919th Special Operations Wing
The 919th Special Operations Wing (919 SOW) is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) wing of the United States Air Force, operationally-gained by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and based at Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #3 / Duke Field, Florida.
Mission
The 919 SOW provides and maintains the MC-130E Combat Talon I special operations aircraft designed for covert operations.
History
The 919th trained for troop carrier duties from 1963–1965. Renamed the 919th Tactical Airlift Group (919 TAG) and equipped with the C-130A, it performed airlift of personnel and cargo, in addition to airdropping U.S. Army paratroopers during exercises from 1971–1974. In late 1974, the group began transitioning to the AC-130A Spectre aircraft and training for gunship operations, with close air support as a primary duty, but included ability to perform armed interdiction, reconnaissance, and escort, forward air control and combat search and rescue in conventional or unconventional warfare setting. Redesignated the 919th Special Operations Group (919 SOG), the command was later upgraded to wing status and renamed the 919th Special Operations Wing (919 SOW). In addition to its primary combat duties, the 919th also provided range clearing support for missile launches at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and along the Eastern Test Range from 1979–1989 and for NASA space shuttle launches at the John F. Kennedy Space Center from 1981–1988.
The 711th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) hit key facilities and provided cover for U.S. Army troops during the invasion of Panama, December 1989 – January 1990. On 1 April 1990 the 919th gained a second SOS (71 SOS) located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Both squadrons participated in the conflict in Southwest Asia: the 71 SOS, flying HH-3Es deployed 12 January 1991 – 16 March 1991 and the 711 SOS, flying AC-130As, deployed 7 February-12 March. In addition, the 711 SOS used their AC-130s to fly cargo and passengers. The 919 SOW lost the 71 SOS on 1 October 1993, but in late 1994, gained the 5th Special Operations Squadron (5 SOS). The 5 SOS began to receive their MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in April 1995 and trained for special operations, aerial refueling of special operations helicopters, and resupply missions. The 711 SOS transitioned from AC-130A gunships to MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft beginning in October 1995 and trained for a primary mission of infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. Periodically the wing deployed personnel and aircraft to support special operations forces in contingency operations worldwide, in addition to numerous humanitarian deployments. The 919th has conducted flight training in MC-130E Combat Talon I for both Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Force Reserve Command since 1 October 1997.
Operations
Previous designations
- 919th Troop Carrier Group (1963–1971)
- 919th Tactical Airlift Group (1971–1975)
- 919th Special Operations Group (1975–1992)
- 919th Special Operations Wing (1992 – Present)
Assignments
Major command
Numbered Air Force
Wing
Subordinate Organizations
- 919th Operations Group (919 OG)
- 919th Maintenance Group (919 MXG)
- 719th Maintenance Squadron (719 MXS) (Eglin Air Force Base)
- 919th Maintenance Squadron (919 MXS)
- 919th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (919 AMXS)
- 919th Maintenance Operations Flight (919 MOF)
- 919th Mission Support Group (919 MSG)
- 919th Civil Engineering Squadron (919 CES)
- 919th Logistics Readiness Squadron (919 LRS)
- 919th Security Forces Squadron (919 SFS)
- 919th Communications Squadron (919 CS)
- 919th Mission Support Flight (919 MSF)
- 919th Services Flight (919 SVF)
- 919th Medical Squadron (919 MDS)
Bases stationed
Aircraft operated
Unit Shields
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