Misplaced Pages

25th Air Support Operations Squadron
Tactical Air Control Party airmen of the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Airfield's East Range
Active	1942–1949; 1971–1989; 1990–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Operation Support
Engagements	South West Pacific Theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
25th Air Support Operations Squadron emblem (approved 18 January 1943)

The United States Air Force's 25th Air Support Operations Squadron is an Air Force Special Warfare unit located at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The squadron provides tactical command and control of air and space assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander for combat operations.

History

World War II and post-war error

The squadron was first activated at Salinas Army Air Base, California in March 1942 as the 25th Observation Squadron. The squadron's cadre came from the 110th Observation Squadron, a federalized unit of the Missouri National Guard. Initially, the primary aircraft of the squadron was the North American O-47, although it flew a number of other aircraft as well. In April 1943 it was redesignated the 25th Liaison Squadron and converted to light two-seater aircraft. primarily Piper L-4s, but also including Stinson L-5 Sentinel. The unit moved overseas in October 1943 aboard the Cape Mendocino to Australia in the South West Pacific Theater.

After pausing briefly in Australia, the squadron moved to New Guinea. There it operated primarily with L-5 Sentinels, flown by enlisted pilots. Some of these "sergeant pilots" were men who had washed out of pilot school, but had been given a chance to operate the light aircraft. Beginning in February 1944, the 25th began participating in combat operations.

In addition to their mission of spotting and aerial reconnaissance, the squadron was tasked with short haul transportation. The capability of its light aircraft to operate from confined spaces earned A Flight of the squadron the nickname "Guinea Short Lines". The flight moved forward to Saidor Airport.

The squadron dropped supplies to units caught behind enemy lines and evacuated them, sometimes dropping tools so that these units could hack a landing zone out of the jungle. In addition to the task of evacuating downed aircrew members, the flight flew night harassment missions behind enemy lines, dropping small bombs and other paraphernalia on enemy camps. The flight was called on in 1944 to rescue a downed Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilot from behind enemy lines. In the course of this operation, and while the downed pilot was clearing an area for an L-5 to land in the jungle, the squadron was tasked to also evacuate 23 Indian soldiers, who had escaped from a Japanese prisoner of war camp and who had intelligence information concerning Japanese troop positions. Flying into the improvised jungle airstrip, the flight successfully returned all to friendly control.

Shortly after this rescue operation, the flight was tasked with transporting fifty Australian commandos to Wantoat to attack a Japanese radio facility. Following the raid, four Japanese prisoners were returned, each sitting on the lap of an Australian in the back seat of one of the Sentinels.

By the end of 1944, the 25th began operating in the Philippines, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for its actions there. During the Philippine campaign, the squadron also trained pilots of the liaison squadrons of the 3d Air Commando Group, which had just arrived in the theater. It remained in the Philippines until August 1947, although it was not manned or equipped after January. Although it moved on paper to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in August, it was not again manned until October 1947. It remained with the occupation forces on Okinawa until being inactivated in March 1949.

Modern era

The squadron was again activated in July 1971 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as the 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron and equipped with the Cessna O-2 Skymaster. In 1986 the 25th upgraded to the North American OV-10 Bronco, 1986–1989. The squadron was inactivated in September 1989.

Its most current period of active service in Hawaii began a little more than a year later in 1990, when it was activated as the 25th Air Liaison Squadron at Schofield Barracks. Three months later the squadron moved to Wheeler Army Airfield. The unit has deployed in support of Air Force and Army missions. The squadron is manned by tactical air controllers, a unique type of servicemembers—Air Force by service, but Army by trade, planning, communicating and facilitating the execution of close- air support for ground forces. To assist in their communication needs, the JTACs operate and maintain a complete array of equipment. Tactical Air Control is also one of the few jobs in the Air Force operates far forward on the battlefield.

The 25th deployed to Afghanistan in 2006. They were located everywhere from headquarters to operations with company-sized elements, acting as the liaison for all air support that comes from all services and coalition partners. Their mission of calling in air support requires communication and planning. Planning includes advising leaders on the best ways to use air assets and coordinate so that close air support can operate safely on the battlefield with other indirect-fire assets, such as artillery and mortars.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 25th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942

Activated on 2 March 1942

• Redesignated 25th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
• Redesignated 25th Liaison Squadron on 2 April 1943

Inactivated on 25 March 1949

• Redesignated 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron on 30 March 1971

Activated on 8 July 1971

Inactivated on 15 September 1989

• Redesignated 25th Air Liaison Squadron on 26 September 1990

Activated on 1 October 1990

• Redesignated 25th Air Support Operations Squadron on 1 August 1994

Assignments

• 71st Observation Group (later 71st Reconnaissance Group): 2 March 1942
• II Air Support Command (later II Tactical Air Division): 11 August 1943 (attached to 71st Reconnaissance Group)
• Fifth Air Force: 19 November 1943 (attached to 71st Reconnaissance Group)
• V Bomber Command: 24 November 1943 (attached to 71st Reconnaissance Group) (further attached to 5212th Photographic Wing (Provisional) after 13 December 1943)
• 91st Photographic Wing: 15 April 1944 (attached to 71st Reconnaissance Group)
• Far East Air Forces: 15 February 1945 (attached to Thirteenth Air Force)
• Thirteenth Air Force: 17 March 1945
• 403d Troop Carrier Group: 1 November 1945
• Thirteenth Air Force: 31 December 1945
• 85th Fighter Wing: 5 July 1946
• 1st Air Division: 30 March 1947
• Thirteenth Air Force: 15 September 1947
• Far East Air Forces: 1 December 1948 – 25 March 1949 (attached to 18th Fighter Wing)
• 5010th Combat Support Group: 8 July 1971
• 343d Composite Wing: (later 343d Tactical Fighter Wing): 1 October 1981 – 15 September 1989
• 15th Air Base Wing: 1 October 1990
• 6010th Aerospace Defense Group: 24 May 1991
• 15th Operations Group: 13 April 1992
• 1st Air Support Operations Group: 1 October 2008 – present

Stations

• Salinas Army Air Base, California, 2 March 1942
• Esler Field, Louisiana, 26 January 1943
• Laurel Army Air Field, Mississippi, 31 March 1943 – 20 October 1943
• Brisbane, Australia, 24 November 1943
• Lae Airfield, New Guinea, 11 February 1944
• Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 16 February 1944
• Biak, New Guinea, 7 September 1944
• Camp Dulag, Leyte, Philippines, c. 5 March 1945
• Malabang, Mindanao, Philippines, 19 April 1945
• Del Monte Airfield, Mindanao, Philippines, 2 June 1945
• Dulag, Leyte, Philippines, 17 November 1945
• Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, c. 10 January 1946
• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 22 August 1947
• Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 8 September 1947 – 25 March 1949
• Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 8 July 1971 – 15 September 1989
• Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 1 October 1990
• Wheeler Army Airfield, 1 January 1991 – present

Aircraft

• North American O-47, 1942–1943
• Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1942–1943
• Taylorcraft L-2, 1942–1943
• Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1943
• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943
• North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1943
• Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1943–1947, 1947–1948, probably 1948–1949
• Piper L-4, 1944–
• Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder, 1944
• Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, 1944–1945
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1945–1946
• Cessna O-2 Skymaster, 1979–1986
• North American OV-10 Bronco, 1986–1989

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	Philippine Islands 10 December 1944 – 25 December 1944	25th Liaison Squadron
	Distinguished Unit Citation	Philippine Islands 17 April 1945 – 1 June 1945	25th Liaison Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1973-31 December 1974	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January-31 December 1975	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January-31 December 1976	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1977-31 December 1978	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January-31 December 1979	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1980-30 September 1981	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1983-30 June 1984	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1985-30 June 1987	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1988–(15 September) 1989	25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1991-30 June 1993	25th Air Liaison Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 August 1994-30 September 1995	25th Air Liaison Squadron (later 25th Air Support Operations Squadron)
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1995-1 August 1997	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	2 August 1997-1 August 1999	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	29 November 1999-30 November 2001	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 November 2002–31 October 2004	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 November 2004–31 October 2006	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 November 2006–31 October 2007	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 November 2008–31 October 2010	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation	10 December 1944-4 July 1945	25th Liaison Squadron

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Antisubmarine	27 May 1942 – 20 August 1942	25th Observation Squadron
	New Guinea	11 February 1944 – 31 December 1944	25th Liaison Squadron
	Leyte	10 December 1944 – 1 July 1945	25th Liaison Squadron
	Luzon	5 March 1945 – 4 July 1945	25th Liaison Squadron
	Southern Philippines	5 March 1945 – 4 July 1945	25th Liaison Squadron
	Iraqi Governance	29 June 2004 – 15 December 2005	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	National Resolution	16 December 2005 – 9 January 2007	25th Air Support Operations Squadron
	Iraqi Surge	10 January 2007 – 31 December 2008	25th Air Support Operations Squadron

See also

• Liaison pilot
• Forward air control
• United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party
• List of United States Air Force squadrons

References

Notes

1. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 131
2. ^ Cannon & Stratton, p. 18
3. ^ Oliver
4. "Guinea Short Lines IHRA". International Historical Research Associates. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
5. Cannon & Straton, p. 20
6. ^ "Eielson Air Force Base History: Aircraft Operating". Explore North. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
7. ^ Dollman, TSG David (15 May 2017). "25 Air Support Operations Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
8. Cuomo, TSG Shane A. (17 April 2006). "25th Air Support Operations Squadron prepares to deploy". Air Force Pacific News. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
9. ^ Magni, SGT Frank (22 November 2004). "Tactical Controllers Command Over Afghan Sky". Department of Defense News. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
10. ^ Lineage prior to 1963, including assignments, stations, and aircraft in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 131

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Oliver, David (2005). Airborne Espionage: International Special Duty Operations in the World Wars. England: The History Press. ISBN 978-0750938709.
• Cannon, Hardy; Stratton, Bill (2007). Box Seat Over Hell: The True Story of America's Liaison Pilots and their Light Planes in World War II (2nd ed.). San Antonio, TX: Alamo Liaison Squadron. ISBN 978-0615178974.

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

v t e USAAF Thirteenth Air Force in World War II
Airfields	Pacific USAAF in the South Pacific USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
Units	Commands XIII Bomber XIII Fighter Groups Fighter 18th Fighter 347th Fighter 414th Fighter Bomber 5th Bombardment 11th Bombardment 42d Bombardment 307th Bombardment Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 403d Troop Carrier Squadrons Bombardment 100th Bombardment 868th Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter 419th Night Fighter 550th Night Fighter Reconnaissance 4th Photographic Charting 17th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance 38th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 13th Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Fifth Air Force in World War II
Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942)
Airfields	Pacific USAAF in Australia USAAF in the Southwest Pacific USAAF in Okinawa
Units	Commands V Bomber V Fighter 5th Interceptor (Provisional) Wings 54th Troop Carrier 85th Fighter 86th Fighter 91st Reconnaissance 308th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment Groups Air Commando 3d Air Commando Bombardment 3d Bombardment 7th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 27th Bombardment 38th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 90th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 380th Bombardment 417th Bombardment Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 24th Pursuit 35th Fighter 49th Fighter 58th Fighter 348th Fighter 475th Fighter Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 374th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier Squadrons Bombardment 31st Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter 421st Night Fighter 547th Intelligence Reconnaissance 2d Observation 8th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 21st Troop Carrier 22d Troop Carrier 65th Troop Carrier 66th Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force in World War II
Units	Commands II Air Support Command III Air Support Command III Bomber Command III Fighter Command III Reconnaissance Command III Tactical Air Command Divisions III Tactical Air Division Wings 8th Fighter Wing 9th Fighter Wing 40th Bombardment Wing Groups Air Commando 2nd Air Commando 3rd Air Commando Bombardment 3rd Bombardment 12th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 21st Bombardment 29th Bombardment 30th Bombardment Group 38th Bombardment 44th Bombardment 46th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 85th Bombardment 88th Bombardment 90th Bombardment 91st Bombardment 92nd Bombardment 93rd Bombardment 94th Bombardment 95th Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 100th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 319th Bombardment 320th Bombardment 321st Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment 335th Bombardment 336th Bombardment 340th Bombardment 344th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 411th Bombardment 416th Bombardment 417th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 454th Bombardment 463rd Bombardment 483rd Bombardment 488th Bombardment Fighter 20th Fighter 31st Fighter 49th Fighter 50th Fighter 53rd Fighter 54th Fighter 56th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 81st Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 311th Fighter 332nd Fighter 337th Fighter 338th Fighter 339th Fighter 361st Fighter 369th Fighter 372nd Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 408th Fighter 414th Fighter 506th Fighter Fighter-Bomber 27th Fighter-Bomber 48th Fighter-Bomber 86th Fighter-Bomber 406th Fighter-Bomber 407th Fighter-Bomber Reconnaissance 2d Reconnaissance 9th Reconnaissance 10th Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 65th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 68th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance 70th Reconnaissance 75th Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance 423d Reconnaissance 424th Reconnaissance 426th Reconnaissance
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Second Air Force in World War II
Airfields	Airfields
Units	Commands II Air Support Command II Bomber Command II Fighter Command IV Air Support Command XX Bomber Command XXI Bomber Command XXII Bomber Command Wings 5th Bombardment 15th Bombardment Training 16th Bombardment Operational Training 17th Bombardment Training 18th Replacement 21st Bombardment 46th Bombardment Operational Training 58th Bombardment 73rd Bombardment 315th Bombardment 316th Bombardment Groups Bombardment 2nd Bombardment 6th Bombardment 7th Bombardment 9th Bombardment 12th Bombardment 16th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 25th Bombardment 29th Bombardment 34th Bombardment 39th Bombardment 40th Bombardment 42nd Bombardment 46th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 48th Bombardment 85th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 88th Bombardment 94th Bombardment 95th Bombardment 96th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 100th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302nd Bombardment 303rd Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Bombardment 306th Bombardment 307th Bombardment 308th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 330th Bombardment 331st Bombardment 333rd Bombardment 346th Bombardment 351st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 379th Bombardment 381st Bombardment 382nd Bombardment 383rd Bombardment 384th Bombardment 385th Bombardment 388th Bombardment 390th Bombardment 393rd Bombardment 395th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 398th Bombardment 399th Bombardment 400th Bombardment 401st Bombardment 407th Bombardment 415th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 444th Bombardment 445th Bombardment 446th Bombardment 447th Bombardment 448th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 452nd Bombardment 453rd Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 457th Bombardment 458th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 462nd Bombardment 464th Bombardment 467th Bombardment 468th Bombardment 469th Bombardment 470th Bombardment 471st Bombardment 472nd Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment 486th Bombardment 487th Bombardment 488th Bombardment 489th Bombardment 490th Bombardment 491st Bombardment 493rd Bombardment 494th Bombardment 497th Bombardment 498th Bombardment 499th Bombardment 500th Bombardment 501st Bombardment 502nd Bombardment 504th Bombardment 505th Bombardment 509th Composite Fighter 20th Fighter 54th Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 507th Fighter 508th Fighter Reconnaissance 2nd Reconnaissance 3rd Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 7th Reconnaissance 8th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 443nd Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Air support operations squadrons of the United States Air Force
• Military units and formations in Hawaii
• Military units and formations established in 1942