4th Special Operations Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 4th Special Operations Squadron


caption= 4th Special Operations Squadron Patch
dates= 8 April 1942 - 31 March 1944
27 October 1949 - 8 March 1954
2 August 1965 - 15 December 1969
1 April 1970 - 30 September 1992
1 May 1995 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Special Operations
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Special Operations Command
1st Special Operations Wing
1st Special Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Hurlburt Field
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Ghostriders
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 4th Special Operations Squadron (4 SOS) is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates AC-130U Spooky aircraft providing special operations capability.

Mission

Directly supports unified and theater special operations commands by conducting close air support, armed reconnaissance, and interdiction missions worldwide in support of Secretary of Defense taskings. [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3489 4 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

History

The 4th ferried aircraft to locations in Alaska, Africa, and Europe from, April 1942–February 1944. It also airlifted cargo and evacuated wounded to US military hospitals. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

The 4th flew combat missions in Vietnam from, c. 20 November 1965–30 November 1969. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

It provided an auxiliary command post and a communications link for the Fifteenth Air Force and Strategic Air Command from, 1 April 1970–30 September 1992. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

In September 1996, the squadron deployed to Brindisi, Italy, supporting Operation Joint Endeavor in the skies over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The squadron saw its first combat operations since the Vietnam War in April 1999 over Kosovo while supporting Operation Allied Force. In the fall of 2001, the 4th was called upon, to fight the War on Terrorism by striking Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan. In the spring of 2003, the 4th participated in the invasion of Iraq. During the initial 2 months of the conflict the 4th flew more than 1000 combat hours from 3 separate forward operating locations. [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3489 4 SOS Fact Sheet] ]

=Operations [ [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3489 4 SOS Fact Sheet] ] =

*Vietnam War
*Operation Joint Endeavor
*Operation Allied Force
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

*4th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*4th Ferrying Squadron (1943 - 1949)
*4th Liaison Flight (1949 - 1952)
*4th Liaison Squadron (1952 - 1965)
*4th Air Commando Squadron (Fire Support) (1965 - 1968)
*4th Special Operations Squadron (1968 - 1970)
*4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (1970 - 1995)
*4th Special Operations Squadron (1995 - Present)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

*2d Ferrying Group (1942 - 1944)
*14th Air Force (1949 - 1950)
*Tactical Air Command (1950)
*9th Air Force (1950 - 1952)
*18th Air Force (1952 - 1953)
*12th Air Force (1953 - 1954)
*6250th Combat Support Group (1965 - 1966)
*14th Special Operations Wing (1966 - 1969)
*28th Bombardment Wing (1970 - 1992)
*1st Special Operations Wing (1995 - Present)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

*Logan Field, Maryland (1942)
*New Castle Army Air Base, Delaware (1942 - 1944)
*Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina (1949 - 1952)
**Deployed: Camp Mackall, North Carolina (14 April - 4 May 1950)
**Deployed: Fort Hood, Texas (14 March - 7 April 1952)
*Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina (1952 - 1953)
*Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany (1953 - 1954)
*Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam (1965 - 1966)
**Deployed: Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (8 August - c. 1 November 1965)
*Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam (1966 - 1969)
*Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnem (1969)
*Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota (1970 - 1992)
*Hurlburt Field, Florida (1995 - Present)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp AFHRA 4 SOS Page] ]

*Various (1942 - 1944)
*L-13 Grasshopper (1949 - 1951, 1951 - 1952)
*C-45 Expeditor (1951 - 1952)
*L-20 Beaver (1952, 1952 - 1953)
*AC-47 Spooky (1965 - 1969)
*C-47 Skytrain (1966 - 1967)
*HC-47 (1969)
*EC-135 (1970 - 1992)
*AC-130U Spooky (1995 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0004sos.asp USAF 4th Special Operations Squadron History]
* [http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3489 4th Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also