USAF Patch Spec Ops a 6 SOS Special Operations Squadron e Ad

USAF Patch 6 SOS Special Operations Squadron 1994 Hulbert Field Advisors Training Foreign Air Forces UH 1N Huey Foreign Aircraft Embroidered on twill cut edge 105mm by 97mm four and one eighth inches by three and thirteen sixteenth inches from 1994

USAF 6 SOS Special Operations Squadron

Continental US

Free Shipping

History

WWII

P 47 Thunderbolt P 51 Mustang

The Squadron was activated on 30 September 1944 as 6 Fighter Squadron Commando at Asansol Airfield India for operations against Japan in the CBI China Burma India theatre. The Squadron was equipped with P 47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft and deployed detachments to Cox’s Bazar and Fenny Airfields.

6 Fighter Squadron Commando transitioned to P 51 Mustang fighters in 1945 continuing missions until VJ Day 8 May 1945. The Squadron left for the US in October 1945 and inactivated at Camp Kilmer New Jersey on 3 November 1945.

B 26 Invader T 28 Trojan

6 Fighter Squadron Commando was reactivated at Eglin AFB Florida on 18 April 1962 assigned to 1 Air Commando Wing. The Squadron was equipped with B 26 Invader bomber T 28 Trojan trainer and Helio U 10 Courier STOL aircraft tasked with demonstrating and training crews for counterinsurgency and special operations.

The Squadron deployed Instructors to at Bien Hoa AB Vietnam and Howard AFB Panama to advise and train foreign Air Force personnel in air counterinsurgency. 6 Fighter Squadron Commando lost its B 26 Invader bombers and Helio U 10 Courier STOL light aircraft in 1963 leaving it with the T 28s. At the same time Squadron personnel were being used to form new Commando units temporarily reducing its strength. When sufficiently remanned the Squadron deployed elements to Udorn RTAFB Thailand to continue training crews for counterinsurgency operations in Southeast Asia.

A 1 Skyraider Spad

6 Fighter Squadron Commando was redesignated 6 Air Commando Squadron Fighter on 15 June 1966 and relocated with 1 Air Commando Wing to England AFB Louisiana. The Squadron commenced upgrading its T 28 Trojans to A 1 Skyraider Spad aircraft with the last T 28 retired in December 1967. 6 Air Commando Squadron Fighter was reassigned to 14 Air Commando Wing on its deployment to Pleiku AB Vietnam on 19 February 1968. The Squadron commenced day and night combat missions including forward air control close air support ground attack interdiction combat search and rescue armed reconnaissance and fighter cover for Operation Ranch Hand chemical jungle clearance missions. 6 ACS operated a Detachment at Da Nang AB from 1 April 1968.

6 Air Commando Squadron Fighter was redesignated 6 Special Operations Squadron and reassigned to 633 Special Operations Wing on 15 July 1968. The Detachment at Da Nang AB was inactivated on 1 September 1969. Combat operations continued until 6 Special Operations Squadron was inactivated at Pleiku AB on 15 November 1969 with its A 1 Skyraider aircraft reallocated to 56 Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand.

A 37 Dragonfly

6 Special Operations Squadron was reactivated at England AFB on 8 January 1970 assigned to 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing. The Squadron was equipped with A 37 Dragonfly light attack aircraft. The Squadron was tasked with replacement training of US and allied air force pilots for the A 37 and its tactics. 6 Special Operations Squadron was redesignated 6 Special Operations Training Squadron on 31 August 1972. 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing was reduced and redesignated 4410 Combat Crew Training Group before inactivating on 31 July 1973 with 6 SOTS reassigned to 1 Special Operations Wing.

The Squadron was reassigned to 23 Tactical Fighter Wing when it took Base responsibility on 1 January 1974. 6 Special Operations Training Squadron was inactivated on 15 September 1974.

Combat Aviation Advisors

The unit was reactivated as 6 Special Operations Flight at Hurlburt Field on 1 April 1994 without aircraft on the renaming of Detachment 7 Special Operations Combat Operations Staff tasked as advisors for foreign aviation personnel. Assigned to 16 Operations Group the Flight utilised specially trained Combat Aviation Advisor qualified to support operations around the globe. 6 SOF increased its size with additional successful projects and was redesignated 6 Special Operations Squadron on 1 October 1994. The Squadron equipped with Two Bell UH 1N Huey helicopters on 11 October 1996 to augment its advisory role. 6 SOS received additional US and foreign aircraft to provide training and advisory missions to foreign air forces in joint and multinational operations.

6 SOS relocated to Duke Field in October 2012 reassigned to Air Force Special Operations Training Centre. The Squadron joined 711 Special Operations Squadron which had retired its MC 130E Combat Talon aircraft and rerolled to undertake special operations activities with foreign aviation forces as Combat Aviation Advisors. Both Squadrons were reassigned to Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Centre on 11 February 2013. Both Squadrons were reassigned to 492 Special Operations Wing on 10 May 2017. Personnel were authorised the use of a brown beret on 6 January 2018 to signify the unique skills Combat Aviation Advisors have achieved. 6 SOS was inactivated at Duke Field on 6 October 2022.

MC 130J Commando II

6 Special Operations Squadron reactivated at Cannon AFB New Mexico in October 2022 equipped with MC 130J Commando II aircraft and assigned to 27 Special Operations Wing. The Squadron rerolled today and night support of helicopter and tilt rotor aircraft special operations utilizing night vision goggles for formation tactics and air to air refueling. With the change in tasking the Squadron no longer wore the Combat Aviation Advisors brown beret.

This USAF 6 SOS Special Operations Squadron patch dates from 1994.