20th Special Operations Squadron

20th Special Operations Sqdrn - Vietnam

UPDATED: 28 Dec 04

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Note: Photos courtesy of David Galvan and Jim Green - 20th SOS

20th

Special Operations Squadron

	UH-1P Crew waiting at Duc Lap FOB for the word to launch.
	UH-1P Slick on return flight to Ban Me Thout after a day on alert.
	UH-1P and O-2 FAC bird circa 1970. The FACs kept touch with the ground teams in the field and provided guidance for aircrews to pick the teams up.
	Packing the Drag Chute. Jim Green (L), Tom Kriedler (C) Brian McGregor (R)
	20th SOS at Thieu Atar, a forward operating location along the border of Laos. 1971
	SSgt Dave Galvan at the Tuy Hoa equipment room cleaning weapons that were just issued. 1970
	Tripod mounted XM174 grenade launcher. The 40mm automatic grenade launcher was carried as backup on the gun birds in case one of the Miniguns failed beyond repair. It used a 12 round canister. Not the most reliable due to canister problems.
	The Burning Chopper. Near where Dave Galvan went down on tail no. 484. Located near Mondol Kiri, Cambodia. First mission 25 September 70.
	Waiting for Action - Capt Dave Frutchey reading while Sgt Bud Crowell gets some rest. Near Mondol Kiri, Cambodia.
	Gunbay - UH-1

20th SOS UH-1P Crew waiting at Duc Lap FOB for the word to launch.

Note: History of the unit in SEA only is given.

Lineage

Activated on 24 Sep 1965. Organized on 8 Oct 1965. Redesignated 20th Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1972.

Assignments

Pacific Air Forces, 24 Sep 1965; 2d Air Division, 8 Oct 1965 (attached to 6250th Combat Support Group, c. 10 Dec 1965–8 Mar 1966); 14th Air Commando (later, 14th Special Operations) Wing, 8 Mar 1966; 483d Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Sep 1971–1 Apr 1972.

Stations

Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 Oct 1965; Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 15 Jun 1966; Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 5 Sep 1969; Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 25 Sep 1970–1 Apr 1972.

Aircraft

CH–3, 1965–1969; UH–1, 1967–1972.

Operations

Combat in Southeast Asia, Dec 1965–Mar 1972.

Honors

Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.

Decorations. Presidential Unit Citations: (Southeast Asia), 8 Mar 1966–7 Mar 1967; 21 Jun 1968–30 Jun 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 10 Jan–12 Mar 1966; 1 Nov 1966–1 Apr 1967; 16 Jun 1967–20 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1967–30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1970–30 Jun 1971; 1 Sep 1971–31 Dec 1971. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 1 Jan–30 Aug 1968; 16 Jun 1967–1 Apr 1972.

The majority of the Information on this page is from the USAF Historical Research Agency: http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/

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