318th Special Operations Squadron

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318th Special Operations Squadron
U-28 Nellis AFB take off (8442336) Cropped.jpg
U-28A Draco
Active1944–1946; 1971–1974; 2007–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Special Operations
Part of Shield of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.svg Air Force Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico
Engagements Southwest Pacific Theater [1]
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines) Streamer.png
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation [1]
Insignia
318th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 10 July 2008) [1] 318th Special Operations Sq.jpg

The 318th Special Operations Squadron flies the Pilatus U-28A Draco and is currently stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 318th is under the command of the Air Force Special Operations Command. The U-28A provides a manned fixed wing, on-demand/surge capability for Improved Tactical Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISR&T) in Support of Special Operations Forces. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The squadron was activated on 1 May 1944 as the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) at Camp Mackall, North Carolina and serving under the 3d Air Commando Group. The unit participated in the Southwest Pacific Theater, flying the Waco CG-4 glider and C-47 Skytrain transport. The squadron was inactivated 25 March 1946.

Reactivated on 15 November 1971 at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, the unit was stood up as the 318th Special Operations Squadron, serving under 1st Special Operations Wing. The unit's mission was to provide unconventional warfare support in Vietnam with the Lockheed C-130 Hercules until inactivation on 1 June 1974.

A Pilatus PC-12 of the 318th SOS at Cannon AFB. 27og-pc-12-cannonafb.jpg
A Pilatus PC-12 of the 318th SOS at Cannon AFB.

The unit was most recently reactivated on 16 May 2008. The unit replaced a detachment that had operated the Pilatus PC-12 since 27 July 2007, first at Hurlburt Field, Florida as 1st Special Operations Group, Detachment 4, then after 30 December 2007 at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico as 27th Special Operations Group, Detachment 2. [4] Flying the PC-12, crews planned, prepared, and executed nonstandard aviation missions in support of joint special operations forces while directly supporting theater special operations commanders by conducting night vision infiltration, exfiltration, resupply and other combat taskings on unimproved runways. [4] In the same role and at the same time, the squadron also operated the C-145A Combat Coyote. [3]

Eventually the squadron transitioned to the U-28A Draco, with the last PC-12 mission being flown in September 2016. The squadron's C-145s were moved to the 6th special operations squadron in 2013. [3] The U-28 is a modified PC-12 which provides tactical airborne ISR to special operations forces on the ground.

Lineage

Inactivated on 25 March 1946
Activated on 15 November 1971
Inactivated on 1 June 1974
Activated on 2 May 2008 [1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References


Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robertson, Patsy (7 August 2008). "Factsheet 318 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  2. "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.cannon.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Trevithick, Joseph (25 April 2017). "These Unassuming Planes Have Been Key Players in America's War on Terror". The War Zone. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "318th Special Operations Squadron". Cannon Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  5. Pons Abascal, Alexxis. "C-145As take final flight at Cannon AFB, relocate to Duke Field". United States Air Force. Retrieved 9 September 2013.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency