919th Special Operations Wing, US Air Force
919TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 919 Troop Carrier Group, Assault, and activated, on 15 Jan 1963. Organized in the Reserve on 11 Feb 1963. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 Dec 1965. Redesignated as 919 Tactical Airlift Group on 17 Jun 1971. Activated in the Reserve on 30 Jul 1971. Redesignated as: 919 Special Operations Group on 1 Jul 1975; 919 Special Operations Wing on 1 Aug 1992.
Trained for troop carrier duties, 1963-1965. Performed airlift of personnel and cargo, in addition to airdropping U.S. Army paratroopers during exercises, 1971-1974. In late 1974 began 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. Took part in MAJCOM (Major Command), joint, sister service, and international exercises. Provided range clearing support for missile launches at the Eastern Test Range, 1979-1989 and for NASA space shuttle launches at Cape Canaveral, 1981-1988. The 711 Special Operations Squadron (SOS) hit key facilities and provided cover for U.S. Army troops during the invasion of Panama, Dec 1989-Jan 1990. On 1 Apr 1990, gained 71 SOS located at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Both squadrons participated in the conflict in Southwest Asia: the 71 SOS, flying HH-3s deployed 12 Jan-16 Mar 1991 and the 711 SOS, flying AC-130s, deployed 7 Feb-12 Mar 1991. In addition, the 711 SOS used their C-130s to fly cargo and passengers. Lost the 71 SOS on 1 Oct 1993 but, in late 1994, gained the 5 SOS. The 5 SOS began to receive their MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in Apr 1995 and trained for special operations, inflight refueling of special operations helicopters, and resupply missions. The 711 SOS transitioned from AC-130 gunships to M-130E Combat Talon I aircraft beginning in Oct 1995 and trained for a primary mission of infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. Periodically deployed personnel and aircraft to support special operations forces in contingency operations worldwide, in addition to numerous humanitarian deployments. The 919 Operations Group and 711 SOS provided the flight portion of MC-130E Combat Talon I training for both AFSOC and AFRC, 1 Oct 1997-. Over five hundred 919 Special Operations Wing (SOW) personnel were called to active duty for one year after terrorist attacked the United States on 11 Sep 2001; most of the personnel were extended on active duty for a second year. Supported Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Willing Spirit, c. 2002-.
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Origin/meaning
Emblem approved on 21 Aug 1980; newest rendition approved on 27 Nov 2007.
Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/
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