353rd Special Operations Wing | |
|---|---|
 A 353rd WingMC-130H Combat Talon II flies a training mission[note 1] | |
| Active | 1944–1946; 1967–1970; 1989–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Special operations |
| Size | 721 personnel authorized[1]
|
| Part of | Air Force Special Operations Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Kadena Air Base, Japan |
| Nickname | Batcats |
| Motto | Cavete CattamLatin Beware the Cat |
| Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater Vietnam War[2] |
| Decorations | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award withCombat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 353rd Special Operations Wing emblem |  |
| 353rd Special Operations Group emblem[note 2][2][3] |  |
| 353rd Special Operations Group emblem[note 3][4] |  |
The353rd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United StatesAir Force Special Operations Command, stationed atKadena Air Base, Japan.[5]
TheWing's first predecessor was activated in 1944 as the3rd Air Commando Group. The unit was assigned toFifth Air Force in the Philippines in 1944 for operations withNorth American P-51 Mustangs,Douglas C-47 Skytrains, andStinson L-5 Sentinels. It attacked Japanese airfields and installations in the Philippines, supported ground forces onLuzon, and provided escort for missions toFormosa and the China coast. It also made raids on airfields and railways on Formosa, and furnished cover forconvoys. In addition, the group transported personnel, dropped supplies to ground troops andguerrilla forces, evacuated casualties from front-line strips, adjustedartillery fire, and flew courier and mail routes.
The second predecessor of the Wing is the553rd Reconnaissance Wing, which conducted electronic surveillance, particularly of theHo Chi Minh Trail, in Southeast Asia from 1967 to 1970. The two units were consolidated in 1985 under the wing designation. In 1989, the consolidated unit was activated as the353rd Special Operations Wing. In 1992, it was redesignated as the353rd Special Operations Group, and in July 2021, it was redesignated back to 353 Special Operations Wing.
The 353rd Special Operations Wing is theUnited States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S.Special Operations Command, Pacific, a subcommand of theUnited States Pacific Command.[5]
The 353rd Special Operations Wing consists of the following squadrons:[6]
1st Special Operations Squadron, atKadena Air Base (MC-130J Commando II)[7]
21st Special Operations Squadron, atYokota Air Base (CV-22B Osprey)[8][9]
320th Special Tactics Squadron, at Kadena Air Base (Pararescue, Combat Controller, Special Reconnaissance)
353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Kadena Air Base
353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, at Kadena Air BaseWhen activated, the 3rd 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. The group's headquarters, liaison, and airdrome squadrons, as well as its medical dispensary and the ground echelons of the3rd Fighter Squadron (Commando) and318th Troop Carrier Squadron sailed from the west coast in early November 1944, arriving onLeyte on 1 December 1944. The ground echelon of the4th Fighter Squadron (Commando) sailed a week later and arrived on Leyte in early January 1945. The flying personnel of the 3rd and 4th Fighter Squadrons, as well as some enlisted members of their engineering sections, were air-transported toNadzab, New Guinea, where they received the group's new P-51 aircraft.
The separated squadrons flew patrol missions in New Guinea until joining the group on Leyte in January 1945. Began combat in the Philippines by flying bombing and strafing missions against airdromes onMindanao. Later, onLuzon, the fighters continued bombing and strafing missions. In addition, the group provided air support to ground forces, flew fighter sweeps toFormosa, and escorted heavy bombers on bombing missions to Formosa and the China coast. The air echelon of the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron flew their C-47s across the Pacific, arriving at Nadzab, New Guinea, in late October 1944. The squadron carried cargo and passengers and air-evacuated wounded soldiers to Australia until it moved to Leyte in mid-January 1945. While on Luzon, this squadron also para-dropped supplies to ground forces. 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.
In April 1945, the group, less the liaison squadrons, moved from Mandaldan, inLingayen Gulf, to Laoag, in northwest Luzon, in recently captured territory 150 miles behind enemy lines. The group operated the base and the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron provided most of the resupply. 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. In June 1945 Laoag became the staging field for flights toOkinawa.
In August 1945, the group moved toIe Shima, in theRyukyus, from where the fighter squadrons flew surveillance missions over Japan. The 318 TCS participated in the evacuation of allied prisoners of war from Japan. By the end of October 1945, the group moved toChitose Air Base, Japan. By February 1946 the squadrons were reduced to paper strength and the group inactivated the next month.
Beginning in February 1967, the553rd Reconnaissance Wing trained to support a special electronic reconnaissance program utilizing 30Lockheed EC-121R Batcat aircraft, with a C-121G used for pilot and flight engineer training. Moved to Thailand in increments beginning mid-September 1967 and began day and night unarmed reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia on 25 November 1967. A wing detachment atNakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, performed combat evaluation of YQU-22A aircraft and associated equipment, December 1968 – August 1969. 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.
Strength of the wing was reduced in both personnel and equipment, and in mid-December 1970 the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing inactivated. One reconnaissance squadron, the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron, was reassigned to the388th Tactical Fighter Wing and stayed atKorat Royal Thai Air Force Base. The 554th Reconnaissance squadron was inactivated with that squadron number then assigned to what was Detachment 1 at Nakon Phanom RTAFB. The last 553rd Reconnaissance EC-121R mission occurred on 6 December 1971.
The353rd 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. Maintained capabilities by participating in joint/combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities. Also maintained helicopterair refueling operations and supported humanitarian and disaster relief operations, as well as performed some search and rescue and aeromedical evacuation missions.
Following the destruction ofClark Air Base during the volcanic eruptions ofMount Pinatubo in June 1991, the group temporarily operated from bases on Okinawa, then officially relocated there in February 1992, with one squadron moving forward to South Korea.
Redesignated as the353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992,[11] but continued operations as before. The group consisted of the 1st, 17th and 31st Special Operations Squadrons together with 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron and 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron.[11]
The 320th Special Tactics Squadron was assigned to the group on 1 January 1993.[11]
In February 1996 developedTaegu Air Base in South Korea as a special operations training base. Gained a weather flight in April 1996 and began providing weather support for U.S. Army Special Forces atTorii Station, 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.
On 31 August 2001, the31st Special Operations Squadron was inactivated.[11][12]
Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. 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 SuperTyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In 2018, the unit assisted with theThai cave rescue.
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| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 October 2010 – 30 September 2012 | 353rd Special Operations Group[16] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with"V" Device | 1 April 1967 – 31 May 1968 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 1 July 1968 – 15 April 1969 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 2 September 2004 – 1 September 2006 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device | 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2008 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 6 April 1989 – 5 April 1991 | 353rd Special Operations Wing[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1993 – 31 May 1995 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 September 1995 – 31 August 1997 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 16 October 1998 – 31 May 2000 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 13 October 2000 – 1 September 2002 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 September 2002 – 1 September 2004 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
_Streamer.png) | Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945 | 3rd Air Commando Group[2] |
 | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm | 1 April 1967 – 15 December 1970 | 553rd Reconnaissance Wing[2] |
| Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 31 January 2002 – 31 July 2002 | 353rd Special Operations Group[2] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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