73d Special Operations Squadron

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73d Special Operations Squadron
73d Special Operations Squadron Patch
Active	26 February 1918 - 4 July 1919 15 July 1931 - 1 November 1943 16 June 1950 - 15 June 1961 1 October 2006 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Special Operations
Part of	Air Force Special Operations Command 27th Special Operations Wing 27th Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Cannon Air Force Base
Decorations	AFOUA

The 73d Special Operations Squadron (73 SOS) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft in support of sqecial operations.

Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2.1 Operations[5] 2.2 Lineage[6] 3 Assignments[7] 4 Bases stationed[8] 5 Aircraft Operated[9] 6 References 6.1 Notes 6.2 Bibliography 7 External Links

[edit] Mission

[edit] History

The 73d managed an airpark with the Second Army from, c. 15 November 1918-1919. It then trained for pursuit and attack missions (1931-1939) and for bombardment missions (1939-1941). The squadron conducted reconnaissance in support of flood-relief in southern California during March 1938.^[1]

It flew combat mission in the Northern Pacific from, December 1941-August 1943 and preformed airlift support for Strategic Air Command bases in the Continental United States and overseas from 1950-1961.^[2]

It was reactivated in 2006 to operated the new MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft.^[3] The 73d was the flying first special operations squadron to move to Cannon Air Force Base after the fighter squadrons left.^[4]

[edit] Operations^[5]

• World War I
• World War II

[edit] Lineage^[6]

• 73d Aero Squadron (1918 - 1927)
• 73d Headquarters Squadron (1927 - 1929)
• 73d Pursuit Squadron (1929 - 1935)
• 73d Attack Squadron (1935 - 1939)
• 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939 - 1950)
• 3d Strategic Support Squadron (1950 - 1985)
• 73d Special Operations Squadron (1985 - Present)

[edit] Assignments^[7]

• 2d Day Bombardment Group (1918 - 1919)
• 17th Bombardment Group (1931 - 1941)
• 28th Composite Group (1941 - 1943)
• Second Air Force (1943, 1950 - 1959)
• 4238 Strategic Wing (1959 - 1961)
• 1st Special Operations Wing (2006 - 2008)
• 27th Special Operations Wing (2008 - Present)

[edit] Bases stationed^[8]

Waco, Texas (1918) Call Field, Texas (1918) Garden City, New York (1918) Saint-Maixent, France (1918) Delouze-Rosières, France (1918) Colombey-les-Belles, France (1918) Ourches, France (1918 - 1919) Hazelhurst Field, New York (1919) March Field, California (1931 - 1940) McChord Field, Washington (1940 - 1941)

Elmendorf Field, Alaska (1941 - 1943) Umnak, Alaska (1943) Amchitka, Alaska (1943) Paine Field, Washington (1943) Pyote Army Air Field, Texas (1943) Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1950 - 1953) Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1953 - 1961) Hurlburt Field, Florida (2006 - 2008) Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico (2008 - Present)

[edit] Aircraft Operated^[9]

• P-12 (1931 - 1934, 1935 - 1936)
• P-26 Peashooter (1934 - 1935)
• A-17 Nomad (1936 - 1940)
• B-18 Bolo (1939 - 1942)
• B-26 Marauder (1942 - 1943)
• B-25 Mitchell (1942 - 1943)
• C-124 Globemaster II (1950 - 1961)
• MC-130W Combat Spear (2006 - Present)

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

• USAF 73d Special Operations Squadron History

[edit] External Links

• New Cannon Units Q&A

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