14th Weapons Squadron

14th Weapons Squadron
Emblem of the 14th Weapons Squadron
Active	1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Training

USAF Lockheed MC-130 using flares

An MH-53 Pave Low helicopter at Hurlburt Field, Florida

"From SPOOKY to Spectre" from the USAF Art Collection, artist depiction of an AC-130 Spectre and AC-47 Spooky gunship, both engaging targets

The 14th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The 57th WPS is a Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of the 57th Wing, assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to provide Special Operations instructional flying on specialized types of AFSOC aircraft.

History

World War II

Activated in 1942 as a liason and Observation squadron, supported US Army maneuvers by flying photo and tactical observation missions, spotting artillery fire, 1942 until early 1944.

Deployed to Europe in early 1944, providing courier service, observation, mail and other liaison services in support of the US Army advance through France and Germany, Jul 1944-May 1945; dropped medical supplies, food, and ammunition to an Army battalion stranded on the Moselle River, Nov 1944; supported the Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; added medical evacuation to its tasks in Apr 1945

Supported US occupying forces in Germany, May-Sep 1945.

Vietnam War

Combat in Vietnam, Jan-May 1968; provided aerial fire support in defense of USAF forces, including bases, camps, outposts, and hamlets in southern half of country.

Modern era

The current unit was organized as the Weapons School Special Operations Forces (SOF) Division on 15 March 2000 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The unit designation was changed to Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group on 10 August 2000 to align it with the group charged with providing aircraft and personnel who would help build the course.

Re-designated in 2003 as the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to provide advanced training in weapons and tactics employment to Special Operations Officers in the MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130W Combat/Dragon Spear, MC-130P Combat Shadow, and MC-130J Combat Shadow II Special Operations aircraft. Also operates the MH-53 Pave Low combat helicopter.

Lineage

• Constituted 14th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942

Activated on 2 Mar 1942

Re-designated: 14th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942

Re-designated: 14th Liaison Squadron on 2 Apr 1943

Inactivated on 25 Mar 1949

• Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 14th Air Commando Squadron (Fire Support), which was constituted, and activated, on 19 Oct 1967

Organized on 25 Oct 1967

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 May 1968

• Re-designated: 14th Special Operations Squadron on 19 Sep 1985

Re-designated: 14th Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003

Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group.

Assignments

• Air Force Combat Command, 2 Mar 1942
• Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942
• 26th Observation Group, 29 Mar 1942
• 73d Observation (later, 73d Reconnaissance) Group, 7 Mar 1943
• I Air Support Command (later, I Tactical Air Division), 11 Aug 1943
• United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 4 Apr 1944

Attached to US Third Army for operations to 15 Nov 1944

• Ninth Air Force, 10 Apr 1944
• XIX Tactical Air Command, 25 Apr 1944

Attached to Twelfth United States Army Group for operations, 15 Nov 1944-26 Jul 1945

• XII Tactical Air Command, 4 Jul 1945

Attached to US Third Army for operations, 26 Jul 1945-7 Jun 1946)

• 70th Fighter Wing, 5 Oct 1945

Attached to US Constabulary for operations, Jun 1946-c. Aug 1947

• 64th Fighter Wing, 10 Jul 1946
• XII Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1947
• Bad Kissingen Air Base, 6 Oct 1947
• United States Air Forces in Europe, 20 Dec 1947

Attached to Headquarters Command, United States Air Forces in Europe, 20 Feb-1 Jul 1948

• 7150th Air Force Composite Wing, 1 Jul 1948-25 Mar 1949
• 14th Air Commando Wing, 25 Oct 1967-1 May 1968
• USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003-Present

Stations

• Fort Devens, MA, 2 Mar 1942
• Hillsgrove Army Airfield, RI, 20 May 1942
• Quonset Point NAS, RI, 9 Jun 1942
• Hyannis Airport, MA, 9 Jul 1942
• Vichy Army Airfield, MO, 17 Aug 1942
• William Northern Field, TN, 8 Sep 1942
• Godman Field, KY, 7 Mar 1943
• Camp Campbell Army Airfield, KY, 25 Jun 1943

Operated from Lebanon, TN, 27 Jun 1943-4 Feb 1944

• Statesboro Army Airfield, GA, 6 Feb-24 Mar 1944
• Alderley Edge, England, 9 Apr 1944
• Knutsford, England, 11 May 1944
• RAF Ibsley (AAF-347), England, 29 Jun 1944
• Nehou, France, 6 Jul 1944
• Le Repas, France, 2 Aug 1944
• Beauchamps (near Villediew-les-Poeles), France, 4 Aug 1944
• Poilley, France, 7 Aug 1944
• St Germain, France, 12 Aug 1944
• La Bozoge, France, 15 Aug 1944
• Dampierre (near Brou), France, 20 Aug 1944

• Courcy (near Pithiviers), France, 25 Aug 1944
• St Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes, France, 30 Aug 1944
• Marson, France, 4 Sep 1944
• Gussainville, France, 14 Sep 1944
• Nancy, France, 12 Oct 1944
• Luxembourg City (A-97), Luxembourg, 31 Dec 1944
• Oberstein, Germany, 27 Mar 1945
• Berkersheim, Germany, 3 Apr 1945
• Hersfeld, Germany, 11 Apr 1945
• Erlangen, Germany, 22 Apr 1945
• Regensburg, Germany, 2 May 1945
• Holzkirchen, Germany, 23 May 1945
• Bamberg, Germany, 10 Jul 1946
• Heidelberg, Germany, 10 Feb 1947
• Bad Kissengen, Germany, 5 Sep 1947
• Heidelberg, Germany, 20 Dec 1947
• Wiesbaden AB, Germany, 20 Feb 1948-25 Mar 1949
• Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 25 Oct 1967-1 May 1968
• Hurlburt Field, FL, 3 Feb 2003-Present

Aircraft

• L-1 Vigilant and L-4 Grasshopper, 1942-1943
• L-5 Sentinel, 1943-1947
• C-78 Bobcat, 1944-1945
• AC-47 Spooky, 1967-1968.

References

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

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
• USAFHRA 14 Weapons Squadron Factsheet