193rd Special Operations Wing: Difference between revisions

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|image= [[File:193d Special Operations Wing.png|250px]]
|image= [[File:193d Special Operations Wing.png|250px]]
|caption= 193d Special Operations Wing emblem
|caption= 193d Special Operations Wing emblem
|dates= 1946 – present
|dates= 1942 – present
|country= United States
|country= United States
|allegiance=
|allegiance=
|branch= [[Air National Guard]]/<br/>[[United States Air Force]]
|branch= [[Air National Guard]]
|type= Wing
|type= Wing
|role= Psychological Warfare
|role= Psychological Warfare
|size=
|size=
|command_structure=[[Air National Guard]]/[[Air Force Special Operations Command]]
|command_structure= [[Pennsylvania Air National Guard]]
|current_commander= Colonel Jerry Otterbein
|current_commander= Colonel Jerry Otterbein
|garrison= [[Harrisburg International Airport]]
|garrison= [[Olmsted Air National Guard Base]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief=
|nickname=
|nickname=
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[[File:EC-130E 193rd SOS PA ANG at Middletown 1992.JPEG|thumb|An 193rd EC-130E in 1992.]]
[[File:EC-130E 193rd SOS PA ANG at Middletown 1992.JPEG|thumb|An 193rd EC-130E in 1992.]]
[[File:193d Special Operations Wing - C-130s.jpg|thumb|EC-130E (left) and EC-130J of the 193d Special Operations Wing, in 2004.]]
[[File:193d Special Operations Wing - C-130s.jpg|thumb|EC-130E (left) and EC-130J of the 193d Special Operations Wing, in 2004.]]
The '''193d Special Operations Wing''' (193 SOW) is a special operation unit assigned to the [[Pennsylvania Air National Guard]] which flies the [[EC-130J Commando Solo]]. As part of the [[Air National Guard|United States Air National Guard]], the command executes both state and Federal missions as directed.
The '''193d Special Operations Wing (193 SOW)''' is a unit of the [[Pennsylvania Air National Guard]], stationed at [[Olmsted Air National Guard Base]], Middletown, Pennsylvania. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the [[United States Air Force]] [[Air Force Special Operations Command]].


==Mission==
The unit's role is to broadcast radio and television signals to target populations from an airborne transmitter, jamming existing television and radio signals where necessary. Messages are not developed within the wing itself, but are provided by staff of the [[United States Army]]'s [[4th Psychological Operations Group]] (Airborne), based at [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina|Fort Bragg]], North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web
The 193d SOW's primary wartime and contingency operations mission is to broadcast radio and television signals to target populations from an airborne transmitter, jamming existing television and radio signals where necessary. Messages are not developed within the wing itself, but are provided by staff of the [[United States Army]]'s [[4th Psychological Operations Group]] (Airborne), based at [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina|Fort Bragg]], North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2002/Feb/Why_Special_Ops.htm
|url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2002/Feb/Why_Special_Ops.htm
|title=Why Special Ops Prefer C-130s for Many Missions
|title=Why Special Ops Prefer C-130s for Many Missions
Line 35: Line 36:
|publisher=National Defense Magazine}}</ref>
|publisher=National Defense Magazine}}</ref>


==Mission==
==Units==
⚫
* [[193d Special Operations Squadron]]
As part of the Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the [[United States Air Force]], its primary wartime and contingency operations mission is [[psychological operations]] (PSYOP) as a gained unit of the [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] (AFSOC).
⚫
* [[112th Air Operations Squadron]]
⚫
* [[201st Red Horse Flight]]
⚫
* [[203rd Weather Flight]]
⚫
* [[211th Engineering Installation Squadron]]
⚫
* [[271st Combat Communications Squadron]]
⚫
* [[148th Air Support Operations Squadron]]
⚫
* 553rd Air Force Band/Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic

⚫
The 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron (formerly the 114th Tactical Control Flight) at [[Johnstown-Cambria County Airport]] was assigned to the 193 SOW, but was realigned into the ANG's [[171st Air Refueling Wing]] (171 ARW) at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]]/Air Reserve Station shortly after moving to Johnstown.


==History==
==History==
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: Gained by: [[23d Air Force]], [[Military Airlift Command]], 1985
: Gained by: [[23d Air Force]], [[Military Airlift Command]], 1985
: Gained by: [[Air Force Special Operations Command]], 1990 – present
: Gained by: [[Air Force Special Operations Command]], 1990 – present

===Components===
⚫
* [[193d Special Operations Squadron]]
⚫
* [[112th Air Operations Squadron]]
⚫
* [[201st Red Horse Flight]]
⚫
* [[203rd Weather Flight]]
⚫
* [[211th Engineering Installation Squadron]]
⚫
* [[271st Combat Communications Squadron]]
⚫
* [[148th Air Support Operations Squadron]]
⚫
* 553rd Air Force Band/Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic

⚫
The 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron (formerly the 114th Tactical Control Flight) at [[Johnstown-Cambria County Airport]] was assigned to the 193 SOW, but was realigned into the ANG's [[171st Air Refueling Wing]] (171 ARW) at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]]/Air Reserve Station shortly after moving to Johnstown.


===Stations===
===Stations===
{{col-begin}}
* [[Reading Army Airfield|Reading Army Airfield (later AFB)]] (Spaatz Field), Pennsylvania, 1946–1951, 1952–1964
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* [[Dover AFB]], Delaware, 1951–1952
* Bushey Hall (AAF-341), England, 1 Oct 1942
* [[RAF Snailwell]] (AAF-361), England, 4 Oct 1942
: Ground echelon, which was formed in US, was at [[Harding Army Air Field]], La, until c. 2 Nov 1942
* [[RAF Kings Cliffe]] (AAF-367), England, 8 Dec 1942 – 4 Jan 1943
* [[Casablanca-Anfa Airport]], French Morocco, 20 Nov 1942
* [[Oujda Airfield]], French Morocco, 6 Jan 1943
* [[La Senia Airfield]], Algeria, 12 Feb 1943
* [[Orleansville Airfield]], Algeria, 9 Mar 1943
* [[Le Sers Airfield]], Tunisia, 21 Apr 1943
* Djidjelli Airfield, Algeria, 14 May 1943
* [[Rerhaia Airfield]], Algeria, 18 Nov 1943
* Corsica, c. 6 Dec 1943
: Detachment operated from [[Capodichino Airport]], Naples, Italy, 10 Feb-Mar 1944
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* Sardinia, 19 Ju1 1944
* [[Tarquinia Airfield]], Italy, 15 Sep 1944
* [[Pisa Airfield]], Italy, 2 Dec 1944 – 14 Jul 1945
* [[Seymour Johnson Field]], NC, 25 Aug – 7 Nov 1945.
* [[Reading Municipal Airport]], Pennsylvania, 24 May 1946-10 February 1951; 1 November 1952-30 June 1956
: Operated from [[Dover Air Force Base]], Delaware, 10 February 1951 – 1 November 1952
* [[Reading Municipal Airport]], Pennsylvania, 1 July 1956-1964
* [[Olmstead Air Force Base]], Pennsylvania, 1964–1969
* [[Olmstead Air Force Base]], Pennsylvania, 1964–1969
* Harrisburg International Airport, 1969
* [[Olmsted Air National Guard Base]], 1969 – present
*: Designated: [[Olmsted Air National Guard Base]], 1991 – present
{{col-end}}


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===

Revision as of 21:14, 17 September 2012

193d Special Operations Wing
193d Special Operations Wing emblem
Active1942 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchAir National Guard
TypeWing
RolePsychological Warfare
Part ofPennsylvania Air National Guard
Garrison/HQOlmsted Air National Guard Base
Motto(s)Never Seen, Always Heard
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Jerry Otterbein
EC-121 Constellation – 193d Tactical Electric Warfare Group, 1978
An 193rd EC-130E in 1992.
EC-130E (left) and EC-130J of the 193d Special Operations Wing, in 2004.

The 193d Special Operations Wing (193 SOW) is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed at Olmsted Air National Guard Base, Middletown, Pennsylvania. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Force Special Operations Command.

Mission

The 193d SOW's primary wartime and contingency operations mission is to broadcast radio and television signals to target populations from an airborne transmitter, jamming existing television and radio signals where necessary. Messages are not developed within the wing itself, but are provided by staff of the United States Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[1]

Units

The 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron (formerly the 114th Tactical Control Flight) at Johnstown-Cambria County Airport was assigned to the 193 SOW, but was realigned into the ANG's 171st Air Refueling Wing (171 ARW) at Pittsburgh International Airport/Air Reserve Station shortly after moving to Johnstown.

History

Activated on 1 October 1942 at RAF Duxford, England as the 347th Fighter Squadron. Initially assigned to VIII Fighter Command, reassigned to Twelfth Air Force and engaged in combat in the North African Campaign and later based in Italy as part of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). Engaged in combat during Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, also flew combat missions from Sardinia and in the Rhone Valley of France, 1944.

Inactivated November 1945 and allocated to Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 1946, being re-designated 148th Fighter Squadron, and assigned to Reading Army Airfield as a geographically separated unit of the 112th Fighter Group at Pittsburgh Airport.

The squadron was activated at Reading AAF on 22 April 1947 with P (later F-47) Thunderbolts. On 10 February 1951 the squadron was federalized due to the Korean War and brought to active duty at Dover AFB, Delaware.

It was released from active duty on 1 November 1952 and was equipped with the F-51 Mustang for interceptor duty. In 1956, as propeller driven F-51 Mustang fighters faded into history, the unit was redesignated the 140th Aeromedical Transport Squadron, flying the C-46 Commando and later the C-119 Flying Boxcar.

In 1964, the unit relocated to its current location at Olmsted Air Force Base (present day Harrisburg International Airport) to flying the C-121 Lockheed Constellation. Olmsted runways and facilities were better suited to the larger C-121s. In 1964, it was again redesignated, this time as the 168th Military Air Transport Group.

In 1967, it was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) and redesignated the 193d Tactical Electronic Warfare Group. Four of its C-121s were converted to EC-121S Coronet Solos for its electronic warfare mission. The unit transitioned to the EC-130E Commando Solo in 1977 and was redesignated the 193d Special Operations Group, assigned to TAC.

In the mid-1980s, along with all other USAF special operations units, it was assigned to the 23d Air Force of the Military Airlift Command (MAC). Following the creation of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in the 1990s, the unit was reassigned to AFSOC and redesignated the 193d Special Operations Wing. In 2001, the wing transitioned from the EC-130E to the EC-130J Commando Solo.

The wing has seen extensive overseas service, to include Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operations Support Democracy and Uphold Democracy and Operation Desert Storm, as well as more recent service in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Odyssey Dawn.

Lineage

  • Activated on 1 Oct 1942 by special authority prior to constitution as 347th Fighter Squadron on 2 October 1942.
Inactivated on 7 November 1945.
  • Re-designated 148th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Pennsylvania ANG, on 24 May 1946
148th Fighter Squadron extended federal recognition on 27 February 1947
Federalized and placed on active duty, 10 February 1951
Re-designated: 148th Fighter Squadron, 10 February 1951
Released from active duty and returned to Pennsylvania commonwealth control, 1 November 1952
Re-designated: 148th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 November 1952
Re-designated: 148th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 July 1955
Inactivated on 30 June 1956
  • Re-designated: 140th Aeromedical Transport Squadron and activated 1 July 1956
Status changed from Squadron to Group, 16 February 1964
Re-designated: 168th Military Air Transport Group, 16 February 1964
Re-designated: 193d Tactical Electronic Warfare Group, 1 June 1967
Re-designated: 193d Special Operations Group, 1 June 1977
Status changed from Group to Wing, 1 June 1995
Re-designated: 193d Special Operations Wing 1 June 1995

Assignments

Gained by: Military Air Transport Service
Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1967
Gained by: 23d Air Force, Military Airlift Command, 1985
Gained by: Air Force Special Operations Command, 1990 – present

Stations

Aircraft

[2]

Decorations

References

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

  1. ^ Harold Kennedy (February 2002). "Why Special Ops Prefer C-130s for Many Missions". National Defense Magazine.
  2. ^ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
  3. ^ Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=193rd_Special_Operations_Wing&oldid=513257134"