504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group
Encyclopedia
The 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is an active United States Air Force
unit. It was first activated in 1966 for service during the Vietnam War, and was reactivated in 2009 for service in Afghanistan.
In Vietnam the group provided combat ready aircraft and crews in support of air and ground operations in Southeast Asia (SEA); conducted visual reconnaissance and convoy escort; trained Air Liaison Officers (ALO) and Forward Air Controllers (FAC), 1966–1972. On reactivation in 2009 it began to provide air support, air liaison, and weather support for ground operations, 30 Mar 2009 to present.
From 2009 in Afghanistan the three squadrons of the group performed separate roles:
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 was first activated in 1966 for service during the Vietnam War, and was reactivated in 2009 for service in Afghanistan.
In Vietnam the group provided combat ready aircraft and crews in support of air and ground operations in Southeast Asia (SEA); conducted visual reconnaissance and convoy escort; trained Air Liaison Officers (ALO) and Forward Air Controllers (FAC), 1966–1972. On reactivation in 2009 it began to provide air support, air liaison, and weather support for ground operations, 30 Mar 2009 to present.
From 2009 in Afghanistan the three squadrons of the group performed separate roles:
- 717th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron – coordinates with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan to provide air support throughout the region.
- 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations SquadronThe United States Air Force's 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron is a combat support unit located at an undisclosed location in the Middle East. The 817 EASOS provides Tactical Command and Control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces...
– primarily embeds tactical air control parties with Army units. - 917th Combat Weather Squadron – creates weather forecasts for the Army.
Lineage
- Established as 504th Tactical Air Support Group, and activated on 5 Dec 1966.
- Organized on 8 Dec 1966.
- Inactivated on 15 Mar 1972.
- Redesignated as 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, and converted to provisional status, on 12 Feb 2009.
- Activated 30 Mar 2009.
Assignments
- Pacific Air Forces, 5 Dec 1966
- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972 - Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
12 Feb 2009 - 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....
30 Mar 2009 – present.
Operational Components in Vietnam
- 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Jan 1972
- 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron20th Tactical Air Support SquadronThe 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron is the former name of the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, a unit of the United States Air Force. It is currently assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Its original term of service overlapped World War II, and it was inactivated in 1949...
, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972 - 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron21st Tactical Air Support Squadron-Assignments and Stations:The 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron was a U.S. Air Force forward air control squadron. It was organized on 8 May 1965 under the initial command of Lieutenant Colonel Jack Martin, and was assigned to the 2nd Air Division and attached to the 6250th Tactical Air Support...
, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972 - 22d Tactical Air Support Squadron22d Tactical Air Support Training SquadronThe 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 602d Tactical Air Control Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona...
, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 May 1971 - 23d Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972
Stations
- Bien Hoa ABBien Hoa Air BaseBien Hoa Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about 20 miles from Saigon near the city of Bien Hoa within Dong Nai Province....
, Vietnam, 8 Dec 1966 - Cam Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam, 30 Apr 1970
- Phan Rang ABPhan Rang Air BasePhan Rang Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang-Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province....
, Vietnam, 1 Oct 1971 – 15 Jan 1972 - Bagram Air BaseBagram Air BaseBagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
30 March 2009 – present.
Commanders
- Col Carl E. Taylor, 8 Dec 1966
- Col Clyde W. Strain, 6 Mar 1967
- Col James M. Fogle, 23 Nov 1967
- Col Robert L. Herman, 8 Mar 1968
- Col William I. Williams, 4 May 1968
- Col Andrew J. Chapman, 27 Mar 1969
- Col Guy E. Hairston Jr., 12 Feb 1970
- Col Andrew P. Iosue, 15 Oct 1970
- Col Fleetwood Pride Jr., 24 Feb 1971
- Col Patrick G. Long, 11 Jun 1971-c. 15 Mar 1972
- Col James Thomas 1 April 2009 – present.
Aircraft
- O-1, 1967–1971
- O-2, 1967–1972
- OV-10, 1968–1972.
Campaign Streamers
- Vietnam: 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; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII.