15th Special Operations Squadron

Global, day and night, adverse weather capability to insert, extract, and resupply special operations forces by low or high altitude airdrop or airland operations. ==History==

World War II Antisubmarine warfare The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Jacksonville Municipal Airport in late 1942 as the 520th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 378th Bombardment Group. The squadron apparently drew its cadre from the 18th Observation Squadron, which moved on paper from Jacksonville to Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama the same day. It was originally equipped with a mixture of observation aircraft and medium bombers. Using these aircraft, the squadron began flying antisubmarine patrols off the Atlantic Coast. AAF Antisubmarine Command soon reorganized, eliminating its groups and assigning its squadrons directly to its two wings. As a result, the squadron became the 15th Antisubmarine Squadron and was assigned to the 26th Antisubmarine Wing. Although assigned to the 25th Wing, the squadron flew most missions in the area north of its station, moving its operations to Langley Field, Virginia in 1943, so it was attached to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing until July 1943, when it moved its operations to Drew Field, Florida. The squadron continued operations from Batista Field, Cuba until it was disbanded on 2 November 1943. The squadron was inactivated on Guam 15 April 1946. Reserve operations The 15th Bombardment Squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit at Hill Field, Utah on 1 August 1947, Although the squadron was nominally a B-29 unit, it is not clear whether the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft. In 1948, Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. The 15th was inactivated when President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, as reserve flying operations at Hill ceased. Combat Talon The 15th Air Commando Squadron was activated for the Vietnam War at Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, flying the C-130E (I) Combat Talon as part of the 14th Air Commando Wing. On 15 March 1968, the detachment was discontinued and replaced by the squadron, which became the 15th Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968. It saw combat and performed special operations missions until 31 October 1970, when it was inactivated. The unit was consolidated with the 15th Antisubmarine Squadron and the 15th Bombardment Squadron in September 1985. The 15th was reactivated on 1 October 1992, to operate the MC-130H Combat Talon II as part of the 1st Special Operations Wing. ==Lineage==

; 15th Antisubmarine Squadron • Constituted as the 520th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 13 October 1942 : Activated on 18 October 1942 : Redesignated: 15th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 29 November 1942 : Disbanded on 2 November 1943 • Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 15th Bombardment Squadron and the 15th Special Operations Squadron as the 15th Special Operations Squadron ; 15th Bombardment Squadron : Constituted as the 15th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 March 1944 : Activated on 1 April 1944 : Inactivated on 15 April 1946 : Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1947 : Inactivated on 27 June 1949 • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 and with the 15th Antisubmarine Squadron and the 15th Special Operations Squadron as the 15th Special Operations Squadron ; 15th Special Operations Squadron : Constituted as the 15th Air Commando Squadron and activated, on 13 February 1968 (not organized) : Organized on 15 March 1968 : Redesignated 15th Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968 : Inactivated on 31 October 1970 • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 and with the 15th Antisubmarine Squadron and the 15th Bombardment Operations Squadron • Activated on 1 October 1992 Assignments • 378th Bombardment Group, 18 October 1942 (attached to 25th Antisubmarine Wing after 20 November 1942) • 26th Antisubmarine Wing, 14 December 1942 (attached to 25th Antisubmarine Wing until c. July 1943) • Second Air Force, 15 October - 2 November 1943 • 16th Bombardment Group, 1 April 1944 – 15 April 1946 • 445th Bombardment Group, 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949 • Pacific Air Forces, 13 February 1968 (not organized) • 14th Air Commando Wing (later 14th Special Operations Wing), 15 March 1968 – 31 October 1970 • 1st Special Operations Group (later 16th Operations Group, 1st Special Operations Group), 1 October 1992 – present Stations • Jacksonville Municipal Airport (Later Jacksonville Army Air Field), Florida, 18 October 1942 (air echelon operated from: Langley Field, Virginia, 3 June – 3 July 1943; Drew Field, Florida, July 1943; Batista Field, Cuba, c. 25 July – c. 1 October 1943) • Wendover Field, Utah, 17 October – 2 November 1943. • Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 1 April 1944 • Fairmont Army Air Field, Nebraska, 15 August 1944 – 7 March 1945 (air echelon operated from: Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, c. 9–25 January 1945) • Northwest Field, Guam, 14 April 1945 – 15 April 1946 • Hill Field (later Hill Air Force Base), Utah, 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949 • Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, 15 March 1968 – 31 October 1970. • Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 October 1992 – present Aircraft operated • North American O-47 (1942) • North American B-25 Mitchell (1942–1943) • Lockheed B-34 Lexington (1943) • Consolidated B-24 Liberator (1943) • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1944–1945) • Boeing B-29B Superfortress (1944–1946) • Lockheed C-130E(I) Combat Talon (1968–1970) • Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II (1992–2023) • Lockheed MC-130J Commando II (2022-present) Awards and campaigns ==References==