The 353d Special Operations Group is an integral part of the Air Force Special Operations Command and is home-based at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 353rd Special Operations Wing activated in Apr 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations. The jagged lines of the lightning bolts as a star fix signify the electronic means used in shooting the stars in present day warfare. The group is comprised of more than 800 Airmen and is the only Air Force Special Operations unit in the Pacific. 318th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (detached 1 May – 14 August 1944; ground echelon detached 12 September – 1 November 1944; air echelon detached 12 September 1944 – c. 18 February 1945), 1st Special Operations Squadron: 6 April 1989 – present, 17th Special Operations Squadron: 1 August 1989 – present. The 353d Special Operations Group consists of the following squadrons: 1. 209 talking about this. The 353rd Special.jpg 2,100 × 1,397; 1.28 MB 353rd Special Operations Group [353rd SOG] The 353rd Special Operations Group, with headquarters at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Pacific. Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942). The separated squadrons flew patrol missions in New Guinea until joining the group on Leyte in January 1945. The sulfur sign at the point of the fix on the disc historically dramatizes the enormity of the power which can be delivered to such a place as a result of the skill of the group. Mission The 353rd Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. The 353rd 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. The last 553d Reconnaissance EC-121R mission occurred on 6 December 1971. The unit was assigned to Fifth Air Force in the Philippines in 1944 for operations with North American P-51 Mustangs, Douglas C-47 Skytrains, and Stinson L-5 Sentinels. It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. Maintained capabilities by participating in joint/combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities. The ground echelon of the 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando) sailed a week later and arrived on Leyte in early January 1945. The 353rd Special.jpg 2,100 × 1,397; 1.28 MB 353d Maintenance Squadron 6. 17th Special Operations Squadron(MC-130P Combat Shadow) 3. The group's headquarters, liaison, and airdrome squadrons, as well as its medical dispensary and the ground echelons of the 3d Fighter Squadron (Commando) and 318th Troop Carrier Squadron sailed from the west coast in early November 1944, arriving on Leyte on 1 December 1944. 320th Special Tactics Squadron: 1 January 1993 – present, 753d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 2019 – present, Chitose Air Base, Japan, C. 27 October 1945 – 25 March 1946, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 31 October 1967 – 15 December 1970, Clark Air Base, Philippines, 6 April 1989 (operated from Okinawa, after July 1991), This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 03:02. The 318 TCS participated in the evacuation of allied prisoners of war from Japan. The in dark and light coloration of the batcat suggests the day and night flying capabilities of the Group. The 353d Special Operations Group is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific, a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command. Moved to Thailand in increments beginning mid-September 1967 and began day and night unarmed reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia on 25 November 1967. The 353 SOG is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command. The 353d Special Operations Group is an integral part of the Air Force Special Operations Command and is home-based at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. 160th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 15 December 1945). The group is comprised of more than 800 Airmen and is the only Air Force Special Operations unit in the Pacific. In addition, the group provided air support to ground forces, flew fighter sweeps to Formosa, and escorted heavy bombers on bombing missions to Formosa and the China coast. Airmen assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group Detachment 1, perform maintenance on a CV-22 Osprey, January 15, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Also maintained helicopter air refueling operations and supported humanitarian and disaster relief operations, as well as performed some search and rescue and aeromedical evacuation missions. The 554th Reconnaissance squadron was inactivated with that squadron number then assigned to what was Detachment 1 at Nakon Phanom RTAFB. Aircrews are specially trained in night, low-level flying using night vision goggles. Beginning in February 1967, the 553d Reconnaissance Wing trained to support a special electronic reconnaissance program utilizing 30 Lockheed EC-121R Batcat aircraft, with a C-121G used for pilot and flight engineer training. One reconnaissance squadron, the 553d Reconnaissance Squadron, was reassigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and stayed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. Defense.gov News Photo 110316-F-UI176-556 - Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group off-load and upload new gear at Sendai Airport Japan on March 16 2011. [10], The 320th Special Tactics Squadron was assigned to the group on 1 January 1993.[10]. The second predecessor of the group is the 553d Reconnaissance Wing, which conducted electronic surveillance, particularly of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, in Southeast Asia from 1967 to 1970. Also maintained helicopter air refueling operations and Under the operational control of the Commander, Special Operations Command Pacific, the 353rd SOG plans and executes general war and contingency operations The group's first predecessor was activated in 1944 as the 3d Air Commando Group. Defense.gov News Photo 110316-F-UI176-556 - Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group off-load and upload new gear at Sendai Airport Japan on March 16 2011. Col. Jason Kirby, 353rd Special Operations Group commander, addresses the audience during an assumption of command ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 1, 2019. The squadron carried cargo and passengers and air-evacuated wounded soldiers to Australia until it moved to Leyte in mid-January 1945. 157th Liaison Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 10 November 1945 (detached 1 May – c. 18 August 1944 and 3 May – 10 November 1945). The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. 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. By February 1946 the squadrons were reduced to paper strength and the group inactivated the next month. The group's origins date to 1944 … On 31 August 2001, the 31st Special Operations Squadron was inactivated.[10][11]. Aircraft is Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II, serial 88-195 from the 1st Special Operations Squadron during an exercise in Bangladesh on 9 June 2006. In 2011, the unit supported Operation TOMODACHI, the relief effort from the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. The U.S. Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group organized exercise Gryphon Jet from June 17-26, 2020 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was given its current name in 1992. Began combat in the Philippines by flying bombing and strafing missions against airdromes on Mindanao. The demi-globe represents the unit's ability to perform its functions anywhere in the world. By the end of October 1945, the group moved to Chitose Air Base, Japan. 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. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for all air special operations activities throughout the Pacific. The 353d Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. In June 1945 Laoag became the staging field for flights to Okinawa. 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando): : 1 May 1944 – 25 March 1946 (ground echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 5 January 1945; air echelon detached 7 November 1944 – 16 January 1945). Over that 10-day period U.S. forces teamed up to execute the high altitude high opening, high altitude low opening, fast rope, and repel training needed to get its special tactics operators where they need to be quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, ready to respond at … This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. 353d Operations Support Squadron 5. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. Maintained capabilities by participating in joint/combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities. Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. and equipment into denied areas during adverse weather conditions at night by airdrop or landing. A wing detachment at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, performed combat evaluation of YQU-22A aircraft and associated equipment, December 1968 – August 1969. This new major command consisted of three wings: the 1st, 39th and 353rd Special Operations Wings as well as the 1720th Special Tactics Group (1720 STG), the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, and the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center. The 353d Special Operations Group (353 SOG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.. In 2013, the unit supported Operation Damayan, the relief effort from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In February 1996 developed Taegu Air Base in South Korea as a special operations training base. This new major command consisted of three wings: the 1st, 39th and 353rd Special Operations Wings as well as the 1720th Special Tactics Group (1720 STG), the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, and the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/671462.pdf, "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Group (AFSOC)", "Approved insignia of the 353d Special Operations Group", "The 353rd SOG bids farewell to the Combat Talon II", "Special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at US air base in Tokyo", "Two special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at Yokota AB", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron (AFSOC)", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Support Squadron (AFSOC)", House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=353rd_Special_Operations_Group&oldid=994514722, Special operations groups of the United States Air Force, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, 753rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, at Yokota Air Base, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, V Fighter Command, c. 11 May 1945 – 25 March 1946 (remained under operational control of 308th Bombardment Wing through 28 May 1945, under operational control of, Thirteenth Air Force, 31 October 1967 – 15 December 1970 (under operational control of. 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