14th Weapons Squadron

14th Weapons Squadron
14th Weapons Squadron Lockheed MC-130 using flares
Active	1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Advanced Special Operations Training
Part of	USAF Weapons School
Garrison/HQ	Nellis AFB, Nevada GSU at Hurlburt Field, Florida
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
14th Weapons Squadron emblem

The 14th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The 14th Weapons Squadron (WPS) is a Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of the 57th Wing, assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to produce Weapons Officers for the Special Operations community by providing graduate level instructional flying on AFSOC aircraft through Weapons Instructor Courses (WIC). Currently, the squadron produces SOF Weapons Officers specializing in Lockheed AC-130, MC-130 and U-28 aircraft. The MH-53 Pave Low Weapons Instructor Course ended with the retirement of the MH-53 Pave Low aircraft.

The unit traces its lineage back to the 14th Air Observation Squadron and participated in the landings at Normandy in June 1944. Later it was reactivated during the Vietnam era as the 14th Air Commando Squadron, flying AC-47 Spooky gunships between 1967 and 1968.

The 14th flew out of Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Bien Hoa, and Binh Thuy, providing fire support in defense of US airbases, Special Forces Camps, Republic of Vietnam Army outposts, and South Vietnamese hamlets. Decorations of this combat unit include the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the AF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device.

History

World War II

Activated in 1942 as a liaison and Observation squadron, supported US Army maneuvers by flying photo and tactical observation missions, spotting artillery fire, 1942 until early 1944.

Deployed to Europe in early 1944, providing courier service, observation, mail and other liaison services in support of the US Army advance through France and Germany, Jul 1944-May 1945; dropped medical supplies, food, and ammunition to an Army battalion stranded on the Moselle River, Nov 1944; supported the Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; added medical evacuation to its tasks in Apr 1945.

Supported US occupying forces in Germany, May-Sep 1945.

Vietnam War

Combat in Vietnam, Jan-May 1968; provided aerial fire support in defense of USAF forces, including bases, camps, outposts, and hamlets in southern half of country.

Modern era

An MH-53 Pave Low helicopter at Hurlburt Field, Florida

"From SPOOKY to Spectre" from the USAF Art Collection, artist depiction of an AC-130 Spectre and AC-47 Spooky gunship, both engaging targets

The current unit was organized as the Weapons School Special Operations Forces (SOF) Division on 15 March 2000 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The unit designation was changed to Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group on 10 August 2000 to align it with the group charged with providing aircraft and personnel who would help build the course.

Re-designated in 2003 as the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to provide advanced training in weapons and tactics employment to Special Operations officer aircrew members in the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, MH-53 Pave Low, MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow, and MC-130J Commando II Special Operations aircraft. The MH-53 weapons instructor course deactivated in 2006 in conjunction with the retirement of the MH-53 from the Air Force inventory.

Commanders

• Lt Col Meghan Ripple (Sep 2015–Present)
• Lt Col George Hock (Jun 2014 - Sep 2015)
• Lt Col Marcel Benoit (May 2012 - Jun 2014)
• Lt Col David Hanson (Jan 2011 - May 2012)
• Lt Col Robert Sagraves (Jun 2009 – Jan 2011)
• Lt Col Craig Walker (May 2008 - Jun 2009)
• Lt Col John Murphy (Nov 2006 - May 2008)
• Lt Col Christopher Kaufman (Jul 2005 - Nov 2006)
• Lt Col J. Marcus Hicks (Apr 2003 - Jul 2005)
• Lt Col Christopher Connelly (Jul 2000 - Apr 2003)

Lineage

• Constituted 14th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942

Activated on 2 Mar 1942

Re-designated: 14th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942

Re-designated: 14th Liaison Squadron on 2 Apr 1943

Inactivated on 25 Mar 1949

• Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 14th Air Commando Squadron (Fire Support), which was constituted, and activated, on 19 Oct 1967

Organized on 25 Oct 1967

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 May 1968

• Re-designated: 14th Special Operations Squadron on 19 Sep 1985

Re-designated: 14th Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003

Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group.

Assignments

• Air Force Combat Command, 2 Mar 1942
• Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942
• 26th Observation Group, 29 Mar 1942
• 73d Observation (later, 73d Reconnaissance) Group, 7 Mar 1943
• I Air Support Command (later, I Tactical Air Division), 11 Aug 1943
• United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 4 Apr 1944

Attached to US Third Army for operations to 15 Nov 1944

• Ninth Air Force, 10 Apr 1944
• XIX Tactical Air Command, 25 Apr 1944

Attached to Twelfth United States Army Group for operations, 15 Nov 1944-26 Jul 1945

• XII Tactical Air Command, 4 Jul 1945

Attached to US Third Army for operations, 26 Jul 1945-7 Jun 1946)

• 70th Fighter Wing, 5 Oct 1945

Attached to US Constabulary for operations, Jun 1946-c. Aug 1947

• 64th Fighter Wing, 10 Jul 1946
• XII Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1947
• Bad Kissingen Air Base, 6 Oct 1947
• United States Air Forces in Europe, 20 Dec 1947

Attached to Headquarters Command, United States Air Forces in Europe, 20 Feb-1 Jul 1948

• 7150th Air Force Composite Wing, 1 Jul 1948-25 Mar 1949
• 14th Air Commando Wing, 25 Oct 1967-1 May 1968
• USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003–Present

Stations

Aircraft

• L-1 Vigilant and L-4 Grasshopper, 1942-1943
• L-5 Sentinel, 1943-1947
• C-78 Bobcat, 1944-1945
• AC-47 Spooky, 1967-1968.
• MC-130E Combat Talon I, 2000-2006.
• MH-53J/M Pave Low, 2000-2006.
• MC-130P Combat Shadow, 2000-2013.
• AC-130H Spectre, 2000-2014.
• AC-130U Spooky, 2000–Present.
• MC-130H Combat Talon II, 2000–Present
• U-28A, 2012–Present.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. 
• USAFHRA 14 Weapons Squadron Factsheet

External links

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