History of the 21st Special Operations Squadron

The 21st Special Operations Squadron traces its lineage to the 21st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) which was constituted on 22 December 1939. Activated on 1 February 1940 at Moffett Field, CA, it was assigned to the 35th Pursuit Group until 15 Jan 1942 (but attached to the 24th Pursuit Group, 20 Nov 1941–2 Apr 1946). The squadron saw combat in the Philippine Islands, from 8 December 1941–1 May 1942 and a ground echelon fought as an infantry unit in Bataan, from 18 January–8 April 1942. It carried on as an active unit but was not operational from the fall of the Philippines until its inactivation on 2 April 1946. Aircraft flown by the squadron during that period were probably the P–36, (1940–1941) and the P–40 (1941–1942).

The 21st Helicopter Squadron was activated on 9 Jul 1956, for the purpose of providing the U.S. Army with air support in a fashion similar to the TAC Troop Carrier Squadrons. Authorized 38 officers and 91 airmen to fly and support the H-21 "Flying Banana", the unit was assigned 29 officers and 89 airmen and attached to the 63rd Troop Carrier Wing, Donaldson AFB, South Carolina.

The Army, however, declined all support from the Air Force helicopters, and the 21st Helicopter Squadron turned to fly airlift support, search and recovery missions, and also cooperated with a communications group in an experiment to lay communications lines by helicopter. The unit flew photo, airlift, and radiological survey missions during atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site prior to inactivation on 15 Oct 1957.

SOUTHEAST ASIA/VIETNAM

The 20^thHelicopter Squadron “Pony Express” CH-3’s had been flying many classified counter-insurgency missions in Laos and North Vietnam since 1966 but the AF needed an additional helicopter squadron to handle a few chores in Laos. The 20th Helicopter Squadron, D Flight, "Green Hornets", flying UH-1’s assigned to Nha Trang, SVN, were working overtime on cross-border operations in Cambodia with MACV-SOG Special Forces in CCC and CCS. They flew for some time out of Ban Me Thout, East Field, South VietNam. Their SOG teams were being hit increasingly hard by the VC upon every insertion.

Someone, somewhere in the depths of the Pentagon decided that is was time to reactivate the 21st Helicopter Squadron.

As the new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Harry F. Hauser was the man who was handed the task of creating a unit out of the men sent to him. Pilots and aircrews were assigned, helicopter mechanics, weapons mechanics, support personnel, admin staff, training, everyone and everything it takes to make a flying unit functional arrived and were fitted into the scheme of things at Shaw AFB.

“On 1 July 1967, the unit was reactivated and assigned to Shaw AFB, South Carolina, on 15 July1967 to organize, train, and equip, in preparation for immediate overseas movement. Upon arrival in early 1968 at its SEA destination, the 56th Air Commando Wing, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB (NKP), Thailand, the unit completed additional training and in-theater testing, the 21^st Special Operations Squadron demonstrated operational capability in its primary mission. The virtually unlimited capabilities of the helicopter also provide NKP with a base defense and flare drop capability, civic action support, SAR availability, COIN support, EOD Alert, and regular airlift capability.”

That's the "official version" printed in 1968. There was so much more behind those words that could not be printed in those years. The mission of the 21st, the missions of the units assigned to Thailand, and what came to be known as "THE BIG PICTURE" that we would be years in discovering.

The helicopter selected for the squadron was the Sikorsky CH-3E. Basically the rescue (Jolly Green) version without the Air-Refueling boom but much the same in overall appearance, the 21^st CH-3’s had a permanently mounted rescue hoist, titanium armor, external fuel tank hard mounts and FOD/Ice Shields.

In addition to the 21^st SOS assigned aircraft and crews, in early 1968 several flight crews and aircraft were taken from the 20^th Helicopter Squadron, “Pony Express”, at Udorn to begin the 21^st mission. The former 20^th aircrews were experienced in classified operations in Laos and North Vietnam and would add to the capabilities in missions that the 21^st would eventually become involved.

Mission:

The likeliest method of improving intelligence coverage seemed to be a system originally designed to ferret out trucks entering South Vietnam by way of Laos and the Ho Chi Minh trail. This surveillance system involved the use of electronic sensors, seismic and acoustic, accurately implanted along known or suspected routes of North Vietnamese infiltration. These devices broadcast to an orbiting airplane, in this case a specially equipped Lockheed EC-121 which relayed the signal to an infiltration surveillance center at Nakhon Phanom in Thailand.

Those highly advanced (for those days) computers would correlate the data coming in "real-time" from thousands of sensors we would dropped on and around the Ho Chi Minh Trail in an effort to stop the infiltration of both supplies and troops into South Vietnam.

Prior to the arrival of the 21st Helicopter Squadron, a Navy squadron, using OP-2E Neptune aircraft delivered sensors over the trail. The Navy lost several aircraft in just a few weeks after having worked successfully for some time and the decision was made to withdraw them from their perilous mission. This would be the 21^st SOS new primary mission. (Give the VC something even slower to shoot at.)

The last 21^st SOS CH-3 shot down on a sensor drop mission was in Feb 1969. After several such losses, the AF decided that placing sensors with helicopters wasn't viable, and transferred the mission to the F-4s. Since 7^th AF didn't want us to be bored, they replaced the sensor drop mission with MACSOG "Prairie Fire". The "Heavy Hook" SF guys were far more interesting than sensors. The only catch was that, unlike the sensors, you had to go retrieve them after they had done their job!

The 21st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), assigned to NKP Thailand was heavily involved in many aspects of the "Secret War", the war in Laos. One of the former members, Bob Arnau, has compiled what he calls "Knife Tales" in which he has documented numerous "first hand" experiences of many of the former members of the Squadron. He continually adds "stories" as he receives them and forwards a copy to the former members of the 21st SOS. The "Knife Tales" is the history of many of those that served honorably during their tour(s) with the 21^st SOS.

(COURTESY OF BOB ARNAU)

In September 1970, the 21^st SOS flew eleven CH-3E helicopters and one new CH-53 helicopter which had arrived at NKP on 8 August. The squadron gradually replaced its CH-3's with CH-53's.

The 21^st continued to see combat in Southeast Asia until 1973. It airlifted personnel from Saigon in April 1975 and airlifted US Marines in rescue of the SS Mayaquez in May of 1975.

The 21^st was reassigned to the Thirteenth Air Force on June 30, 1975 before deactivating on 22 September 1975 at U-Tapao RTNAF, Thailand.

The squadron was reactivated 1 May 1988 at RAF Woodbridge, England flying the MH-53 and assigned to the 39^th Special Operations Wing. The 21^st provided support to coalition forces during Southwest Asia conflict from January to March 1991 and later.

The 21^st relocated to RAF Alconbry, England, and was reassigned to the 352^nd Special Operations Group (352nd SOG) on December 1, 1992. The mission of the 352nd SOG is to serve as the focal point for all U.S. Air Force special operations activities throughout the European theater, including Africa and the Middle East.

Joint Task Force Provide Comfort deployed to Incirlik Air Base at Adana, Turkey, on 6 April 1991.

In 1993, the 352nd Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, England, and the 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla., initially deployed people and to San Vito while supporting Operation Provide Promise, a humanitarian airlift that sustained thousands of sick and starving civilians trapped by Bosnia's civil war.

Mildenhall's 21st and 7th SOS, using MH-53s and MC-130H Combat Talon IIs, also ferried troops into Sarajevo and Tuzla, and played a key role in Bosnia's 1996 elections by flying 54 U.S.delegates to eight polling sites scattered throughout the war-scarred country.

The 21st Special Operations Squadron participated in a combat search and rescue mission for the pilot of a downed F-117A stealth fighter during the air campaign against Serbia and the forces of Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic.

As the only Air Force special operations unit permanently aligned under U.S. European Command, the 352nd SOG works a variety of theater contingencies, such as evacuating civilians during African coup attempts or supporting Operations Southern and Northern Watch in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It also rushed troops to Dubrovnik, Croatia, when an Air Force CT-43 carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown crashed into a mountain.

In mid-1996 Air Force Special Operations Command helicopters passed the 5,000 flying-hour milestone supporting NATO's Bosnian operations. MH-53J Pave Low III crews from both the 21st Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K., and the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Field, Fla., provided combat search and rescue capability for more than three years and continue flying missions supporting Operation Joint Endeavor

In early 1997 members of the 352nd Special Operations Group, 100th Air Refueling Wing and 3rd Air Force departed for areas around Zaire as part of the enabling force to support Joint Task Force Guardian Retrieval.

In 1998 an Air Force MH-53 Pave Low from the 21st Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England flew out of San Vito, Italy in support of the Bosnian peacekeeping mission.

In March 2000 a MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter from the 21st Special Operations Squadron, UK refueled over South Africa from an MC-130P Combat Shadow refueler from the 67th Special Operations Squadron. Both Squadrons are from RAF Mildenhall, and deployed to Air Force Base Hoedspruit, South Africa, to support Operation Atlas Response. The Pave Lows operated from Air Force Base Hoedspruit where they are deployed in support of Operation Atlas Response, a multi-national humanitarian relief mission helping displaced people in central and southern Mozambique that have been devastated by recent floods.

Special Operations Forces and rescue forces were in high demand during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The MH-53Ms from the 21st SOS conducted missions over Iraq.

(For more details on the aforementioned missions, see 88topresent)

Based at RAF Mildenhall, in the UK, the 21st Special Operations Squadron (SOS) with its 250 personnel, as part of the 352nd Special Operations Group (SOG) was officially deactivated on October 9, 2007. The 21st SOS, known as the ‘Dust Devils’, flew the Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter until the last flight from their home base on September 13. All five Pave Lows in the fleet took the air for the final flight, which included aerial refuelling with their 67th SOS stable mates flying a MC-130P Combat Shadow. Up until deactivation, the 21st SOS were the USAF Special Operations European Command’s only vertical lift unit, their tasks are to be taken over by the US Army. Held on continuous stand-by they could be tasked at a moments notice with a broad range of operations, from Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) to humanitarian relief.

Pave Low crews take a final flight across England before unit, copters inactivate

By Sean Kimmons, Stars and Stripes UK weekly edition,

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

RAF MILDENHALL — It was sort of a tourist helicopter ride, the type that hovers above popular attractions giving sightseers a bird’s-eye view. Except this four-hour flight on Thursday came with bursts of gunfire. To make it clear, the gunners were not shooting at tourist sites. That happened much later at a firing range in the North Sea. But before reaching the range, a formation of five MH-53M Pave Low helicopters and their crews from the 21st Special Operations Squadron did some sightseeing — a perfect way to bid farewell to the aging helicopter and unit that will officially inactivate on Oct 9.

The squadron’s fleet of Pave Lows, built for low-level, undetected flights into enemy territory, is scheduled to be transported to a disposal yard in Arizona by the end of the year. But before they are retired, the crew took them out on one final trip. After taking off from RAF Mildenhall, the formation skimmed across the English countryside — at a height of only a couple hundred feet — passing airfields and farms with startled livestock. Then, the helicopters gained elevation to cross over the tranquil American Military Cemetery near Madingley and the outskirts of Cambridge before closing in on Duxford Airfield.

Then they picked up the River Thames and followed it all the way into central London. Photo opportunities for those riding in the copters and on the ground were aplenty as the formation made two sweeps over Tower Bridge.

Perhaps one of the highlights of the flight was when the helicopters descended over the English Channel and rode parallel to the cliffs of Dover. The rocky sea cliffs gave off a bright white glow against the channel’s azure water, making this part of the flight even more special.

An MC-130P Combat Shadow, assigned to the 67th Special Operations Squadron, then arrived to refuel the helicopters. The aircraft had a couple of refueling nozzles hanging from its rear, which made it possible to pump fuel to two Pave Lows at once. Once filled up, the helicopters headed to the firing range in the North Sea.

In the lead helicopter, Staff Sgt. Jordan Ziroli, a Pave Low aerial gunner, loaded rounds into a .50 caliber machine gun planted on the rear ramp and lit up a smoke signal floating out in the sea. At the same time, a pair of 7.62 mm mini guns attached to the sides of the

Pave Low unloaded fire at similar targets in rapid succession, causing white-water explosions as the bullets peppered the water.

“It was recreational fun today. We went out there and had a good time,”

Ziroli said after the flight. Ziroli is sentimental about the Pave Lows, which he has been working with for four years. Still after four years, it’s kind of sad. These aircraft have been around for a while. It really is the end of a [era],” he said. One of his most memorable times with the Pave Lows was in Iraq. He was in another five-ship formation, but unlike Thursday’s, the flight was in hostile terrain over Baghdad at night, he said.

Capt. Matt Richter has been flying Pave Lows for about five years and said it

is bittersweet to see the helicopter go.  “We all love to fly it. We’ve done a lot of missions for the war on terrorism. It’s very satisfying work and we’re proud to do it, but there’s other things out there for us,” Richter said.

An Air Force spokesman said earlier this year that the chopper is being deactivated throughout the Air Force special operations force and is slated to be replaced by the CV-22 Osprey vertical-lift, fixed- wing aircraft in the next few years.

He said that the age of the Pave Low — built for 5,000 hours, with most surpassing 10,000 and pushing 15,000 hours — led to the decision to deactivate it.

Senior Airman Patrick Soles, a Pave Low crew chief, is sad to see the copters go. He and fellow maintainers have put many hours into keeping them up and running. “I’m going to miss it. I went through tech school in 2000 for it,” he said about the helicopter.

When the squadron inactivates in October, it will go into a holding status until the Special Operations Command stands it up again, possibly for the Osprey, squadron commander Lt. Col. Kirk Smith said. “At some point, the 21st might be reactivated as a V-22 squadron,” he said.

“For now, it will just go into holding status until they need it.”

 from Stars and Stripes.

Hi Jim,
  I thought the guys would like to see these.  The 21 SOS ended it's legacy as a helicopter special operations unit this week (Sept 20, 2007).  Who knows when, how, or if ever again, to be resurrected as an AF unit.  In either event, on a note of sadness but with a heck of a lot of pride, here are the last 5 Pave Lows of the 21st SOS flying with the White Cliffs of Dover as a back drop, and also in fingertip formation behind a 352 SOG tanker.
  I was fortunate to be among the first crews to fly the CH-53s at NKP with the 21 SOS, along with Bob Arnau, Roger Veillion, Hank Fannin, Toy Markham, Harvey Meltzer and others on our list.
  Tom Green