604th Special Operations Squadron


The 604th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron It was last active at Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, where it was inactivated in September 1970.
The squadron was first activated in the spring of 1944 as the 4th Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron, although it was soon redesignated the 4th Fighter Squadron. It moved to the Pacific in the fall of 1944 and earned a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for combat in the Philippines. After the surrender of Japan, it served in the occupation forces until being inactivated in March 1946.
The squadron was active briefly as the 604th Fighter Squadron, Commando from 1963 to 1964 in a build-up of Air Force counterinsurgency units in a period of increased American involvement in Southeast Asia. It was activated again as the 604th Air Commando Squadron, Fighter in 1967 to test the combat capability of the Cessna A-37A Dragonfly and moved to Vietnam where it engaged in combat until 1970, when it was inactivated as the Air Force began to withdraw forces from the country. The squadron was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device and three Vietnamese Gallantry Crossed with Palm for its actions during the war.

History

World War II

The squadron was first activated at Drane Field in the spring of 1944 as the 4th Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 3d Air Commando Group. After training in Florida until October, the squadron shipped overseas to the Philippines as the 4th Fighter Squadron, Commando. Under Fifth Air Force, it attacked Japanese airfields, railways and other targets in the Philippines and Taiwan and supported ground forces in the Philippines. The unit flew escort missions for attacks on Taiwan and the Chinese coast and provided top cover for ship convoys. For its actions in the liberation of the Philippines the squadron was awarded a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.
In August 1945 the squadron moved to Ie Shima and flew a few patrols over Japan before the surrender of Japan. It moved to Chitose Airfield and served with the occupation forces until inactivating in March 1946. The squadron was disbanded in October 1948 while inactive.

Vietnam War

The squadron was activated again at Eglin Air Force Base Auxiliary Airfield#9, Florida on 1 July 1963 as the 604th Fighter Squadron, Commando. Its parent, the 1st Air Commando Wing was in the process of expanding from a group in response to the United States Air Force's expansion of special operations forces in the face of insurgencies in Southeast Asia. The squadron was inactivated in November 1964.
The 604th was redesignated the 604th Air Commando Squadron, Fighter and activated again at England Air Force Base, Louisiana in January 1967. The squadron was equipped with the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, testing the plane's suitability for combat in project Combat Dragon. This project had been inspired by the dwindling availability of Douglas A-1 Skyraiders, which had been performing the special operations attack mission. After training until July, the squadron moved to Bien Hoa Air Base to continue testing the A-37 in combat. Although initially assigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing the unit was operationally part of the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing while stationed in Vietnam.
At Bien Hoa, the squadron was nicknamed the "Mattel Marauders" by the pilots of the 3d wing's larger North American F-100 Super Sabre pilots. The squadron flew its first combat mission on 15 August 1967, only three months after receiving its first A-37. The slower speed at which the Dragonfly delivered its ordnance gave it improved accuracy and its small size made it a more difficult target for enemy antiaircraft defenses. The test of the A-37A ended in December 1967. In addition to close air support, the squadron flew forward air control missions during the test. Once the test was complete, the unit continued to engage in combat, later flying the improved A-37B. until being inactivated on 30 September 1970 as the Air Force discontinued its combat units at Bien Hoa in preparation to transfer the base to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.

Lineage

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Air Offensive, Japan5 January 1945 – 2 September 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
China Defensive5 January 1945 – 4 May 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Western Pacific5 January 1945 – 2 September 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Leyte5 January 1945 – 1 July 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Luzon5 January 1945 – 4 July 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Ryukus26 March 1945 – 2 July 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
China Offensive5 May 1945 – 2 September 19454th Fighter Squadron, Commando
World War II Army of Occupation 3 September 1945 – 25 March 19464th Fighter Squadron, Commando