USAF Patch Fighter Vietnam 3 TFW Tactical Fighter Wing SPS Security Police Bien Hao

USAF Patch 3 TFW Tactical Fighter Wing SPS Security Police Squadron A Squad Cobra Flight Thundering Third Bien Hao Vietnam 1968 Vietnam Local Made embroidered on twill cut edge 90mm three and one half inches diameter.

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History

3 Tactical Fighter Wing began deploying its units to Vietnam on rotational duty while the others trained in their ground support role at its base at England AFB Louisiana following its move from Japan on 8 January 1964. On 8 November 1965 the Wing relocated to Bien Hoa Air Base South Vietnam as part of the major buildup of forces following the Presidents decision to commit ground troops to carry out a variety of missions including close air support counterinsurgency forward air control interdiction and radar-controlled bombing. The Wing supported numerous

ground operations with air strike missions against enemy fortifications supply areas lines of communications and personnel in addition to providing
suppressive fire during assault operations.

The Wing also supported the testing of the F-5A Freedom Fighter being developed for other nations under the Skoshi Tiger project flying the F-5 in combat from April 1966 to April 1967 before the fighters joined the South Vietnamese Air Force. The wing also evaluated the combat capabilities of the A-37 Dragonfly during November and December 1967 with 604 Air Commando Squadron.

In late 1969 the Wings F 100 aircraft began to be phased out at Bien Hoa AB and the Wing converted to A-37s. 510 TFS was deactivated on 15 November 1969 and 531 TFS on 31 July 1970. 90 Tactical Fighter Squadron was designated an attack squadron and 8 Bombardment
Squadron was reactivated as 8 Attack Squadron. During May and June 1970 the Wing participated in its last major operation the Sanctuary Counteroffensive in Cambodia aimed at depriving the enemy the use of its sanctuary bases and destroying its leadership. On 31 October 1970 3 Tactical Fighter Wing ended its duties in Vietnam and remained active on paper with no assets until it relocated to Kunsan Air Base South Korea on 15 March 1971 with F-4 Phantom Squadrons.

3 Air Police Squadron was relocated to Bien Hao AB South Vietnam with 3 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 November 1965 to provide security for the Base with defensive bunkers manned by squads from A B or C Flights supported by Heavy Weapons and Sentry Dog Squads. 3 APS was
re-designated 3 Security Police Squadron SPS on 15 May 1967. The Squadron participated in numerous defenses from standoff attacks sapper raids and a main force multi battalion attack at the beginning of the Tet Offensive 30 January 1968 during which the Squadron although
suffering a number of KIAs halted the advance and held back the large attacking force before reinforcements arrived with two officers earning a the Air Force Cross Citation. Attacks continued to be defended up to the inactivation of the Squadron on 31 October 1970. 

This patch dates from 1968 and is for A Squad Cobra C Flight.