1.
2d Air Refueling Squadron
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The 2d Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the 2d ARS is the second-oldest squadron in the Air Force, having over 100 years of service to the nation. It was re-formed as an air refueling squadron by Strategic Air Command in 1949, today, it operates the KC-10 Extender aircraft, conducting aerial refueling missions. The squadron was activated on 12 May 1915 by the Aviation Section and it was the second to be organized in the United States Army, as noted by its numerical designation. It was organized at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, where the only Aviation School at that time was located, other members were taken from the 1st Aero Squadron, then the only completely equipped squadron in the Army. It was the policy of the Aviation School to completely train, the squadron consisted of six flying officers and thirty-nine enlisted men, primarily mechanics. Two officers and ten men were transferred from the 1st Aero Squadron and it sailed from San Francisco for Manila on 5 January 1916. After two weeks of quarantine, the unit reached its station on Corregidor on 14 February without aircraft and it was the first complete aviation unit assigned outside of the United States. The 2d received four Martin S-Hydro seaplanes on 13 March and 15 April, a radio transmitter was set up in one aircraft, giving the aircraft a broadcast range of 29 miles. On 28 June, the company provided artillery spotting and adjustment for target practice with the Fort Mills batteries, personnel for a second company were assembled and the unit was re-designated the 2d Aero Squadron on 20 July 1917. After the United States entered World War I, the squadron was ordered back to the United States and it sailed from Manila on 15 October 1917, arriving in San Francisco on 17 November. It was immediately transferred to Kelly Field, Texas, reaching the post on 22 November, many of the men of the squadron were assigned to Call Field, Wichita Falls, Texas. The remainder of the squadron was sent to Kelly Field #2, at Field #2, the mechanics began assembling Curtiss JN-4D Trainers. After a few months, the men had time to worry about their assignment at Kelly Field when suddenly various squadrons began to be ordered for overseas duty in France. The men of the squadron began to submit requests to be included in these outgoing squadrons. Some transfers were approved, however, most were retained at Kelly Field, the 2d squadron was assigned to Advanced Cross Country and Aerobatic flight training. The squadron was re-designated as Squadron A, Kelly Field, on 1 July 1918, at the end of the war, only six members of the squadron remained from the initial cadre that was formed up in San Diego in 1915. The squadron was demobilized on 18 November 1918, after World War I, the unit was re-organized as a new organization, designated as the 2d Aero Squadron on 3 June 1919 at Rockwell Field, California
2.
3d Airlift Squadron
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The 3rd Airlift Squadron is a squadron of the 436th Airlift Wing of the USAF. It is based at Dover Air Force Base near Dover, Delaware, the 3d Airlift Squadron goes back to the days of World War II when it was activated at Pope Field, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in March 1942, as a ferrying squadron. During the war, the 3rd was stationed at Chabau, Upper Assam, later, it transferred to the India-China Wing of the Air Transport Command and carried supplies and equipment back and forth across the treacherous Hump. The squadron was disbanded in late 1943, in June 1958, the squadron moved to Charleston AFB, South Carolina, where it continued to fly C-124s until August 1965, when it transitioned into jets with the arrival of the first C-141 Starlifter. In June 1970, the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron received the first operational C-5 Galaxy to be assigned to a Military Airlift Command flying organization, three years later, the 3rd was transferred to its present home with the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover AFB. Aircrews of the 3rd AS flew support missions for French troops in the Zaire peacekeeping effort, for their efforts, they were co-recipients with a 9th MAS crew of the Mackay Trophy for the 1978 airlift operation. The 3rd has proven itself and the C-5 to be highly mission-ready by setting AMC records for departure reliability, in 1986, the 3rd received the 436th Military Airlift Wings Flying Eagle award four times for having the highest percentage of on-time departures. In April 1988, a 3rd MAS crew, overcoming the difficulties of flying into unfamiliar territory, airlifted drilling equipment into Semipolitinsk, the mission was part of a joint nuclear weapons detonation monitoring agreement signed by the United States and the Soviet Union. The crew was awarded the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. The 3rd AS continues its history and support of AMC by flying humanitarian and contingency missions into such places as Southwest Asia, Somalia, Rwanda. The 3rd AS participated in the first-ever six-ship formation flights of C-5’s in support of the Strategic Brigade Airdrop Test, in October 2003 a crew from the 3rd Airlift Squadron landed the first C-5 Galaxy in Iraq at Baghdad International Airport. Until 2004 the unit was also the only Special Operations Low Level SOLL capable unit to fly the C-5 Galaxy and this capability was transferred to the smaller and more modern C-17 in 2001. In 2007 the 3rd AS transitioned from operation of the C-5 Galaxy to the newer C-17 Globemaster III. afhra. af. mil/. Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History,1989 3d Airlift Squadron AFHRA History
3.
3d Fighter Training Squadron
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The 3rd Fighter Training Squadron is part of the 71st Operations Group under the 71st Flying Training Wing. It operates the T-1A Jayhawk aircraft conducting advanced phase tanker/transport flight training and it was not re-activated until 1973. To qualify warriors with the skills and attitude necessary to become the worlds best combat airlift, the 3d Fighter Training Squadron dates to the organization of the 3d Aero Squadron on 1 November 1916 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Most of the officers and men of the Squadron were transferred from the Aviation School at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, where, at the time, all Army aviators were trained. There, it replaced the 1st Aero Squadron, whose members were sent to Columbus Airfield, there, the squadron may have operated some Curtiss JN-3s and possibly some Curtiss N-8s, preparing them to be sent south to Columbus. By March 1917, men from the 3d Aero Squadron were hard at work clearing the cotton plants from the land and laying foundations for hangars and mess halls at what would become Kelly Field. On 5 April 1917, one day before the United States entered World War I, on 29 August 1917 the 3d Aero Squadron left Kelly Field for Fort Sill, Oklahoma with 12 Curtiss R4 airplanes under the command of a Captain Weir to establish a new training airfield. The squadron was assigned to Henry Post Field and it was re-designated as Squadron A, Henry Post Field, Oklahoma. At Post Field, the 3d was most likely a training unit in support of the United States Army Field Artillery School. In September 1917, the 4th Aero Squadron was transferred to Post Field from Fort Sam Houston, the 3d was ordered to transfer 135 men to the 4th to bring the squadron up to its authorized strength. The 3d was redesignated as Squadron A, with the 4th being redesignated as Squadron B in July 1918, both squadrons were demobilized at the end of World War I on 2 January 1919. The unit was re-formed as a new unit, designated as the 3d Aero Squadron, on 13 May 1919 at Mitchel Field, many of the men were experienced mechanics and officers who had served either in France or at training units in the United States during World War I. After being organized, the squadron was transferred by train to San Francisco, California, the squadron was assigned to the Philippine Department, and was stationed initially at Camp Stotsenburg on Luzon. Some Dayton-Wright DH-4s, which were used as trainers during the war in the United States, on 10 March 1920, along with the 2d Aero Squadron, which had arrived in December 1919, the squadrons were organized into the 1st Group. On 14 March 1921, the squadron was re-designated as the 3d Squadron, its mission was to provide aerial defense as part of the 4th Composite Group. In 1924, the squadron was consolidated with its World War I predecessor organization. Exercises and maneuvers with Army ground forces and Naval forces were a regular, the 3d had received P-26 Peashooters in 1937, the latest in the line of second-line aircraft. These obsolete aircraft were replaced in early 1941 with impressed export versions of the Seversky P-35 being designated EP-106 by the company that were manufactured for the Swedish Air Force
4.
5th Flying Training Squadron
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The 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the United States Air Force 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the T-1 Jayhawk, T-38B Talon, and T-6A Texan II aircraft conducting training in support of the 71st Operations Group. It was established as an Army Air Corps fighter squadron in January 1941 and it was assigned to the Northeast Air District with P-40s and P-39s as part of the defense buildup prior to the United States entry into World War II. It was deployed to the European Theater of Operations, assigned to VIII Fighter Command in August 1942 and its P-39 Airacobras were deemed unsuitable for the environment for escort duty. It was re-equipped with Supermarine Spitfires and was trained by the Royal Air Force and it flew some escort missions with VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators during the fall of 1942. It was sent to North Africa in late 1942 as part of the Operation Torch invasion forces, and took up station in Algeria. It was deployed to Corsica in 1944 to attack targets in support of Free French forces in the liberation of the island. It continued offensive operations until the German capitulation in May 1945 and it returned to the United States and was demobilized during the summer and fall 1945 and inactivated. It was reactivated in 1946 as a United States Air Forces in Europe fighter squadron and it was primarily an occupation unit at Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen Airfields. It was reassigned from USAFE to Air Defense Command in June 1947, equipped with P-61 Black Widows, in June 1948 the unit transitioned into F-82 Twin Mustangs. In the fall of 1949 the unit moved to McGuire AFB, in August 1955 the 5th FIS designation was transferred to Suffolk County AFB, New York. In the spring of 1957 the unit transitioned into F-102A Delta Daggers, in February 1960 the 5th FIS moved to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and transitioned into the F-106 Delta Dart under the 32d Fighter Wing. These reductions resulted in the squadrons parent 32d Fighter Wings inactivation, on 22 October 1962, before President John F. These planes returned to Minot after the crisis, in late 1962 the 5th FIS acquired two live lynx kittens as mascots, with the assistance of the Minot Daily News, after a farmer had killed their mother. In the mid-1980s the 5th FIS converted to the F-15 Eagles, the F-15s only flew over Minot until the spring of 1988, when the 5th FIS was inactivated. As an Air Defense Command unit, the motto was Isti Non Penetrabunt, literally they shall not penetrate. It was reactivated in 1990 as an Air Training Command Undergraduate Pilot Training squadron at Vance AFB, the squadron had trained pilots and pilot instructors from February 1990 to December 1991 and since 1997. afhra. af. mil/. Rupert Red Two, A Fighter Pilots Life from Thunderbolts to Thunderchiefs, Zenith Press, ISBN 978-0-7603-3217-7, pp. 276–278 Cornett, Lloyd H. Johnson, a Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980
5.
15th Attack Squadron
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15th Reconnaissance Squadron flies MQ-1 Predator UAVs and is stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft squadrons, the squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR, full-motion video, and precision weapons employment. The mission of the 15 RS is to provide theater commander with deployable, long endurance, near real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, the squadron operates medium altitude multi-sensor platforms to locate, identify and report battlefield conditions to warfighters. It also collects, exploits and distributes imagery and intelligence products to theater CINCs, the 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons origins go back to 8 May 1917, when it was stood up as the 2d Aviation School Squadron at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island, New York. The original mission of the squadron was part of the force for the New York City area, flying coastal patrols. At the end of World War I, the squadron was demobilized on 18 September 1919, the squadron was constituted in the Army Air Service as the 15th Squadron on 14 March 1921 at Chanute Field, Illinois, equipped with Dayton-Wright DH-4s. The main focus of the squadron was flying training, including gunnery, observation, reconnaissance, photography, radio familiarization, on 20 March 1938, the 15th Observation Squadron deployed from Scott Field, Illinois, to Eglin Field, Florida, for two weeks of gunnery training. Thirty-five officers and 108 enlisted men were involved, during the early stages of World War II, the 15th supported the Field Artillery School in Oklahoma. On March 26,1944, the deployed to England. Its first combat mission was photographic reconnaissance on an F-6, on June 6,1944, the 15th received credit for the first aerial victory by a tactical reconnaissance pilot as well as the first victory of D-Day. The unit continued armed reconnaissance operations in the European theater until July 1945, after returning to the United States, the squadron provided visual and photographic reconnaissance and artillery adjustments for Army, Navy and Air Forces until it was inactivated in April 1949. The 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-jet, was reactivated on Feb 5,1951, in Japan and immediately deployed to Korea to provide visual, the unit flew F/RF-80s and F/RF-85s during this period. In March 1954 the unit moved back to Japan and in August 1956, the unit transitioned to RF-84s from 1956-1958 and then to the RF-101s, continuing its long history of photographic reconnaissance. During the Vietnam era the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, the unit had many deployments to Southeast Asia, flying reconnaissance missions in support of US combat operations in that theatre. During the summer and fall of 1966, the squadron transitioned to the RF-4C, during the 1970s and 1980s, the squadron maintained aerial surveillance capabilities in support of American ground, naval and air forces in the Far East. The 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated Oct.1,1990, the unit was reactivated as the 15th Tactical Intelligence Squadron on Feb.20,1991. On April 13,1992, the unit was redesignated as the 15th Air Intelligence Squadron, on June 1,1994, it was once more inactivated. The unit was reactivated on 1 August 1997, at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field under command of the 57th Operations Group and it was assigned to fly the Predator UAV out of Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada
6.
7 South African Infantry Battalion
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7 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army. 7 SAI was established on October 1,1973 at Bourkes Luck, the first national servicemen began training in 1974. The unit would relocate to Phalaborwa in 1981, in 1983 the Units Bravo Coy was stationed at Rundu for Reaction Force Duties under the command of 202Bn for 6 months, were after they were posted to Nepara for a further 6-month deployment. In its deployment at Sector 107 SAI Bravo Company was involved in operations in Angola were some members were wounded in an incident involving a Soviet-made hand grenade during Ops Askari. The 1987 August intake of 7 SAI Alpha Company, was deployed to the area of Cuito Cuanavale. Alpha Company consisted of five infantry platoons as well as an 81 mm mortar platoon and was deployed to the side of the Cuito river for a period of 1 month. Alpha company flew from Rundu airport, landing at Mavinga and was driven in vehicles to its operational deployment areas, during its time of deployment, various platoons were allocated as mechanised infantry while the remainder formed a base camp sending out roving patrols in the area. After one month of 7 SAIs deployment in Angola, peace accords were signed and Alpha Company,7 SAI, was withdrawn from Angola to a camp in Rundu. Notable mention should be made of the efforts of Corporal Beukes, Mortar Platoon fire team leader, Beukes ensured that the Alpha Company,7 SAI column of vehicles was able to drive 600 km from Cuito to Rundu without a loss of a vehicle. 7 SAI changed from a unit to a rear area protection unit when 113 SAI became part of the unit. It became part of the Rapid Deployment Force during November 1994,7 SAI took part in Operation Boleas in 1998 in Lesotho to restore order after an army coup. In 2002, the took part in the UN/AU peace mission, Operation Fibre to restore stability in Burundi. SANDF’s Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC’s or other un-protected motor vehicles, Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain
7.
16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
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The 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a unit of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force, and flies the E-8C Joint STARS. Its parent unit is the 461st Air Control Wing, located at Robins Air Force Base, the 16 ACCS operates the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, an advanced ground surveillance and battle management system. J-STARS detects, locates, classifies, tracks and targets ground movements on the battlefield, the squadron was first activated as the 380th Fighter Squadron, part of IV Fighter Command in early 1943. It engaged in the air defense of the San Francisco area as well as acting as a Replacement Training Unit until the end of 1943 and it trained as a North American P-51 Mustang operational squadron before deploying to the European Theater of Operations. In Europe it became part of IX Fighter Command in England, operated both as a tactical fighter squadron, providing air support to Allied ground forces in France as well as an air defense squadron, attacking enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat over Europe. The squadron was converted to a reconnaissance squadron in August 1944. It engaged in reconnaissance flights over enemy-controlled territory unarmed, gathering intelligence for Allied commanders until the end of combat in Europe. The unit advanced eastward across France using advanced landing grounds, then into the Low Countries, the squadron remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces, returning to Langley Field, Virginia in June 1947. The unit remained assigned to Tactical Air Command as a reconnaissance squadron, the squadron was inactivated in 1949. In 1950 the squadron was activated again at Langley, now designated the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. It moved to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina in 1958 where it re-equipped with McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft, the squadron deployed to south Florida in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, flying hazardous overflights over Cuba gathering intelligence photos. The unit upgraded to the McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II in 1965 and it also operated a flight of Martin EB-57E Canberra electronic warfare aircraft. It added Douglas EB-66 Destroyer jamming aircraft beginning in 1971 as part of the phaseout of the Destroyer at Shaw and it was the last USAF active duty B-57 squadron, retiring the aircraft in 1976 when F-4G Phantom IIs took over its mission. The 16th remained the single RF-4C squadron at Shaw after the 1982 realignment of its parent 363d from a reconnaissance to tactical fighter wing. The squadron was reactivated as the 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron in 1996 at Robins Air Force Base, Maurer, Maurer, ed. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. Washington, DC, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. US Air Force Air Power Directory
8.
17th Attack Squadron
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The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 432d Wing, and stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, the 17th RS conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operating the flies the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Remotely-Piloted Aircraft. Inactivated in the Philippines, April 1946, reactivated at Shaw AFB, South Carolina in 1951 as a photo-reconnaissance training squadron. Equipped with several aircraft during the 1950s, deploying to NATO in 1959 with the RF-101C Voodoo. Operated from France until 1966, moving to RAF Upper Heyford, remained in England until 1970, moved to West Germany and re-equipped with RF-4C Phantom II aircraft. Remained at Zweibrücken AB until 1979 when inactivated due to budget reductions, the squadron was reactivated at what was then known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field on 8 March,2002, flying the MQ-1 Predator. Constituted 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 14 July 1942, redesignated, 17th Photographic Squadron on 6 February 1943. Redesignated, 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943, redesignated 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 1 April 1951. Re-designated, 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 October 1966, redesignated 17th Reconnaissance Squadron on 4 March 2002. 4th Photographic Group,23 July 1942, thirteenth Air Force,5 December 1945. XIII Fighter Command,10 December 1945, 85th Fighter Wing,1 February 1946. Pacific Air Command, U. S. Army, 1–19 April 1946, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group,2 April 1951. 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing,8 February 1958, 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing,10 May 1959. 86th Tactical Fighter Wing,12 January 1970, 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing,31 January 1973 –1 January 1979. 57th Operations Group,8 March 2002–1 May 2007, 432d Wing,1 May 2007 - Present Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colorado,23 July-24 October 1942. Camp Deptha, Nouméa, New Caledonia,2 December 1942, henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,16 January 1943. Detachment operated from, Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Detachment operated from, Buka Airfield, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, c.11 December 1943-February 1945. Detachment operated from, Kornasoren Airfield, Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Detachment operated from, Sansapor Airfield, Netherlands East Indies,13 October-4 November 1944
9.
10th Armored Division (United States)
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The 10th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II. In the European Theater of Operations the 10th Armored Division was part of both the Twelfth United States Army Group and Sixth United States Army Group. Originally assigned to the Third United States Army under General George S. Patton, the 10th Armored Division was inactivated on 13 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia. On 25 February 1953, the division was allotted to the Regular Army, the division was activated on 15 July 1942, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Tiger nickname of the 10th originates from a division-wide contest held while it was training in the United States, symbolizing the division clawing and mauling its way through the enemy. Leaving Teurtheville,25 October, the Division moved to Mars-la-Tour, later that month, the 10th participated in the capture of Metz. It was the first time in 1500 years that the ancient fortress at Metz fell, after fierce fighting, the 10th moved to the Siegfried Line and led the Third Army into Germany on 19 November 1944. Combat Command-B’s lead Sherman tanks, tank destroyers and half-tracks entered Bastogne 18 December 1944 and these were the first combat troops to reach the threatened city. CCB’s commander, Col. William L. Roberts, split his command to form an arc facing eastward five miles from the city. A task force commanded by Maj. William R. Desobry went north to Noville, while a group under Lt. Col. Henry T. Lt. Col. James OHara’s group shifted southeast to Bras, at the same time, German forces moved westward with increasing momentum. Bastogne, a hub from which seven main roads diverged, was essential to the movement of Rundstedt’s panzers. Before dawn of 19 December five Nazi divisions attacked CCB, bazooka-armed American soldiers and a single platoon of tank destroyers fought a column of German Panzer IV tanks on the Houffalize-Noville highway, turning them back after a furious engagement. More enemy armor followed and with the road blocked, the battle spilled into the fields and woods. For eight hours, CCB alone withstood multiple German attacks before reinforcements arrived from the 101st Airborne Division, the Germans still maintained an advantage and the outnumbered Americans withdrew closer to Bastogne. The Germans sent pincers to the north and south, the night of 21 December, the pincers met and closed west of the city. In the surrounded city, the 10th assembled a reserve force to strike in any direction. CCB endured the cold, artillery barrages and bombing while their supplies, fourth Armored Division tanks finally broke through on 26 December, but CCB continued to fight until 18 January
