14th Weapons Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 14th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force
unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School
, stationed at Hurlburt Field
, Florida.
The 14th Weapons Squadron (WPS) is a Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of the 57th Wing
, assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to produce Weapons Officers for the Special Operations community by providing graduate level instructional flying on AFSOC aircraft through Weapons Instructor Courses (WIC). Currently, the squadron produces SOF Weapons Officers specializing in Lockheed AC-130
and MC-130 aircraft. The MH-53 Pave Low
Weapons Instructor Course ended with the retirement of the MH-53 Pave Low
aircraft.
The unit traces its lineage back to the 14th Air Observation Squadron and participated in the landings at Normandy in June 1944. Later it was reactivated during the Vietnam era as the 14th Air Commando Squadron, flying AC-47 Spooky gunships between 1967 and 1968.
The 14th flew out of Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Bien Hoa, and Binh Thuy, providing fire support in defense of US airbases, Special Forces Camps, Republic of Vietnam Army outposts, and South Vietnamese hamlets. Decorations of this combat unit include the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the AF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device.
Deployed to Europe in early 1944, providing courier service, observation, mail and other liaison services in support of the US Army advance through France and Germany, Jul 1944-May 1945; dropped medical supplies, food, and ammunition to an Army battalion stranded on the Moselle River, Nov 1944; supported the Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; added medical evacuation to its tasks in Apr 1945
Supported US occupying forces in Germany, May-Sep 1945.
Re-designated in 2003 as the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to provide advanced training in weapons and tactics employment to Special Operations officer aircrew members in the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, MH-53 Pave Low, MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow, and MC-130J Combat Shadow II Special Operations aircraft. The MH-53 weapons instructor course deactivated in 2006 in conjunction with the retirement of the MH-53 from the Air Force inventory.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School
USAF Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
, stationed at Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida.
The 14th Weapons Squadron (WPS) is a Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of the 57th Wing
57th Wing
The 57th Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy into a combat arena to conduct integrated combat operations.-Mission:The 57...
, assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to produce Weapons Officers for the Special Operations community by providing graduate level instructional flying on AFSOC aircraft through Weapons Instructor Courses (WIC). Currently, the squadron produces SOF Weapons Officers specializing in Lockheed AC-130
Lockheed AC-130
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily-armed ground-attack aircraft variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane. The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support...
and MC-130 aircraft. The MH-53 Pave Low
MH-53 Pave Low
The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low series is a long-range combat search and rescue helicopter for the United States Air Force. The series was upgraded from the HH-53B/C, variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion. The HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" was initially developed to replace the HH-3 "Jolly...
Weapons Instructor Course ended with the retirement of the MH-53 Pave Low
MH-53 Pave Low
The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low series is a long-range combat search and rescue helicopter for the United States Air Force. The series was upgraded from the HH-53B/C, variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion. The HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" was initially developed to replace the HH-3 "Jolly...
aircraft.
The unit traces its lineage back to the 14th Air Observation Squadron and participated in the landings at Normandy in June 1944. Later it was reactivated during the Vietnam era as the 14th Air Commando Squadron, flying AC-47 Spooky gunships between 1967 and 1968.
The 14th flew out of Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Bien Hoa, and Binh Thuy, providing fire support in defense of US airbases, Special Forces Camps, Republic of Vietnam Army outposts, and South Vietnamese hamlets. Decorations of this combat unit include the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the AF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device.
World War II
Activated in 1942 as a liaison and Observation squadron, supported US Army maneuvers by flying photo and tactical observation missions, spotting artillery fire, 1942 until early 1944.Deployed to Europe in early 1944, providing courier service, observation, mail and other liaison services in support of the US Army advance through France and Germany, Jul 1944-May 1945; dropped medical supplies, food, and ammunition to an Army battalion stranded on the Moselle River, Nov 1944; supported the Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; added medical evacuation to its tasks in Apr 1945
Supported US occupying forces in Germany, May-Sep 1945.
Vietnam War
Combat in Vietnam, Jan-May 1968; provided aerial fire support in defense of USAF forces, including bases, camps, outposts, and hamlets in southern half of country.Modern era
The current unit was organized as the Weapons School Special Operations Forces (SOF) Division on 15 March 2000 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The unit designation was changed to Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group on 10 August 2000 to align it with the group charged with providing aircraft and personnel who would help build the course.Re-designated in 2003 as the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to provide advanced training in weapons and tactics employment to Special Operations officer aircrew members in the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, MH-53 Pave Low, MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow, and MC-130J Combat Shadow II Special Operations aircraft. The MH-53 weapons instructor course deactivated in 2006 in conjunction with the retirement of the MH-53 from the Air Force inventory.
Commanders
- Lt Col David Hanson (Jan 2011 - Present)
- Lt Col Robert Sagraves (Jun 2009 – Jan 2011)
- Lt Col Craig Walker (May 2008 - Jun 2009)
- Lt Col John Murphy (Nov 2006 - May 2008)
- Lt Col Christopher Kaufman (Jul 2005 - Nov 2006)
- Lt Col J. Marcus Hicks (Apr 2003 - Jul 2005)
- Lt Col Christopher Connelly (Jul 2000 - Apr 2003)
Lineage
- Constituted 14th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942
- Activated on 2 Mar 1942
- Re-designated: 14th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
- Re-designated: 14th Liaison Squadron on 2 Apr 1943
- Inactivated on 25 Mar 1949
- Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 14th Air Commando Squadron (Fire Support), which was constituted, and activated, on 19 Oct 1967
- Organized on 25 Oct 1967
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 May 1968
- Re-designated: 14th Special Operations Squadron on 19 Sep 1985
- Re-designated: 14th Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003
- Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of Detachment 1, 16th Operations Group.
Assignments
- Air Force Combat Command, 2 Mar 1942
- Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942
- 26th Observation Group, 29 Mar 1942
- 73d Observation (later, 73d Reconnaissance) Group10th Tactical Reconnaissance GroupThe 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany...
, 7 Mar 1943 - I Air Support Command (later, I Tactical Air Division)III Reconnaissance CommandThe III Reconnaissance Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
, 11 Aug 1943 - United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 4 Apr 1944
- Attached to US Third Army for operations to 15 Nov 1944
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 10 Apr 1944 - XIX Tactical Air CommandXIX Tactical Air CommandThe XIX Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The unit's last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, 25 Apr 1944
- Ninth Air Force
- Attached to Twelfth United States Army Group for operations, 15 Nov 1944-26 Jul 1945
- XII Tactical Air CommandXII Tactical Air CommandThe XII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Bad Kissingen, Germany...
, 4 Jul 1945
- XII Tactical Air Command
- Attached to US Third Army for operations, 26 Jul 1945-7 Jun 1946)
- 70th Fighter Wing70th Fighter Wing (World War II)The 70th Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with thr United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Neubiberg Air Base, Germany...
, 5 Oct 1945
- 70th Fighter Wing
- Attached to US Constabulary for operations, Jun 1946-c. Aug 1947
- 64th Fighter Wing, 10 Jul 1946
- XII Tactical Air CommandXII Tactical Air CommandThe XII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Bad Kissingen, Germany...
, 1 May 1947 - Bad Kissingen Air BaseBad Kissingen AirportBad Kissingen Airport is a regional airport in Germany, located about 1 mile north of Bad Kissingen ; about 214 miles southwest of BerlinIt supports general aviation with no commercial airline service scheduled...
, 6 Oct 1947 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 20 Dec 1947
- Attached to Headquarters Command, United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 20 Feb-1 Jul 1948- 7150th Air Force Composite Wing, 1 Jul 1948-25 Mar 1949
- 14th Air Commando Wing, 25 Oct 1967-1 May 1968
- USAF Weapons SchoolUSAF Weapons SchoolThe USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
, 3 Feb 2003-Present
Stations
- Fort DevensFort DevensFort Devens is an active United States military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is...
, MA, 2 Mar 1942 - Hillsgrove Army Airfield, RI, 20 May 1942
- Quonset Point NAS, RI, 9 Jun 1942
- Hyannis Airport, MA, 9 Jul 1942
- Vichy Army Airfield, MO, 17 Aug 1942
- William Northern Field, TN, 8 Sep 1942
- Godman Field, KY, 7 Mar 1943
- Camp Campbell Army Airfield, KY, 25 Jun 1943
- Operated from Lebanon, TN, 27 Jun 1943-4 Feb 1944
- Statesboro Army Airfield, GA, 6 Feb-24 Mar 1944
- Alderley Edge, England, 9 Apr 1944
- Knutsford, England, 11 May 1944
- RAF IbsleyRAF IbsleyRAF Station Ibsley is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located near the village of Ibsley, approximately north of Ringwood; about southwest of London...
(AAF-347), England, 29 Jun 1944 - Nehou, France, 6 Jul 1944
- Le Repas, France, 2 Aug 1944
- Beauchamps (near Villediew-les-Poeles), France, 4 Aug 1944
- Poilley, France, 7 Aug 1944
- St Germain, France, 12 Aug 1944
- La Bozoge, France, 15 Aug 1944
- Dampierre (near Brou), France, 20 Aug 1944
- Courcy (near Pithiviers), France, 25 Aug 1944
- St Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes, France, 30 Aug 1944
- Marson, France, 4 Sep 1944
- Gussainville, France, 14 Sep 1944
- Nancy, France, 12 Oct 1944
- Luxembourg City (A-97), Luxembourg, 31 Dec 1944
- Oberstein, Germany, 27 Mar 1945
- Berkersheim, Germany, 3 Apr 1945
- Hersfeld, Germany, 11 Apr 1945
- Erlangen, Germany, 22 Apr 1945
- Regensburg, Germany, 2 May 1945
- Holzkirchen, Germany, 23 May 1945
- Bamberg, Germany, 10 Jul 1946
- Heidelberg, Germany, 10 Feb 1947
- Bad Kissengen, Germany, 5 Sep 1947
- Heidelberg, Germany, 20 Dec 1947
- Wiesbaden AB, Germany, 20 Feb 1948-25 Mar 1949
- Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 25 Oct 1967-1 May 1968
- Hurlburt FieldHurlburt FieldHurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, FL, 3 Feb 2003-Present
Aircraft
- L-1 Vigilant and L-4 Grasshopper, 1942-1943
- L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
, 1943-1947 - C-78 Bobcat, 1944-1945
- AC-47 SpookyAC-47 SpookyThe Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first in a series of gunships developed by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War...
, 1967-1968.