| Unit Name: | 522nd Special Operations Squadron |
| Dates: | 1940–1945; 1946–2007; 2011–2014 |
| Role: | special operations |
| Command Structure: | Air Force Special Operations Command |
| Garrison: | Cannon AFB, New Mexico |
| Nickname: | Fireballs |
| Motto: | Air Commando (2011–2014) |
| Battles: | Southwest Pacific Theater Mediterranean Theater of Operations Korean War Vietnam War[1] |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 522nd Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 25 June 1951) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (World War II)[2] |
The 522nd Special Operations Squadron, nicknamed the Fireballs, was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was part of the 27th Special Operations Group, the flying component of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base. It was the first to operate the MC-130J Commando II.
The 522nd was originally organized in 1940 as the 16th Bombardment Squadron. When the United States entered World War II the squadron was deploying to the Philippines. Its ground echelon fought as infantry, with most members surrendering at Bataan, while the air echelon fought in the Netherlands East Indies, earning the squadron three Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC)s. In May 1942, the squadron reformed at Hunter Field, Georgia. It deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it was redesignated the 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron and was awarded an additional three DUCs. Following V-E Day, the squadron served in the occupation forces in Germany until the fall of 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated.
The 522nd was reactivated in 1946 and assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a fighter escort unit. During the Korean War, the squadron deployed to Japan and Korea and was awarded its seventh DUC. In 1957, SAC transferred its fighter squadrons to Tactical Air Command and the squadron became the 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadron the following year. It conducted numerous deployments to bases in Europe and the Pacific, including one to Thailand, where it again saw combat during the Vietnam War. The squadron was inactivated in 2007, when its parent wing converted from the fighter to the special operations mission.
The squadron was reactivated in 2012 as a special operations unit, but was inactivated in 2014 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 9th Special Operations Squadron.
The 522nd was originally constituted in 1939 as the 16th Bombardment Squadron (Light) and activated on 1 February 1940.[1] It was stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and later at Hunter Field, Georgia, before moving to Luzon in the Philippines in 1941. After war began between the United States and Japan, the unit's air echelon operated in Australia. When American units in the Philippines surrendered, ground elements of the unit were part of the Bataan Death March.
The unit was redesignated the 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943 and then the 522nd Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 30 May 1944. During World War II, it was one of the most decorated U.S. Army Air Force units. The unit later served in conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam wars, and flew almost a dozen different aircraft in support of various missions.
The 522nd Fighter Squadron inactivated in 2007 when the 27th Fighter Wing became the 27th Special Operations Wing.[3]
The 522nd Special Operations Squadron was reactivated at Cannon Air Force Base on 7 April 2011. The first to be equipped with the Lockheed MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, it was tasked with supporting special operations commanders through day and night low-level infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and air refueling of helicopters.[1] [4] In 2012, it achieved initial operational capability.
The unit was inactivated and a ceremony marking this was held on 9 December 2014. The squadron's personnel, aircraft, and equipment were transferred to the 9th Special Operations Squadron,[5] which moved to Cannon without personnel or equipment from Hurlburt Field.
Activated on 1 February 1940
Redesignated: 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943
Redesignated: 522nd Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 30 May 1944
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Redesignated 522nd Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 22 July 1947
Redesignated 522nd Fighter Squadron, Jet on 1 December 1949
Redesignated 522nd Fighter-Escort Squadron on 1 February 1950
Redesignated 522nd Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953
Redesignated 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 July 1957
Redesignated 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 522nd Fighter Squadron on 1 November 1991
Inactivated on 30 September 2007
Attached to unknown, 6 September–18 December 1958
Attached to TUSLOG, 18 October 1959 – 22 February 1960 and 5 February–15 June 1962
Attached to 405th Fighter Wing, 13 February–c. 7 March 1961, 8 August–c. 20 September 1964 and 15 August–25 November 1965
Attached to 2nd Air Division, 12 December 1962 – c. 15 February 1963, 16 March–6 May 1964 and c. 20 September–15 November 1964
Air echelon operated from Archerfield Airport, 24 December 1941 – 16 February 1942
Air echelon operated from Batchelor Airfield, Australia, 17 February-c. 8 March 1942
Air echelon operated from Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, Australia, c. 10-c. 25 March 1942
Deployed to Taegu Air Base (K-9),[8] South Korea, 5 December 1950 – 30 January 1951
Deployed to Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 31 January–20 June 1951
Deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan, 13–16 October 1952
Deployed to Chitose Air Base, Japan, 17 October 1952 – c. 13 February 1953
Deployed to RAF Sturgate, England, 7 May–17 August 1955
Deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 6 September–18 December 1958
Deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, 18 October 1959 – 22 February 1960
Deployed to Clark Air Base, Philippines, 13 February–c. 7 March 1961
Deployed to England Air Force Base, Louisiana, 29 March–5 May 1961
Deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, 5 February–15 June 1962
Deployed to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 21 October–1 December 1962
Deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, 16 Mar-6 May 1964 (B Flight)
Deployed to Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 Aug-25 Nov 1964 (further deployed to Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, after 15 August 1964)
Deployed to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 13 April–12 May 1966