In addition, the group provided air support to ground forces, flew fighter sweeps to Formosa, and escorted heavy bombers on bombing missions to Formosa and the China coast. A wing detachment at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, performed combat evaluation of YQU-22A aircraft and associated equipment, December 1968 – August 1969. It was given its current name in 1992. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/671462.pdf, "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Group (AFSOC)", "Approved insignia of the 353d Special Operations Group", "The 353rd SOG bids farewell to the Combat Talon II", "Special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at US air base in Tokyo", "Two special operations Osprey squadrons stand up at Yokota AB", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron (AFSOC)", "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Support Squadron (AFSOC)", House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=353rd_Special_Operations_Group&oldid=994514722, Special operations groups of the United States Air Force, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device, 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, 753rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, at Yokota Air Base, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, at Kadena Air Base, V Fighter Command, c. 11 May 1945 – 25 March 1946 (remained under operational control of 308th Bombardment Wing through 28 May 1945, under operational control of, Thirteenth Air Force, 31 October 1967 – 15 December 1970 (under operational control of. 17th Special Operations Squadron(MC-130P Combat Shadow) 3. The in dark and light coloration of the batcat suggests the day and night flying capabilities of the Group. 353d Operations Support Squadron 5. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for special operations aviation activities throughout the Pacific. The 353rd Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 554th Reconnaissance squadron was inactivated with that squadron number then assigned to what was Detachment 1 at Nakon Phanom RTAFB. Defense.gov News Photo 110316-F-UI176-556 - Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group off-load and upload new gear at Sendai Airport Japan on March 16 2011. At Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base, the air commandos of the 353rd Special Operations Group fly the MC-130 all over the region. 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