603rd Special Operations Squadron
| 603rd Special Ops Sqd | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Air Force: | |||
| Division: | |||
| Wing: 1st Air Commando Wing | |||
| Active: | |||
| Theater | |||
| Motto: | |||
| Aircraft: Douglas B-26K | |||
This unit was originally known as the 603rd Fighter Squadron (Composite). They were renamed to the 603rd Air Commando Squadron circa 1965.
The 603rd Air Commando Squadron was renamed the 603rd Special Operations Squadron during 1968.
The Squadron's parent unit was the 1st Special Operations Wing. However, in 1966 a detachment of planes from this squadron, Detachment-1, were sent to Nakhon Phanom Air Base and attached to the 606th Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing.
This is the patch that was worn by Detachment-1 while they were stationed at Nakhon Phanom Air Base.
After the detachment duty was completed the 603rd returned to normal duties at England AFB. This is the patch that was worn while the unit was stationed at England AFB.
Later the Squadron was moved to Hurlburt Field and became a training squadron tasked with training new B-26K pilots on tactics and maneuvers. This patch was worn by the unit when they were a Special Operations Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field.
Planes
Big Eagle - Detachment 1
The following planes were assigned to the 603rd Air Commando Squadron, Detachement-1 - otherwise known as Operation Big Eagle. These planes were the first B-26Ks in Vietnam and were attached to the 606th Air Commando Squadron. The first 8 planes went over in Jun 1966, with subsequent reinforcements arriving throughout the rest of 1966. In Jan 1967 all of these surviving planes were transferred to the 606th Air Commando Squadron.
These photos show planes of Project Big Eagle at NKP.
| Serial Number | Date Assigned | Date Attached to 606th. | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64-17643 | 3 Aug 1964 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. Glass Nose. Crashed 25 Jul 1966. |
| 64-17650 | 9 Sep 1964 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. Shot down 28 Jun 1966. |
| 64-17660 | 1 Dec 1964 | 1 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17664 | 31 Dec 1964 | 21 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17665 | 6 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. Scrapped. |
| 64-17667 | 16 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. Shot down 23 Mar 1969. |
| 64-17668 | 21 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Shot down 22 Feb 1967. |
| 64-17669 | 2 Feb 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Destroyed 22 Feb 1967 when 64-17668 exploded in flight beside it. |
| 64-17672 | 22 Feb 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. Shot down 14 Dec 1966. |
| 64-17675 | 20 Mar 1965 | 1 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17676 | 23 Mar 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. On disply at Wright-Patterson. |
| 64-17678 | 15 Apr 1965 | 8 Aug 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
Regular Squadron Planes
| Serial Number | Date Assigned | Date Attached to 606th. | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64-17640 | 15 Apr 1968 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. On Display at South Dakota Air & Space Museum. |
| 64-17641 | 22 Jan 1965 | 1 Sep 1967 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17642 | 20 Jul 1964 | 21 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17643 | 4 Aug 1964 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17644 | 13 Aug 1964 | 18 Aug 1964 | Sent to the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wingmo. |
| 64-17645 | 13 Aug 1964 | 18 Aug 1964 | Sent to the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wingmo. |
| 64-17646 | 13 Aug 1964 | 18 Aug 1964 | Sent to the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wingmo. |
| 64-17647 | 24 Aug 1964 | 8 Aug 1965 | Sent to the 605th Air Commando Squadron |
| 64-17647 | 29 Jul 1968 | 22 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. Scrapped. |
| 64-17649 | 27 Dec 1964 | 28 Dec 1964 | Sent to the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wingmo. |
| 64-17650 | 10 Sep 1964 | 1 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. Shot down 28 Jun 1966. |
| 64-17652 | 5 Oct 1964 | 12 Oct 1968 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17654 | 21 Oct 1964 | 9 Aug 1967 | Sent to OnMark, then to Vietnam. |
| 64-17655 | 18 Apr 1968 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan, scrapped. |
| 64-17656 | 11 Nov 1964 | 22 Dec 1964 | Destroyed in crash. |
| 64-17657 | 28 Apr 1968 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. |
| 64-17658 | 18 Nov 1964 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. Scrapped. |
| 64-17660 | 1 Dec 1964 | 1 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17662 | 12 Dec 1964 | 27 Dec 1964 | Sent to the Congo as part of Operation Anstalt Wingmo. |
| 64-17664 | 31 Dec 1964 | 21 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17664 | 27 Apr 1968 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. |
| 64-17665 | 7 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. Shot down 28 Jun 1966. |
| 64-17666 | 30 Jan 1965 | 1 Nov 1968 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17667 | 16 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17668 | 22 Jan 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17669 | 3 Feb 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. Lost 22 Feb 1967. |
| 64-17670 | 5 Feb 1965 | 1 Nov 1968 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17671 | 17 Feb 1965 | 21 Nov 1967 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17672 | 23 Feb 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. Shot down 14 Dec 1966. |
| 64-17673 | 8 Mar 1965 | 6 Dec 1967 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17674 | 10 Mar 1965 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan |
| 64-17675 | 20 Mar 1965 | 1 Dec 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17676 | 24 Mar 1965 | 11 Jun 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17677 | 15 Apr 1965 | 3 Aug 1967 | Sent to Vietnam. |
| 64-17678 | 15 Apr 1965 | 8 Aug 1966 | Sent to Vietnam as part of Project Big Eagle. |
| 64-17678 | 22 Feb 1968 | 24 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. |
| 64-17679 | 15 Apr 1965 | 23 Oct 1969 | Sent to Davis-Monthan. |
Images
