603rd Special Operations Squadron: Difference between revisions

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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 603rd Air Commando Squadron was renamed the 603rd Special Operations Squadron during 1968.  
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[[File:603ACSDet1_NKP.JPG]]
[[File:603ACSDet1_NKP.JPG]]


After the detachment duty was completed the 603rd became a training squadron tasked with training new B-26K pilots on tactics and manuvers.  
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. <br>
[[File:603SOS England.JPG]]
 
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. <br>
[[File:603SOTS Hurlburt.JPG|220 px]]


==Planes==
==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. <br>
[[File:Big Eagle.jpg|600px]]<br>
[[File:Big Eagle A-26A.jpg|600px]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!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==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Serial Number
!Serial Number
!Date Assigned
!Date Assigned
!Date Left
!Date Attached to 606th.
!Comments
!Comments
|-
|-
|[[64-17640]]
|[[64-17640]]
|1 Jul 1969
|15 Apr 1968
|23 Oct 1969
|23 Oct 1969
|Left for storage at Davis-Monthan AFB.  
|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==
[[File:603rd Plane dropping practice bomb.jpg|600px]]<br>
[[File:Night Mission.jpg|600px]]
[[Category:B-26K]]

Latest revision as of 20:42, 9 July 2021

603rd Special Ops Sqd
603ACS.jpg
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.
603ACSDet1 NKP.JPG

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.
603SOS England.JPG

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.
603SOTS Hurlburt.JPG

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.
Big Eagle.jpg
Big Eagle A-26A.jpg

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

603rd Plane dropping practice bomb.jpg
Night Mission.jpg

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