524th Special Operations Squadron

The 524th Special Operations Squadron is a Special Operations squadron of the United States Air Force, based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, with the 27th Special Operations Wing.

It is nicknamed the “Hounds of Heaven”.

History

524th SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON

Lineage. Constituted 11 Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 91 Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 Aug 1941; 524 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 Aug 1943; 524 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 30 May 1944. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Activated on 20 Aug 1946. Redesignated: 524 Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 22 Jul 1947; 524 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 1 Dec 1949; 524 Fighter-Escort Squadron on 1 Feb 1950; 524 Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 Jan 1953; 524 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 Jul 1957; 524 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jul 1958; 524 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 8 Jul 1980; 524 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 24 Sep 2007. Reactivated as 524 Special Operation Squadron on 1 Oct 2009 - Present

Assignments. 27 Bombardment (later, 27 Fighter-Bomber; 27 Fighter) Group, attached on 15 Jan 1941, assigned 14 Aug 1941-7 Nov 1945. 27 Fighter (later, 27 Fighter-Escort) Group, 20 Aug 1946 (attached to 136 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 30 Jun-12 Aug 1951; 27 Fighter-Escort Wing, 25 Aug 1951-15 Jun 1952); 27 Fighter-Escort (later, 27 Strategic Fighter; 27 Fighter-Bomber; 27 Tactical Fighter; 27 Fighter) Wing, 16 Jun 1952 (attached to unkn, 17 Jun- 8 Jul 1959; TUSLOG, 10 Feb-16 Jun 1961; 4158 Strategic Wing, 30 Oct-14 Nov 1961; 2 Air Division, 9-c. 27 Jun 1963 and 21 Jan-19 Mar 1964; 39 Air Division, 1 Dec 1964-28 Mar 1965); 27 Operations Group, 1 Nov 1991-24 Sep 2007; 27 Special Operations Wing on 1 Oct 2009 - Present

Stations. Hunter Field, GA, 15 Jan-19 Oct 1941; Ft William McKinley, Luzon, 20 Nov 1941; San Marceleno, Luzon, 22 Dec 1941 (air echelon operated from Brisbane, Australia, 24 Dec 1941-5 Feb 1942); Limay, Luzon, 25 Dec 1941; Bataan, Luzon, 5 Jan 1942 (air echelon operated from Malang, Java, 18 Feb-c. 1 Mar 1942, and from Brisbane, Australia, 10-24 Mar 1942); Charters Towers, Australia, Apr-4 May 1942; Hunter Field, GA, 4 May 1942; Key Field, MS, 15 Jul 1942; Hattiesburg, MS, 15 Aug 1942; Harding Field, LA, 26 Oct-21 Nov 1942; Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat, Algeria, 26 Dec 1942; Nouvion, Algeria, 7 Jan 1943; Ras el Ma, French Morocco, 6 Apr 1943; Korba, Tunisia, 4 Jun 1943; Gela, Sicily, 18 Jul 1943; San Antonio, Sicily, 3 Sep 1943; Capaccio, Italy, 18 Sep 1943; Guado Airfield, Italy, 4 Nov 1943; Pomigliano, Italy, 19 Jan 1944; Castel Volturno, Italy, 10 Apr 1944; Santa Maria, Italy, 8 May 1944; Le Banca, Italy, 7 Jun 1944; Ciampino, Italy, 11 Jun 1944; Voltone, Italy, 4 Jul 1944; Sarragia, Corsica, 13 Jul 1944; Le Luc, France, 25 Aug 1944; Salon, France, 30 Aug 1944; Loyettes, France, 12 Sep 1944; Tarquinia, Italy, 2 Oct 1944; Pontedera, Italy, 1 Dec 1944; St Dizier, France, 21 Feb 1945; Toul/Ochey, France, 19 Mar 1945; Biblis, Germany, 5 Apr 1945; Sandhofen, Germany, 24 Jun 1945; Echterdingen, Germany, 15 Sep-20 Oct 1945; Camp Shanks, NY, 6-7 Nov 1945. Fritzlar, Germany, 20 Aug 1946; Bad Kissingen, Germany, 25 Jun 1947; Andrews Field, MD, 25 Jun 1947; Kearney AAFld (later, AFB), NE, 16 Jul 1947; Bergstrom AFB, TX, 16 Mar 1949 (deployed at Taegu AB, South Korea, 5 Dec 1950-30 Jan 1951; Itazuke AB, Japan, 31 Jan-12 Aug 1951; Misawa AB, Japan, 13 Oct 1952-c. 13 Feb 1953; Sturgate RAF Station, England, 7 May-19 Aug 1955); Cannon AFB, NM, 18 Feb 1959-24 Sep 2007, 1 Oct 2009- Present; (deployed at Hahn AB, Germany, 17 Jun-8 Jul 1959; Incirlik AB, Turkey, 10 Feb-16 Jun 1961; Elmendorf AFB, AK, 30 Oct-14 Nov 1961; MacDill AFB, FL, 21 Oct-1 Dec 1962; Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 9-c. 27 Jun 1963 and 21 Jan-19 Mar 1964; Misawa AB, Japan, [with detachment at Kunsan AB, South Korea], 1 Dec 1964-28 Mar 1965; Holloman AFB, NM, 13 Apr-12 May 1966).

Aircraft. B-18, 1941; A-24, 1941-1942; A-20, 1941, 1942-1943; A-36, 1943-1944; P-40, 1944; P-47, 1944-1945. P-47, 1946-1947; P-51, 1947-1948; F-82, 1948-1950; F-84, 1950-1958; F-101, 1957-1958; F-100, 1959-1969, 1969-1972; F-111, 1972-1998; F-16, 1998-2007;

Operations. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 8 Dec 1941-4 May 1942; ground echelon fought with infantry units in Philippine Islands, Jan-Apr 1942. Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and European Theater of Operations (ETO), 6 Jun 1943-4 May 1945. Combat in Korea, c. 8 Dec 1950-3 Aug 1951. F-100 replacement training, 1 Jan 1966-6 Mar 1969. Beginning in Jan 1980 served as wing's primary fighter training squadron. Conducted overseas deployments to maintain combat readiness of personnel and aircraft, 1984-1989. Rotated personnel and aircraft to IncirlikAB, Turkey in support of operations in Southwest Asia, Sep 1992-Jul 1993. Transitioned to F-16 aircraft in 1998 and trained for day and night, all weather precision attack and electronic combat operations. Maintained capability to deploy and support unified commanders worldwide with day and night combat operations, 2000-2007.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Korea: CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-[Apr] 1942; Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Italy, 10 Sep 1943; France, 4 Sep 1944; Korea, 26 Jan-21 Apr 1951. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Aug 1968-15 Aug 1969; 1 Jan 1981-30 Jun 1982; 1 Jan 1988-31 Dec 1989; 1 Apr-30 Sep 1992; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1998; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII). Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 9 Nov 1950-31 May 1951.

Emblem. Approved on 21 Jan 1955.

Lineage

• Constituted 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.

Deactivated August 2007

Redesignated: 524th Special Operations Squadron 2010

Assignments

• 27th Bombardment (later, 27th Fighter-Bomber; 27th Fighter) Group

Attached on 15 January 1941

Assigned 14 August 1941–7 November 1945

• 27th Fighter (later, 27th Fighter-Escort) Group, 20 August 1946

Attached to 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 30 June–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 unkn, 17 June– 8 July 1959

• TUSLOG, 10 February–16 June 1961
• 4158th Strategic Wing, 30 October–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 1991–27 August 2007.
• 27th Special Operations Group, 2010.

• Ground echelon attached to: 5th Interceptor Command as infantry unit: 2 January – 9 April 1942

Stations

Aircraft

B-18, 1941; A-24, 1941–1942; A-20, 1941, 1942–1943; A-36, 1943–1944; P-40, 1944; P-47, 1944–1945. P–47, 1946–1947; P-51, 1947–1948; F-82, 1948–1950; F-84, 1950–1958; F-101, 1957–1958; F-100, 1959–1969, 1969–1972; F-111, 1972–1995: F-16, 1995-2007. DeHavilland Dash 8: 2008-

Honors

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

• World War II:
  • Philippine Islands
  • East Indies
  • Sicily
  • Naples-Foggia
  • Anzio
  • Rome-Arno
  • Northern France
  • Southern France
  • North Apennines
  • Rhineland
  • Central Europe
  • Air Combat, EAME Theater
• Korea
  • CCF Intervention
  • First UN Counteroffensive
  • CCF Spring Offensive
  • UN Summer-Fall Offensive.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 December 1941–[Apr] 1942; Philippine Islands, 8–22 December 1941; Philippine Islands, 6 January–8 March 1942; Italy, 10 September 1943; France, 4 September 1944; Korea, 26 January–21 April 1951. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 August 1968–15 August 1969; 1 January 1981–30 June 1982; 1 January 1988–31 December 1989; 1 April–30 September 1992. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII). Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 9 November 1950–31 May 1951.

Emblem

On a Light Blue disc fimbriated White a stylized White cloud formation surmounted by a Yellow lightning flash issuing bendwise sinister from sinister chief, overall a Black silhouette of a hound rampant, all within a Blue border semi of mullets of the first. MOTTO: HOUNDS OF HEAVEN. Approved on 21 January 1955(K 11365).

See also

• Kearney Air Force Base
• Bergstrom Air Force Base
• Cannon Air Force Base

References

Source

• USAF Historical Research Agency