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318th Special Operations Squadron | |
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![]() U-28A Draco | |
Active | 1944–1946; 1971–1974; 2007–present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Special Operations |
Part of | ![]() |
Garrison/HQ | Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico |
Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater [1] |
Decorations | ![]() Philippine Presidential Unit Citation [1] |
Insignia | |
318th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 10 July 2008) [1] | ![]() |
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]
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.
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.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency