606th Special Operations Squadron

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606th Special Operations Squadron
Pacific Air Forces.png
Active1966-1971
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Special Operations
Part of Pacific Air Forces
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
606th Air Commando Squadron emblem 606 Air Commando Sq emblem.png

The 606th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. The squadron was first activated as the 606th Air Commando Squadron in March 1966 and stationed at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. The squadron flew C-123 Provider and A-26A bomber aircraft over the Ho Chi Minh trail at night during the Vietnam War to interdict the movement of people and equipment. The squadron was inactivated on 30 June 1971.

United States Air Force Air and space warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

Squadron (aviation) military aviation unit size

A squadron in air force, army aviation, or naval aviation is a unit comprising a number of military aircraft and their aircrews, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force. Land based squadrons equipped with heavier type aircraft such as long-range bombers, cargo aircraft, or air refueling tankers have around 12 aircraft as a typical authorization, while most land-based fighter equipped units have an authorized number of 18 to 24 aircraft.

Ho Chi Minh trail

The Hồ Chí Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Vietnam through the kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and materiel, to the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), or North Vietnamese Army, during the Vietnam War.

Contents

Organization

The 606th Special Forces Squadron was composed of two sections, the Fairchild C-123 Provider section which was under the call sign of "Candlestick", and the U-10 Helio Courier section which was under the call signs of "Loudmouth" and "Litterbugs" (and "Clown" for Civil Action missions).

Fairchild C-123 Provider Military transport aircraft series by Chase Aircraft, later Fairchild Aircraft

The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and then built by Fairchild Aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. In addition to its USAF service, which included later service with the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard, it also went on to serve most notably with the U.S. Coast Guard and various air forces in Southeast Asia. During the War in Vietnam, the C-123 was used to deliver supplies, to evacuate the wounded, and also used to spray Agent Orange.

Helio Courier

The Helio Courier is a cantilever high-wing light C/STOL utility aircraft designed in 1949.

History

C-123s had been used in Vietnam since 1962 to drop flares for night interdiction missions, but their use declined after the introduction of the Douglas AC-47 Spooky in the country. The continued need for flare drop aircraft continued for operations over Laos, and in the spring of 1966, Pacific Air Forces activated the 606th Air Commando Squadron at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand and equipped it with UC-123Bs to continue this mission. [note 1] [1]

Vietnam Country in Southeast Asia

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula. With an estimated 94.6 million inhabitants as of 2016, it is the 15th most populous country in the world. Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, part of Thailand to the southwest, and the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia across the South China Sea to the east and southeast. Its capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976, while its most populous city is Ho Chi Minh City.

Interdiction is a military term for the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction. The former refers to operations whose effects are broad and long-term; tactical operations are designed to affect events rapidly and in a localized area.

Douglas AC-47 Spooky

The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first in a series of fixed wing gunships developed by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. It was designed to provide more firepower than light and medium ground-attack aircraft in certain situations when ground forces called for close air support.

Although starting out as a flare support flight, the UC-123s had added night reconnaissance and forward air control, which became its primary missions by 1968. The squadron flew from four to nine night reconnaissance missions per night over the Steel Tiger and Barrel Roll areas of Laos, flying in shifts to provide coverage throughout the night. After a lack of success with the use of starlight scopes in T-28s, a locally manufactured mount was designed and mounted near the Provider's escape hatch, which enabled an observer to sweep the area below the plane for targets. "Candlestick" flare and reconnaissance planes then teamed up with "Zorro" T-28s or "Nimrod' Douglas A-26 Invaders strike aircraft as a hunter killer team. [2]

Aerial reconnaissance military exploration and observation by means of aircraft or other airborne platforms

Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including artillery spotting, the collection of imagery intelligence, and the observation of enemy maneuvers.

Forward air control military operations and doctrine regarding the guidance of close air support

Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller (FAC).

Douglas A-26 Invader family of attack bomber aircraft

The Douglas A-26 Invader is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.

By 1969, heavy antiaircraft fire proved a problem for the "Candlestick" aircraft, which had upgraded to the UC-123K. The unit improvised a defense using chaff, which was manually thrown out the floor hatch to confuse enemy radars. The "Candlestick" operation ended when the squadron was inactivated in June 1971. [3]

Chaff Protective casings of the seeds of cereal grain

Chaff is the dry, scaly protective casings of the seeds of cereal grain, or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material such as scaly parts of flowers, or finely chopped straw. Chaff is indigestible by humans, but livestock can eat it and in agriculture it is used as livestock fodder, or is a waste material ploughed into the soil or burned.

Radar object detection system based on radio waves

Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.A radar system consists of a transmitter producing electromagnetic waves in the radio or microwaves domain, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna and a receiver and processor to determine properties of the object(s). Radio waves from the transmitter reflect off the object and return to the receiver, giving information about the object's location and speed.

North American T-28 Trojans, call sign "Zorro" also flew with the 606th. Twelve of them moved to Nakhon Phanom in June 1966 along with Douglas A-26 Invader "Nimrods". [4] After being credited with 67 truck strikes during the week of 2 through 9 November 1966, a detachment of Douglas A-26 Invader "Nimrods" was attached to the 606th. In September 1967, this detachment plus the T-28 "Zorro" forward air controllers were spun off into the 609th Special Operations Squadron. [5]

North American T-28 Trojan Family of military training aircraft

The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a counter-insurgency aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War. It has continued in civilian use as an aerobatics and Warbird performer.

609th Special Operations Squadron

The 609th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base, Thailand. The squadron served for two and a half years combat duty during the Vietnam War, primarily flying missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. It earned several decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation, before it was inactivated in December 1969.

Lineage

Organized on 8 March 1966
Inactivated on 15 June 1971

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation 1 November 1967-30 Sep 1968606th Air Commando Squadron (later 606th Special Operations Squadron) [6]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation1 November 1968-1 May 1969606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation1 October 1969 - 30 April 1970606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
AFOUA with Valor.jpg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 October 1968-30 September 1969606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
AFOUA with Valor.jpg Air For**ce Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device1 December 1970-15 June 1971606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
VGCP Streamer.jpg Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 April 1966-1 August 1968606th Air Commando Squadron [7] [note 2]
VGCP Streamer.jpg Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm1 August 1968 1968-15 June 1971606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air8 March 1966 – 28 June 1966606th Air Commando Squadron [6]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967606th Air Commando Squadron [6]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968606th Air Commando Squadron [6]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968606th Air Commando Squadron [6]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968606th Air Commando Squadron (later 606th Special Operations Squadron) [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 1969606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 1970606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Southwest Monsoon1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Commando Hunt V1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971606th Special Operations Squadron [7]
Streamer VS.PNG Commando Hunt VI15 May 1971 – 15 June 1971606th Special Operations Squadron [7]

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Anthony calls the 606th a "flare-dedicated" unit, but it was a composite unit from first organization. Anthony, p. 81.
  2. ↑ The Gallantry Cross is listed as two awards in AF Pamphlet 900-2, but was probably a single award listed under the squadron's two designations.

Citations

  1. ↑ Anthony, p. 81
  2. ↑ Anthony, pp. 82-83
  3. ↑ Anthony, pp. 88-89
  4. ↑ Anthony, p. 106
  5. ↑ Anthony, p. 99.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 435
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 AF Pamphlet 900-2 Vol. 2, p. 83

Bibliography

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