150th Special Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
%2c_USA_-_Air_Force_AN0983925.jpg) Boeing C-32B as flown by the squadron | |
| Active | 1956–2008 unknown–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  New Jersey |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Role | Transport |
| Part of | New Jersey Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | McGuire Air Force Base, Wrightstown, New Jersey |
| Nickname | Guardians of the Gate |
| Motto | Count on Us Bet on Us[citation needed] |
| Decorations |  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 150th Special Operations Squadron emblem[2] |  |
| 150th Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
| 150th Air Transport Squadron emblem |  |
The150th Special Operations Squadron (150 SOS), equipped with theC-32B aircraft, is a unit of the108th Wing of theNew Jersey Air National Guard. It provides global airlift to special response teams within theDepartment of Defense and other agencies.
Thesquadron was established in 1956 as the150th Air Transport Squadron. The following year, it converted to theaeromedical evacuation mission as the150th Aeromedical Evacuation Transport Squadron. It continued in variousairlift roles until 1973, when it converted to theair refueling mission as the150th Air Refueling Squadron. The squadron was stationed atNewark Municipal Airport until 1965, when it moved toMcGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. The squadron was inactivated in 2008 following the retirement of the wing'sBoeing KC-135E Stratotanker aircraft. It was later reactivated with aspecial operations mission.
Thesquadron was established and federally recognized atNewark Municipal Airport, New Jersey, on 1 February 1956. It was initially equipped withCurtiss C-46 Commando aircraft, performing transport missions from Newark in the northeast. In 1963, it retired the C-46 and was re-equipped with theLockheed C-121 Constellation long-distance transport, primarily for passenger movements to Europe, also flew to the Caribbean and to Japan, Thailand, South Vietnam, Australia and the Philippines during theVietnam War. In 1965, the unit relocated toMcGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.
The Constellations were retired in 1973, being replaced with thede Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou light transport, which was withdrawn from service in the Vietnam War. The C-7s were used for carrying small payloads in combat areas with rough airstrips.
In 1977, upon receipt ofBoeing KC-135 Stratotankers, the unit became the150th Air Refueling Squadron. It was the firstair refueling unit in the United States to launch tankers to establish the U.S.-Saudi Arabia "Air Bridge" during OperationsDesert Shield and Desert Storm. Hours after PresidentBush ordered U.S. forces to the Persian Gulf, 150th aircrews were refueling fighters and cargo transports winging their way nonstop from the U.S. to the Persian Gulf. Shortly thereafter, and again, prior to certain units personnel being activated, the 150th deployed aircraft, aircrews, maintenance and support personnel to Saudi Arabia. It also provided urgently needed medical, security police and support personnel to U.S. air bases to assist active duty personnel and serve as "back-fill" for those already rushed to the combat theater.
On 1 October 1993, the squadron's parent170th Air Refueling Group was inactivated and its components transferred to or consolidated with the parent108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire under the Objective Wing organization. The 150th was assigned to the108th Operations Group as its second KC-135 Squadron (along with the141st Air Refueling Squadron).
In September 1994, for over 30 days, five aircraft and 300 squadron members deployed toPisa International Airport, Italy for OperationDeny Flight. Supported by 15 active duty Air Force personnel, the squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to take full responsibility during that period.
The squadron was inactivated in 2008, as the Air Force retired the KC-135E from the inventory.
The squadron was reactivated from the previous 227th Special Operations Flight and equipped with theBoeing C-32 for special operations.[3] It was operational by August 2015, when a loadmaster with the squadron was photographed as part of military involvement in a TV show.[4]
The squadron's mission is to "provide dedicated rapid response airlift to theDepartment of Defense in support of United States Government crisis response events domestic and abroad."[2] These include responses to terrorist incidents. Its aircraft do not carry standard United States Air Force markings, and the serial/registration numbers they display are subject to change. At the rear of the cabin, the usual cargo space in the hold has been reconfigured to accommodate enlarged fuel tanks, extending the aircraft's unrefueled maximum range to 6000 nautical miles. The aircraft have also been given an air refueling capability and a satellite communications package.[3]
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{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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