609th Special Operations Squadron

The 609th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was constituted on 1 October 1942, and was originally designated the 349th Night Fighter Squadron. Its last assignment was with the 56th Special Operations Wing based at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. The squadron served notably for two and a half years combat duty during the Vietnam War. It was inactivated on 1 Dec 1969.

Combat Operations During the Vietnam War
The 609th Special Operations Squadron was activated as the 609th Air Commando Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand on 22 Aug 1967 and officially organized on 15 Sept 1967. It was assigned to the 56th Air Commando Wing. The squadron flew the Douglas A-26 Invader, a twin engine attack bomber of WWII vintage. These aircraft were transferred from the 606th Air Commando Squadron which transitioned to other aircraft. The primary mission of the 609th was night interdiction of truck traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Its call sign for these missions was "Nimrod", inherited from the 606th and other squadrons that had flown that mission, and "The Nimrods" soon became the squadron's nickname. The squadron's A-26 aircraft carried tail letters "TA".

On 1 August 1968, all Air Commando Wings were redesignated as Special Operations Units, and the 56th Air Commando Wing became the 56th Special Operations Wing, with the 609th Air Commando Squadron becoming the 609th Special Operations Squadron.

The night interdiction tasks of the 609th were gradually taken over by squadrons flying Lockheed AC-130 gunships, and the A-26 aircraft were phased out of active service by November 1969. The 609th was inactivated on 1 December 1969. The squadron's losses had been heavy, and it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary gallantry.

Lineage



 * 349th Night Fighter Squadron (constituted on 1 Oct 1942; activated on 4 Oct 1942; disbanded on 31 Mar 1944; reconstituted on 19 Sept 1985).
 * 329th Transport Squadron (Cargo & Mail), (constituted on 12 May 1944; activated on 31 May 1944; inactivated on 9 Sept 1945; disbanded on 8 Oct 1948; reconstituted on 19 Sept 1985) consolidated (19 Sept 1985) with the 609th Special Operations Squadron.
 * 609th Special Operations Squadron (constituted 609th Air Commando Squadron, and activated on 22 Aug 1967; organized on 15 Sept 1967; redesignated 609th Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968; inactivated on 1 Dec 1969).

Assignments

 * Fighter Command School, 4 Oct 1942
 * Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, 21 Jan 1943
 * 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, 26 Jul 1943
 * Fourth Air Force, 15 Jan 1944-31 Mar 1944.
 * Mediterranean Air Transport Service, 31 May 1944-9 Sept 1945
 * 56th Air Commando Wing (later Special Operations Wing), 15 Sept 1967-1 Dec 1969.

Stations

 * Kissimmee Army Air Field, Florida, 4 Oct 1942;
 * Hammer Field, California, 15 Jan-31 Mar 1944
 * Capodichino, Naples, Italy, 31 May 1944-9 Sept 1945
 * Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 15 Sept 1967-1 Dec 1969.

Commanders
Not manned, 4 Oct-Jan 1943; Lt Col William R. Yancey, Jan 1943-31 Mar 1944. Maj James E. Scoggins Jr., 31 May 1944; Capt William E. Gedecke, c. Jun 1944; Capt Bernard J. Weist, 24 Aug 1944-unknown. Lt Col Allen F. Learmonth, 15 Sep 1967; Lt Col Robert E. Brumm, by 31 Mar 1968; Lt Col John J. Shippey, by 30 Sep 1968; Lt Col Robert L. Schultz, by 31 Dec 1968; Lt Col Robert W. Stout, by 30 Sep 1969; Lt Col Jackie R. Douglas, by 30 Oct 1969-1 Dec 1969.

Members
Maj. James E. Sizemore - KIA, Laos 1969, Maj. Howard V. Andre - KIA, Laos 1969,

Aircraft

 * DB-7, 1942
 * L-6, 1942–1943
 * P-61, 1942–1944
 * P-70, 1942–1944
 * B-17, 1944–1945
 * B-25, 1944–1945
 * C-47, 1944–1945
 * C-53, 1944–1945
 * A-26, 1967-1969.

Operations

 * Trained crews for night fighter operations, Oct 1942-Mar 1944.
 * Delivered cargo and mail throughout the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, Mar 1944-Sep 1945.
 * Combat in Southeast Asia, Sept 1967-Dec 1969.

Service Streamers
American Service, World War II

Campaign Streamers
World War II: Rome-Arno. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring 1970.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
None.

Decorations

 * Presidential Unit Citations: 1 Oct 1967-30 Apr 1968; 1 Nov 1968-1 May 1969; 1 Oct-1 Dec 1969.
 * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jul 1968-1 Dec 1969.
 * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 15 Sept 1967-1 Dec 1969.