22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force
. It has been in active service for four different occasions, and saw combat service in the early years of World War II
and in the Vietnam War
.
It briefly served in the European Theater of Operations
in September to November 1943. The ground echelon disbanded on 30 Oct 1943, and the air echelon disbanded on 11 November 1943.
, Republic of Vietnam, on 8 May 1965, with O-1 Bird Dogs. It provided aircrews in Vietnam to direct air strikes for tactical aircraft operating within the Tactical Air Control System. Visual reconnaissance, convoy escort, and other missions were conducted as directed by the Tactical Air Commander, and aircraft and maintenance were provided in support of these operations within IV Corps, Republic of Vietnam, as directed by Seventh Air Force
.
The squadron also provided aircraft and personnel in support of the Theater Indoctrination School, and field and transient maintenance support of USAF aircraft at Binh Thuy Air Base.
The 22nd began operating the O-2 Skymaster
in 1967.
Personnel and other resources of the 22nd were absorbed by the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron on 15 January 1971, leaving the 22d an unmanned and non-operational paper squadron until it transferred to Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, on 15 May 1971.
The squadron also provided Direct Air Support Center and Tactical Air Control Party
personnel and equipment to support US Army units in Hawaii.
During 1982, the 22d participated in a number of exercises and prepared plans for conversion to the OV-10 Bronco
. It converted to the OV-10 during August to October 1983.
It supported the U.S. Army on the ground with TACPs, creating a network which provided the Army with immediate air support and, in the air, with OV-10 forward air control support. It also participated in numerous exercises with US and allied army ground units throughout the Far East.
It was inactivated on 22 September 1988. It was then re-designated 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron on 1 October 1988 and reactivated on 14 October 1988.
Its final deactivation on 22 December 1988.
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...
. It has been in active service for four different occasions, and saw combat service in the early years of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
World War II
It was originally the 46th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), activated on 15 Jan 1941. The squadron participated in antisubmarine patrols in the American Theater, January 1942 through August 1943. Its name changed to match its mission on 3 March 1943, when it was renamed the 22nd Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy). Regardless of name, antisubmarine patrol flights were conducted in the squadron's assigned areas, producing a situation map that was continuously updated with enemy and friendly forces, convoys, and other pertinent information. The antisubmarine patrols also produced an enemy dispersion chart showing the disposition of all known enemy submarines in the entire Atlantic area.It briefly served in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
in September to November 1943. The ground echelon disbanded on 30 Oct 1943, and the air echelon disbanded on 11 November 1943.
Vietnam War
The 22d Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) organized at Binh Thuy Air BaseBinh Thuy Air Base
Binh Thuy Air Base is a former air force base in Vietnam, It was constructed by the United States in 1965 and used by the South Vietnamese Air Force and the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War in the IV Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. It was seized by the Vietnam People's Army...
, Republic of Vietnam, on 8 May 1965, with O-1 Bird Dogs. It provided aircrews in Vietnam to direct air strikes for tactical aircraft operating within the Tactical Air Control System. Visual reconnaissance, convoy escort, and other missions were conducted as directed by the Tactical Air Commander, and aircraft and maintenance were provided in support of these operations within IV Corps, Republic of Vietnam, as directed by Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The 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....
.
The squadron also provided aircraft and personnel in support of the Theater Indoctrination School, and field and transient maintenance support of USAF aircraft at Binh Thuy Air Base.
The 22nd began operating the O-2 Skymaster
O-2 Skymaster
The O-2 Skymaster is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control aircraft...
in 1967.
Personnel and other resources of the 22nd were absorbed by the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron on 15 January 1971, leaving the 22d an unmanned and non-operational paper squadron until it transferred to Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, on 15 May 1971.
Noncombat service
At Wheeler the 22d, once again using the Cessna 0-2, organized, trained, and equipped assigned personnel to provide the Air Force Component Commander with a joint force, capable of operating and maintaining a tactical air support subsystem for ground forces requiring close air support, tactical air reconnaissance, and tactical airlift.The squadron also provided Direct Air Support Center and Tactical Air Control Party
Tactical Air Control Party
The Tactical Air Control Party, commonly abbreviated TACP, is a small team of Army, Marine or Air Force personnel who provide airspace deconfliction and terminal control of Close Air Support at battle group level or below...
personnel and equipment to support US Army units in Hawaii.
During 1982, the 22d participated in a number of exercises and prepared plans for conversion to the OV-10 Bronco
OV-10 Bronco
The North American Aviation Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control aircraft...
. It converted to the OV-10 during August to October 1983.
It supported the U.S. Army on the ground with TACPs, creating a network which provided the Army with immediate air support and, in the air, with OV-10 forward air control support. It also participated in numerous exercises with US and allied army ground units throughout the Far East.
It was inactivated on 22 September 1988. It was then re-designated 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron on 1 October 1988 and reactivated on 14 October 1988.
Its final deactivation on 22 December 1988.