment Group and other Air Corps units in the Philippines became the only Air Force units in history to fight as an infantry regiment and to be captured as a unit After surrendering they were forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March Of the 880 or so Airmen who were taken prisoner fewer than half survived captivity However a number of officers and enlisted men of the 27th Bomb Group were evacuated out of the Philippines in five United States Navy submarines just before it was overrun by the Japanese during April note 3 On the night of 3 May 1942 these subs managed to sneak into Manila Bay and evacuate American personnel from Corregidor to Java and Fremantle Western Australia The squadron continued to participate in combat in the Southwest Pacific 4 May 1942 On 12 February pilots of the 91st flew their A 24s to Malang Java in the Netherlands East Indies to defend the island From 27 February through 1 March three A 24s of the 91st participated in Battle of the Java Sea For its efforts in the Philippines and the Southwest Pacific during late 1941 and early 1942 the squadron received three Distinguished Unit Citations DUC 2 On 25 March the surviving 27th Bombardment Group personnel were assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group at Charters Towers Airfield in Queensland Australia The remaining A 24 aircraft were added to the 8th Bombardment Squadron On 4 May the unmanned and unequipped 91st Bombardment Squadron was transferred back to the United States 2 Mediterranean Theater edit The squadron was re manned and re equipped at Hunter Field with the Douglas A 20 Havoc light bomber After additional training in Mississippi and Louisiana the group moved to Ste Barbe du Tlelat Airfield Algeria arriving on 26 December 1 to enter combat in North Africa with Twelfth Air Force nbsp Republic P 47 ThunderboltMaintenance and support personnel went by sea to North Africa while aircrews and the A 20s flew to South America then across to North Africa In North Africa the A 20s were sent to other groups and the 91st was redesignated as the 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron and equipped with the North American A 36 Apache dive bomber The squadron flew its first combat missions of the war from Korba Airfield Tunisia on 6 June 1943 The 524th was redesignated the 524th Fighter Squadron in May 1944 and converted first to the Curtiss P 40 Warhawk then to the Republic P 47 Thunderbolt aircraft 1 During Operation Husky the Allied invasion of Sicily operations included participation in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands and supporting ground forces In the Italian Campaign the squadron covered the landings at Salerno and received a DUC for preventing three German armored divisions from reaching the Salerno beachhead on 10 September 1943 In addition the group supported the Fifth Army during the Allied drive toward Rome 2 The squadron took part in Operation Dragoon the invasion of southern France and assisted Seventh Army s advance up the Rhone Valley receiving a fifth DUC for helping to disrupt the German retreat on 4 September 1944 2 The 524th took part in the air interdiction of the enemy s communications in northern Italy and assisted in the Allied drive from France into Germany during the last months of the war The unit was at Biblis Germany on V E Day 2 The squadron remained in Germany with the Army of Occupation until October 1945 before returning to the US where it was inactivated upon arriving at the port of embarkation in November 1 Army of Occupation Duty edit Within a year the 524th was again activated under the United States Air Forces Europe as part of the occupation forces in Germany at Fritzlar Air Base when the 27th Fighter Group took over the mission personnel and P 47 Thunderbolts of the inactivating 366th Fighter Group 2 3 Less than a year later in June 1947 the squadron was transferred without personnel or equipment to Bad Kissingen Airfield then to Andrews Field Maryland where it was assigned to Strategic Air Command SAC Strategic Air Command edit nbsp 27th Fighter Wing North American F 82E Twin Mustangs and a Boeing B 29 Superfortress at Kearney AFB SAC moved the squadron to Kearney Army Air Field Nebraska the following month as Kearney was taken out of caretaker status At Kearney the 524th was initially equipped with the North American P 51D Mustang The mission of the squadron was to fly long range escort missions for SAC Boeing B 29 Superfortress bombers In 1948 the 524th upgraded to North American F 82 Twin Mustangs 1 With the arrival of the F 82s the older F 51s were sent to Air National Guard units The first production F 82Es reached the 27th in early 1948 and almost immediately the unit deployed to McChord AFB Washington in June where its squadrons stood on alert on a secondary air defense mission due to heightened tensions resulting from the Berlin Airlift The 27th could launch an escort mission if conflict broke out in Europe From McChord the group flew its Twin Mustangs on weather reconnaissance missions over the northwest Pacific but problems were encountered with their fuel tanks Unused Northrop F 61 Black Widow external tanks were found at Hamilton AFB California that could be modified for the F 82 which were fitted on the pylons of the Twin Mustang that solved the problem With a reduction in tension the unit returned to its home base in Nebraska during September In January 1949 Eighth Air Force planned a large airshow at Carswell Air Force Base Texas All of its assigned units were to participate in a coordinated flyover Kearney AFB was socked in with a blizzard on the day of the show Nevertheless paths were cut through the snow for the aircraft to taxi and somehow the F 82s got airborne joining up with SAC bombers over Oklahoma on schedule The flyover by the Twin Mustangs was a tremendous success with SAC leadership being amazed that the F 82 was truly an all weather aircraft and the unit able to carry out their mission despite the weather In early 1949 the squadron began carrying out long range escort profile missions Flights to Puerto Rico Mexico the Bahamas and Washington DC were carried out For President Truman s 1949 inauguration the squadron s parent 27th Fighter Wing launched 48 aircraft to fly in the review in formation down Pennsylvania Avenue Another flyover over the newly dedicated Idlewild Airport in New York City soon followed with the aircraft flying non stop from Kearney AFB Two months later SAC decided to close Kearney AFB and the 524th transferred to Bergstrom Air Force Base Texas on 16 March 1 nbsp 27th Fighter Escort Group F 84Gs at Bergstrom AFB in 1952At Bergstrom the 524th transitioned to jet aircraft with Republic F 84E Thunderjet in 1950 It was redesignated the 524th Fighter Escort Squadron on 1 February to reflect the squadron mission 1 By the end of summer the transition to the Thunderjets was complete and the Twin Mustangs were mostly sent to reclamation with a few being sent to Far East Air Forces FEAF or Alaska as replacement aircraft or for air defense duties The squadron participated in the deployment of 180 F 84s from Bergstrom AFB to Furstenfeldbruck Air Base Germany in September 1950 via Labrador Greenland Iceland and England delivering the Thunderjets to the 36th Fighter Bomber Group This operation won the unit s parent 27th Fighter Escort Wing the Mackay Trophy for 1950 4 This was the second long range mass flight of jet fighter aircraft in aviation history This feat was repeated in October when aircraft were ferried to Neubiberg Air Base Germany Korean War edit nbsp Republic F 84E Thunderjet at Taegu AB K 2 South Korea 1951In November 1950 the 524th received orders to deploy to Japan to support FEAF in the Korean War The squadron departed Bergstrom on 11 November refueling at Williams AFB Arizona en route to San Diego California The squadron sailed on three aircraft carriers note 4 By 30 November the ground echelon arrived at Kimpo Air Base K 14 South Korea preparing for the arrival of the air echelon which unloaded in Japan Once unloaded from the transport carriers the aircraft were barged to Kisarazu Air Base where they were preflighted for a short flight to Yokota Air Base However due to the open air deck shipment the aircraft had salt air induced corrosion landing gear damage and some aircraft also had flat tires On 1 December FEAF split the 27th Fighter Escort Wing into forward and rear echelons Advanced headquarters and operational squadrons were at Taegu Air Base K 2 South Korea while support units and the rear echelon were located at Itazuke Air Base Japan The advanced echelon would rely on the 49th Fighter Bomber Wing for logistical support while the rear echelon would rely on the 6160th Air Base Wing For the next six months the unit flew missions in support of ground forces earning another DUC for missions between 26 January and 21 April 1951 1 These missions included close support of the largest paratroop landing in the Korean War and escort for B 29 Superfortress bombers on raids over North Korea including air to air combat with enemy MiG 15 fighters In June the unit began to give combat orientation to their replacements the newly arrived 136th Fighter Bomber Wing They also assisted the 49th Fighter Bomber Wing to transition from Lockheed F 80 Shooting Stars to F 84Es The 524th was relieved from attachment to FEAF and returned to Bergstrom in August Once at Bergstrom the squadron s parent 27th Fighter Escort Group became non operational and the squadron was attached directly to the 27th Fighter Escort Wing as SAC implemented the Dual Deputate organization 1 note 5 Cold War edit nbsp 524th TFS F 100F Super Sabre 56 3878 fighter trainer in natural metal finishOn 20 January 1953 the squadron was redesignated as the 524th Strategic Fighter Squadron 1 to reflect the changed emphasis on strike missions and the decreasing need for escort missions With the arrival of the Boeing B 47 Stratojet and Boeing B 52 Stratofortress into the SAC inventory the fighter escorts were no longer necessary for the new fast jet bombers which flew missions individually not in large formations On 1 July 1957 the 27th wing was transferred to Tactical Air Command TAC and the squadron became 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron 1 TAC assigned the squadron to Twelfth Air Force and the unit re equipped with the new McDonnell F 101A Voodoo which had been planned under SAC Its mission was to deliver a centerline nuclear bomb to a target The F 101A was capable of little else and although designated as a fighter aircraft it had poor aerial combat capabilities and would not have fared well in any air to air combat against enemy aircraft although its speed was demonstrated when it broke the world speed record on 12 December 1957 5 The squadron became the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1958 1 when USAF ended the distinction between Fighter Bomber and Fighter Day units In 1959 the Voodoo s days at Bergstrom ended after the installation returned to SAC to operate as a B 52 and KC 135 base 6 Rather than inactivate a unit with such a distinguished history the 524th and other elements of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing moved on paper to Cannon AFB New Mexico 5 where they took over the mission personnel and North American F 100 Super Sabres of the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing which was inactivated 7 As United States involvement in the Vietnam War expanded the squadron deployed twice to Takhli RTAFB Thailand in 1963 and 1964 However by 1965 deployed squadrons in Southeast Asia were replaced by squadrons permanently stationed there and the squadron made its final Pacific deployment to Misawa AB Japan in 1965 1 As USAF F 100 resources were transferred to these squadrons the 524th s mission like that of most TAC fighter units in the US focused on combat crew training 5 The squadron conducted F 100 replacement training from 1 January 1966 to 6 March 1969 1 nbsp F 16 of the 524th Fighter SquadronWith the withdrawal of the F 100 from Vietnam in 1970 and the phaseout of the aircraft from the active Air Force inventory the 27th TFW began conversion to the General Dynamics F 111 Loaned F 111As from Nellis AFB Nevada facilitated training while the squadron waited for its own planes By July 1972 the last operational active duty Air Force F 100s were transferred to the Air National Guard Beginning in January 1980 the 524th served as the 27th wing s primary F 111 training squadron The squadron conducted overseas deployments to maintain combat readiness of its personnel and aircraft from 1984 to 1989 1 From September 1992 to July 1993 squadron aircrews and support personnel rotated to Incirlik Air Base Turkey in support of Operation Provide Comfort F 16 Operations edit In 1995 the squadron began to transition to the General Dynamics F 16 Fighting Falcon With the arrival of the F 16s the squadron s F 111s were sent to storage The F 111 in various forms had been at Cannon AFB for 29 years On 15 January 1998 the 524th ventured to the Middle East for their first overseas deployment since transitioning to the F 16 The unit was the major force provider for the 524th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia where it was assigned to the 4404th Operations Group Provisional Later that year it deployed to Hill AFB Utah for Exercise Combat Hammer During the exercise they dropped inert GBU 24 Paveway III laser guided bombs and fired live AGM 65 Maverick antitank missiles on Utah test range The hit rate was one of the highest ever seen in the Air Force showcasing the lethality of the Block 40 F 16 During Operation Allied Force in 1999 the squadron was on call duty to augment forces The quick termination of hostilities precluded the unit from seeing action On 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington D C aircraft from the squadron went on air defense alert In December 2002 the 524th deployed to Kuwait and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom dropping nearly a million pounds of precision guided munitions more than any other F 16 Block 40 squadron in history Special Operations edit On 1 April 2009 Air Force Special Operations Command prepared for the expansion of the 27th Special Operations Group by activating the 7524th Special Operations Squadron Provisional at Cannon Air Force Base As the squadron approached full strength the 524th was activated again as the 524th Special Operations Squadron and assumed the provisional unit s mission personnel and equipment On 19 November 2009 a Bombardier Dash 8 crashed destroying the aircraft and injuring all nine passengers and crew three seriously An investigation blamed the crash on crew error citing the crew s failure to load an adequate amount of fuel on the aircraft for the flight and refusing to turn back or seek an alternate landing site as it became apparent that the aircraft did not have sufficient fuel to reach its destination The Air Force declined to provide details as to whether the crew was punished for the crash 8 Around 31 May 2017 the 524th SOS was relocated to Duke Field to become part of the 492d Special Operations Wing in order to better coordinate with its reserve Total Force partner unit the 919th Special Operations Wing s 859th Special Operations Squadron 9 Lineage editConstituted as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron Light on 20 November 1940Activated on 15 January 1941 Redesignated 91st Bombardment Squadron Light on 14 August 1941 Redesignated 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943 Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron Single Engine on 30 May 1944 Inactivated on 7 November 1945Activated on 20 August 1946Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron Two Engine on 22 July 1947 Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron Jet on 1 December 1949 Redesignated 524th Fighter Escort Squadron on 1 February 1950 Redesignated 524th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953 Redesignated 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron on 1 July 1957 Redesignated 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958 Redesignated 524th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 8 July 1980 Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991 Inactivated on 20 September 2007 Redesignated 524th Special Operations Squadron on 23 September 2009 Activated on 1 October 2009 1 Assignments edit 27th Bombardment later 27th Fighter Bomber 27th Fighter GroupAttached on 15 January 1941 Assigned 14 August 1941 7 November 1945Ground echelon attached to 5th Interceptor Command as infantry unit 2 January 9 April 1942 27th Fighter later 27th Fighter Escort Group 20 August 1946 attached to 136th Fighter Bomber Wing 30 June 1951 12 August 1951 27th Fighter Escort Wing 25 August 1951 15 June 1952 27th Fighter Escort later 27th Strategic Fighter 27th Fighter Bomber 27th Tactical Fighter 27th Fighter Wing 16 June 1952 attached to 50th Fighter Bomber Wing 17 June 1959 8 July 1959 Turkish United States Logistics Command 10 February 1961 16 June 1961 4158th Strategic Wing 30 October 1961 14 November 1961 2d Air Division 9 c 27 June 1963 and 21 January 19 March 1964 39th Air Division 1 December 1964 28 March 1965 27th Operations Group 1 November 1991 20 September 2007 27th Special Operations Group 1 October 2009 1 492d Special Operations Group May 2017 9 Stations edit Hunter Field Georgia 15 January 19 October 1941 Fort William McKinley Luzon Philippines 20 November 1941 San Marcelino Luzon Philippines 22 December 1941 Air echelon operated from Archerfield Airport Brisbane Australia 24 December 1941 5 February 1942 Limay Luzon Philippines 25 December 1941 Bataan Luzon Philippines 5 January 1942 Air echelon operated from Malang Java Netherlands East Indies 18 February c 1 March 1942 Archerfield Airport 10 24 March 1942 Charters Towers Airport Australia Apr 4 May 1942 Hunter Field Georgia 4 May 1942 Key Field Mississippi 15 July 1942 Hattiesburg Army Airfield Mississippi 15 August 1942 Harding Army Air Field Louisiana 26 October 1942 21 November 1942 Ste Barbe du Tlelat Airfield Algeria 26 December 1942 Nouvion Airfield Algeria 7 January 1943 Ras el Ma French Morocco 6 April 1943 Korba Airfield Tunisia 4 June 1943 Ponte Olivo Airfield Sicily 18 July 1943 San Antonio Sicily 3 September 1943 Rome Ciampino Airport Italy 18 September 1943 Guado Airfield Italy 4 November 1943 Pomigliano Airfield Italy 19 January 1944 Castel Volturno Italy 10 April 1944 Santa Maria Airfield Italy 8 May 1944 Le Banca Airfield Italy 7 June 1944 Ciampino Airfield Italy 11 June 1944 Voltone Airfield Italy 4 July 1944 Sarragia Airfield Corsica 13 July 1944 Le Luc Airfield France 25 August 1944 Salon de Provence Airfield Y 16 10 France 30 August 1944 Loyettes Airfield Y 25 10 France 12 September 1944 Tarquinia Airfield Italy 2 October 1944 Pontedera Airfield Italy 1 December 1944 Saint Dizier Robinson Airfield A 64 10 France 21 February 1944 Nancy Ochey Airfield A 96 10 France 19 March 1945 Fliegerhorst Biblis Y 78 10 Germany 5 April 1945 Fliegerhorst Sandhofen Y 79 10 Germany 24 June 1945 Fliegerhorst Echterdingen R 50 10 Germany 15 September 20 October 1945 Camp Shanks New York 6 7 November 1945 Fritzlar Air Base Y 86 10 Germany 20 August 1946 Bad Kissingen Airfield R 98 10 Germany 25 June 1947 Andrews Field Maryland 25 June 1947 Kearney Army Air Field later Kearney Air Force Base Nebraska 16 July 1947 Bergstrom AFB Texas 16 March 1949 11 November 1950 Taegu Air Base K 2 11 South Korea 5 December 1950 Itazuke AB Japan 31 January 1951 Bergstrom AFB Texas 12 August 1951 deployed to Misawa AB Japan 13 October 1952 c 13 February 1953 and RAF Sturgate England 7 May 1955 19 August 1955 Cannon AFB New Mexico 18 February 1959 20 September 2007Deployed at Hahn AB West Germany 17 June 1959 8 July 1959 Incirlik AB Turkey 10 February 1961 16 June 1961 Elmendorf AFB Alaska 30 October 1961 14 November 1961 MacDill AFB Florida 21 October 1962 1 December 1962 Dhahran Air Base Saudi Arabia 17 September 20 November 1963 Takhli RTAFB Thailand 9 c 27 June 1963 and 21 January 1964 19 March 1964 Misawa AB Japan with detachment at Kunsan AB South Korea 1 December 1964 28 March 1965 Holloman AFB New Mexico 13 April 12 May 1966 dd Cannon AFB New Mexico 1 October 2009 1 Duke Field Florida May 2017 9 Aircraft edit Douglas B 18 Bolo 1941 Douglas A 24 Banshee 1941 1942 Douglas A 20 Havoc 1941 1942 1943 North American A 36 Apache 1943 1944 Curtiss P 40 Warhawk 1944 Republic P 47 Thunderbolt 1944 1945 1946 1947 North American P 51 Mustang 1947 1948 North American F 82 Twin Mustang 1948 1950 Republic F 84 Thunderjet 1950 1958 McDonnell Douglas F 101 Voodoo 1957 1958 North American F 100 Super Sabre 1959 1969 1969 1972 General Dynamics F 111 Aardvark 1972 1995 F 16 1995 2007 C 146A Wolfhound 2009 present Awards and campaigns edit Award streamer Award Dates Notes nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 7 December 1941 ca Apr 1942 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 8 December 1941 22 December 1941 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 6 January 1942 8 March 1942 Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 10 September 1943 Italy 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron 1 nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 4 September 1944 France 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Distinguished Unit Citation 26 January 1951 21 April 1951 Korea 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 nbsp Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 15 August 1968 15 August 1969 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1981 30 June 1982 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1988 31 December 1989 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 April 1992 30 September 1992 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation 7 December 1941 ca April 1942 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp Korean Presidential Unit Citation 9 November 1950 31 May 1951 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes nbsp Philippine Islands 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp East Indies 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 nbsp Sicily 91st Bombardment Squadron 1 note 6 nbsp Naples Foggia 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron 1 nbsp Anzio 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron 1 note 7 nbsp Rome Arno 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron 1 note 7 nbsp Northern France 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Southern France 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp North Apennines 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Rhineland 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Central Europe 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Air Combat EAME Theater 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp World War II Army of Occupation 524th Fighter Squadron nbsp Chinese Communist Forces Intervention 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 nbsp First United Nations Counteroffensive 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 nbsp Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 nbsp United Nations Summer Fall Offensive 524th Fighter Escort Squadron 1 nbsp Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp National Resolution 16 December 2005 9 January 2007 524th Fighter Squadron 1 nbsp Iraqi Surge 10 January 2007 20 September 2007 524th Fighter Squadron 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 524th Fighter Escort Squadron Notes edit Approved 21 January 1955 newest rendition approved on 19 July 2010 Approved 21 January 1955 The submarines were USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Swordfish SS 193 and the USS Spearfish SS 190 The carriers were USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bataan CVL 29 and USS Cape Esperance CVE 88 Under this plan flying squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Operations and maintenance squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance Redesignated 524th Fighter Bomber Squadron during campaign a b Redesignated 524th Fighter Squadron during campaign Citations edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax Dollman TSG Davis 17 October 2017 Factsheet 524 Special Operations Squadron AFSOC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 25 May 2021 a b c d e f g h Maurer Combat Units pp 78 79 Maurer Combat Units pp 250 252 Mackay 1950 1959 Recipients National Aeronautic Association Retrieved 23 September 2013 The Mackay Trophy is awarded for the most meritorious flight of the year by an Air Force person persons or organization a b c Ravenstein pp 50 52 Mueller pp 29 34 Ravenstein pp 159 160 Rolfsen Bruce 11 May 2010 Spec ops pilots refuse fill up crash land plane Military Times Archived from the original on 23 September 2013 Retrieved 14 September 2017 a b c Washburn Michael 31 May 2017 524th SOS relocates from Cannon to Duke Field 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Retrieved 14 September 2017 a b c d e f g h i Field number in Johnson Field number in Endicott Bibliography edit Endicott Judy G ed 2001 The USAF in Korea Campaigns Units and Stations 1950 1953 PDF Maxwell AFB AL Air Force Historical Research Agency ISBN 0 16 050901 7 Johnson 1st Lt David C 1988 U S Army Air Forces Continental Airfields ETO D Day to V E Day PDF Maxwell AFB AL Research Division USAF Historical Research Center Archived from the original PDF on 17 September 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Mueller Robert 1989 Air Force Bases Vol I Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 PDF Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 53 6 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Further reading editBartsch William H 2003 8 December 1941 MacArthur s Pearl Harbor Williams Ford Texas A amp M University Military History Series No 87 College Station TX Texas A amp M University Press ISBN 978 1 60344 741 6 LCCN 2002152713 Edmonds Walter D 1993 1951 They Fought With What They Had The Story of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific 1941 1942 reprint ed New York NY Time Life Books ISBN 978 0 80949 758 4 LCCN 92038619 Martin Adrian R Stephenson Larry W 2008 Operation Plum The Ill Fated 27th Bombardment Group and the Fight for the Western Pacific Williams Ford Texas A amp M University Military History Series No 117 College Station TX Texas A amp M University Press ISBN 978 1 60344 019 6 LCCN 2007 048110 May Mary Cathrin 2006 The Steadfast Line The Story of the 27th Bombardment Group Light in World War II Tallahassee FL Self Published Retrieved from https en 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