1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, Mobilisation
Immediately after the outbreak of war, a new 45th Infantry Division was formed (7 September 1939), once again as a 2nd Line duplicate of 43rd Division. The 1st and 2nd Line Field Companies were mixed across the two divisions.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers
260th Fd Co usually operated with 129 Brigade, 553 Fd Co with  130 Bde and 204 Fd Co with 214 Bde.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers
For almost five years, the division remained in the UK on Home Defence and training, mainly at Stone Street near Folkestone in Kent. During that time, the three field companies 'bridged and re-bridged almost every river in Kent', and developed techniques for mine clearance.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Normandy
43rd (Wessex) Division finally embarked for Normandy on 17 June 1944. It completed landing on 24 June and immediately went into the Battle of the Odon (Operation Epsom). 260th Fd Co constructed a rough crossing of logs and stones over the River Odon under heavy fire and suffered severe casualties, but the success could not be exploited. As the division established itself along the valley of the Odon the engineers built tank bridges to avoid bottlenecks over the few available stone bridges.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Normandy
After weeks of bitter fighting around Hill 112 (Operation Jupiter) and Mont Pinçon (Operation Bluecoat), 43rd Division finally captured the latter on 7 August and prepared to bear down on the northern rim of the Falaise Pocket. 204th Fd Co discovered how strong the opposition would be when No 1 Platoon found itself under heavy machine gun fire from both flanks while clearing the route to Le Plessis Grimault at the foot of Mont Pinçon. They deployed to attack but found their firepower inadequate and the company commander withdrew the platoon by sections to the vehicles, aboard which they then shot their way through, followed by 207th Field Park Company's armoured bulldozer.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Normandy
By 14 August the division had pushed to the north bank of the River Noireau, where the crossings had been measured by the RE Reconnaissance Party. During the night of 15/16 August the infantry waded across and established a bridgehead, while 204 Fd Co advanced with a waterproofed bulldozer, three tipper lorries of flexboards, four landing stage units and two boat units, and No 1 Platoon got to work on clearing mines, building a tank ford and a trestle bridge. Downstream the river split into two streams, but No 2 Platoon erected two Class 9 trestle bridges.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Normandy
Meanwhile, 553 Fd Co began work on the division's first Bailey bridge across the demolished road bridge. They found that the bridge abutments were too small to take the baseplates, which had to be set back, meaning that a 120-foot (37 m) span rather than 80 foot (25 m) was required. Work could not be started until daylight  and it took two days to clear all the booby-trapped mines, 204 Fd Co losing a complete section of men. Lieutenant Martin and Sapper Murphy discovered that the mines had a new tamper-proof TMIZ 43 igniter, which led to a new recovery drill throughout the army, probably saving hundreds of lives.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
43rd Division was now given the opportunity to spearhead XXX Corps' advance to the Seine ('Operation Loopy'). Bridging the river would be a major operation, and the force was split into three large convoys of divisional troops, engineers and bridging equipment. 43rd Divisional Engineers were in the first, the Assault Group, which set off early on 24 August. En route, the bridges over the Eure at Pacy had been  destroyed, but this had been planned for, and extra Bailey equipment had been taken. While 260th Fd Co dealt with the craters and boobytrapped roadblocks, 11th Fd Co from XXX Corps spent the night assembling the Bailey bridge. At first light the convoy drove on to the Seine at full speed.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
The assault was ordered for 19.00 on 25 August, with a reinforced brigade crossing on a two-battalion front, one either side of the destroyed road bridge. While 15th (Kent) GHQ Troops Royal Engineers ferried the assault troops across, and other RE units prepared to build a heavy Bailey bridge, 43rd Divisional Engineers had the task of constructing a Class 9 Folding Boat Equipment (FBE) bridge on rafts.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
It emerged that DUKW amphibious vehicles could not enter the river, so the assault had to be carried out with powered storm boats, until 260 Fd Co had bulldozed ramps in the river bank. 553rd and 204th Fd Companies began work on the bridge after an approach had been bulldozed under intense machine gun and mortar fire. Close support rafts built by 553rd Fd Co were taken over next morning by 15th (Kent) GHQT RE to continue the ferrying operation and support the hard-pressed assault troops on the far side.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
During the morning of 26 August, 553rd and 204th Fd Companies completed  the rear trestle and approach to the bridge, but when attempts were made to bring in the rafts to form the first bridge, they were raked by fire in mid-stream and about two-thirds of the crews became casualties. By mid-day half the rafts were in position, but casualties were so heavy that the CRE of 43rd Division, Lt-Col Tom Evill, temporarily withdrew his men. In the afternoon the enemy fire slackened, and the Class 9 bridge (named 'David') was complete by 17.20.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
Light traffic began to flow, but with little hope of the Bailey bridge ('Goliath') being ready quickly, the Corps Chief Engineer, Brig B.C. Davey, ordered a Bailey pontoon raft to be built as a ferry. With all of the available bridging engineers fully employed, Davey set 207th Fd Park Co to start unloading equipment and reconnoitring approaches while specialist sappers were called up from the rear. The first vehicle rafted across was an RE bulldozer to prepare a ramp; however, it became bogged down and a new ramp had to be built. By 06.00 on 27 August the first tanks were being ferried across to drive off German counter-attacks.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Vernon Bridge
German shellfire continued, with 'David' receiving a direct hit that sank two boats and caused a traffic delay of one and three-quarter hours, and another shell causing 20 casualties among sappers working on 'Goliath'. The latter was open to traffic by 19.30 and a second Class 40 Bailey bridge by noon on 29 August. 11th Armoured Division  crossed over and passed through 43rd Division to continue the pursuit across Northern France into Belgium.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
43rd Division had a crucial role in the plan for Operation Market Garden, which aimed to seize a 60-mile road corridor to the Lower Rhine at Arnhem using bridges captured by airborne forces. Anticipating that many of the bridges would be destroyed and would hold up the advance of Guards Armoured Division in the lead, 43rd Division following up was responsible for assault crossings and bridging where necessary. A huge number of sappers were assembled, with 2277 vehicles to carry the necessary equipment.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
The operation began on 17 September and 43rd Division passed through Guards Armoured after Nijmegen and fought their way across the low-lying country known as 'The Island', leading elements reaching the banks of the Lower Rhine late on 23 September. By now the 1st Airborne Division was in a desperate plight, hemmed into a small pocket on the other side of the river, with no bridges. Only 16 unpowered assault boats were available, but that night 204th Fd Co and the 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regiment used these to ferry men of the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade across to reinforce 1st Airborne.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
It was now recognised that the Airborne position across the river was untenable, and that assault bridging was unfeasible under direct enemy observation, so the decision was made to evacuate what remained of 1st Airborne. The plan was for 43rd Division to take a firmer grip on the opposite bank during the night of 24/25 September, with 204 Fd Co ferrying across more of the Polish paratroopers and 4th Bn Dorsets using the remaining stormboats together with 20 more assault bats due to arrive from the rear.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
However, in the darkness two of the lorries bringing the boats took a wrong turning and were captured by the enemy, two more slipped off the muddy road, and only one arrived safely, bringing boats but no paddles. The crossing of the Poles was therefore cancelled and all the boats concentrated for 4th Dorset. Under heavy fire only a few of the boats made it, and only a handful of the infantry reached the Airborne perimeter. Although 204 Fd Co got about 2 tons of stores across, all the available DUKWs were bogged.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
The evacuation proceeded the following night under the control of 43rd Division's CRE, Lt-Col W.C.A. Henniker. He had 260 Fd Co and 23rd Canadian Fd Co operating a boat ferry to the Airborne perimeter, and another manned by 553 Fd Co and 20 Canadian Fd Co at the site of 4th Dorsets' crossing. At each site there were 16 assault boats manned by 43rd Divisional Engineers and 21 motorised stormboats provided by the Canadians. Throughout the night, partly shielded by darkness and rain but under heavy mortar fire, the sappers crossed and recrossed the river bringing back a steady stream of wounded or exhausted men. Over 2000 men of 1st Airborne were evacuated, but few of the 4th Dorsets could be found.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Arnhem
After the battle ended, Lt-Col Henniker and his divisional sappers were given the role of protecting the vital bridges at Nijmegen that were XXX Corps' lifeline. Reinforced with two batteries from 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment and B Company 8th Bn Middlesex Regiment (the divisional machine-gun battalion), they constituted the 'close bridge garrison', with little between themselves and active German forces a short distance upstream. German Frogmen succeeded in attaching explosive charges to the bridges under cover of darkness, which caused damage that the sappers had to repair.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Geilenkirchen
In November, XXX Corps attacked south-eastwards out of The Island towards Geilenkirchen (Operation Clipper), using 43rd Division and the US 84th Division. In preparation for the attack, 43rd Divisional Engineers had to lift a defensive minefield previously laid by 84th Division. ' By the morning of 14 November, 204 Fd Co had picked up a considerable number of these American mines and loaded them on lorries. Major Evill, the Company Commander, decided to dump them near the Custom House on the German border, where 129 Brigade Headquarters was established'. During the afternoon some 700 of these mines exploded simultaneously, killing 14 sappers of No 1 Platoon, wounding six others and fatally injuring the brigade commander, Brig G.H.L. Mole.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Geilenkirchen
Preparations for the attack continued with the sappers constructing tracks across the muddy country, which were named 'Savile Row', 'Bond Street' (after famous London streets) and 'Wyvern Road' (from the divisional badge). After six days of heavy fighting (18–23 November), including driving off counter-attacks by Panzer troops, the objectives were taken. The divisional engineers struggled to get roads open through the mud and destroyed villages, and the weather brought the end of the operation.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Rhineland
43rd Division took part in operation Operation Blackcock in January 1945 to clear the Roer Triangle, and thanks to the weight of artillery and armoured support it took its objectives with little opposition. A large crater on the main road revealed in aerial photographs caused concern, and the sappers had constructed a large Bailey bridge ('Sydney') on sledges to push into position. Only then did they discover that the 'crater' was a dust spot on a photograph and did not exist.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Rhineland
On 16 February 1945, as part of Operation Veritable, 43rd Division 'carried out a brilliant 8000 yards advance which brought them to the escarpment overlooking the fortified town of Goch', regarded as the turning-point of the operation. At the foot of the escarpment lay an anti-tank ditch that had to be crossed before an attack could be launched on Goch. 204 Field Co and two platoons of 260 Fd Co were ordered to prepare six crossings during the night of 17/18 February. Five were completed by dawn but the sixth, at a road crossing, took longer, and lorries delivering material after daybreak came under fire before it was completed for 15th (Scottish) Division to pass through for the assault.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Rhineland
43rd Division was next tasked with capturing Xanten. Again, the town was protected by an anti-tank ditch. Lieutenant-Colonel Henniker had 553 Fd Co build a 70-foot (20 m) Bailey on skids improvised by 207 Fd Pk Co. This was towed  down the road by two AVREs of 81st Assault Squadron, RE, from 79th Armoured Division, accompanied by an AVRE with a 'Jumbo' scissors bridge, two more AVREs with fascines, two armoured bulldozers and 20 three-ton lorries loaded with rubble.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Rhineland
The intention was to launch the Bailey bridge over the gap where the road crossed the ditch, while the AVREs and a platoon of 260th Fd Co would make a second crossing. If the Bailey was unsuccessful the bulldozers would fill the crater with rubble. Half an hour before first light on 8 March, the engineer column advanced up the road behind the barrage with the assaulting infantry, supported by Churchill Crocodiles.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Rhineland
It emerged that the gap in the road was in fact two craters, too long for the Bailey on skids, and the fascines failed to provide a passable crossing for tracked vehicles, despite the efforts of 260th Fd Co. However, the AVRE bridgelayer was successful in bridging the ditch some 50 yards (45 m) from the crater, and the Crocodiles, tanks and infantry passed over. The redundant Bailey section on the road was pulled back with difficulty before 260 Fd Co's lorries could begin delivering rubble. Under heavy fire they constructed a crossing for wheeled vehicles by midday on 9 March. Xanten fell by the end of the day and by 10.40 on 11 March, no Germans remained west of the Rhine and they blew their last bridges over the river.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Germany
Preparations for the Rhine crossing (Operation Plunder) involved 'probably the largest accumulation of engineer equipment ever assembled in the history of the Army'. The assault on XXX Corps' front was to be carried out by 51st (Highland) Division, after which 43rd Wessex was to pass through and continue the advance. However, 43rd Divisional Engineers was allotted to assist 51st (Highland) in the crossing on 25 March, before rejoining its division when it concentrated on the far side on 27 March.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Germany
For the pursuit, 43rd Division was organised in five groups led by the Armoured Thrust Group, accompanied by 260th Fd Co. This force had to fight through tenacious rearguards from the German 6th Parachute Division, but reached the Twente Canal by 1 April. Rather than force this major obstacle, 43rd Division made a flank march to the end of the canal at Hengelo, where 204 Fd Co was to construct a bridge if necessary, though the town fell quickly.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Germany
On 14 April the division crossed the River Lethe at Cloppenburg, where 204th Fd Co incurred severe casualties bridging the river under shellfire. The following day the division decisively crushed the last organised counter-attack against its troops. For the rest of the month 43rd Division protected the left flank of XXX Corps' drive towards Bremen. On 30 April the 43rd Division closed up to the small River Wörpe at Grasburg, which the leading infantry crossed while 204th Fd Co repaired the road bridge.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Germany
The next day the advance was held up by numerous large craters in the causeway carrying the road, each of which had to be bridged under fire from Self-propelled guns, which was not complete until 3 May. On 4 May the division's infantry crossed the Oste-Hamme Canal by a footbridge, while 553 Fd Co built a Class 40 Bailey Bridge before the end of the day. The division's further advance to capture Bremerhaven the next day was forestalled by the German surrender at Lüneburg Heath.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 45th Divisional Engineers
The new 45th Infantry Division was formed on 7 September 1939 as a 2nd Line duplicate of 43rd Division. It was placed on a lower establishment in December 1941, and disbanded in August 1944. Its engineers were organised as follows:


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 45th Divisional Engineers
55th Division had been a home defence and training formation on a low establishment for most of the war. Although it was raised to a higher establishment in 1944 when the two Wessex RE companies joined, it never went overseas, and served in Home Forces until the end of the war.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 1st Airborne Divisional Engineers
This division was organised in November 1941 and 261st Field Park Company was one of the first units to join. It trained in the UK until April 1943 when it sailed to North Africa to prepare for Operation Husky (the Allied invasion of Sicily). For this assault, 261st Fd Park Co made special equipment, including dummy parachutists. The night before the landings, part of the company flew with the RAF scattering these dummies over various parts of the island.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 1st Airborne Divisional Engineers
1st Airborne Division made an unopposed landing at Taranto on 7 September 1943, quickly securing the 'heel' of Italy. Sections of the railway were still working, and 'an enterprising patrol, travelling in a train driven by a sapper of 261st Field Park Company, raided deeply into enemy territory and released 300 prisoners of war'.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 1st Airborne Divisional Engineers
Three small detachments from 261 (Airborne) Field Park Company went to Arnhem during Operation Market Garden, attached to the field company with each of the division's three brigades. They were flown into the Landing Zone by glider from RAF Tarrant Rushton on 18 September (the second day of the operation). Detachment 2 was unable to join 1st Parachute Squadron RE, which was cut off at Arnhem bridge, but the other two made contact successfully.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 1st Airborne Divisional Engineers
During the final stages of the defence of the Arnhem bridgehead, the sappers held the western side under Brigadier Pip Hicks, along with members of the Glider Pilot Regiment, remnants of 1st Bn Border Regiment and a few Polish paratroopers. Of the detachment from 261 Co, two died, 12 were evacuated, and six remained missing at the end of the operation.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, World War II, 1st Airborne Divisional Engineers
In March 1945 the company was redesignated an Airborne Park Squadron and it accompanied the division to Norway at the end of the war (Operation Doomsday). It was disbanded in November 1945.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, Postwar
In 1946, 43rd Divisional Engineers was combined with VIII Corps Troops, Royal Engineers to form 29th Army Troops RE, including 204 and 207 Companies, before they were demobilised. When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, 43rd Divisional Engineers were reformed at Bath as 110 Engineer Regiment, with the following organisation:


1st Somersetshire Engineers, Postwar
The regiment was reorganised as 43rd (Wessex) Division/District RE in 1961, with 226 Sqn becoming an independent unit and 207 Sqn disbanded. The unit and its remaining squadron were disbanded when the TA was reduced into the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967. Some of the personnel formed 3 Troop in 100 Fd Sqn (Militia) and to the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry in TAVR.


1st Somersetshire Engineers, Honorary Colonels
The following officers served as Honorary Colonel of the unit:


1st Source
1st Source Corporation is a financial services company headquartered in South Bend, Indiana. It operates 1st Source Bank, a bank with 81 branches in Indiana and Michigan. The bank's Specialty Finance Group provides financing for aircraft, trucks, and construction equipment. 1st Source Insurance provides insurance products and services.


1st Source, History
The company was founded in 1863 as the First National Bank of South Bend.


1st Source, History
In the early 1930s, the company merged with First National and Union Trust to form First Bank and Trust Company.


1st Source, History
Under the leadership of Ernest M. Morris, the bank survived the Great Depression and in 1935 it opened its first branch.


1st Source, History
By the end of the 1950s, it was the seventh largest bank in Indiana.


1st Source, History
In 1981, the bank changed its name to 1st Source Bank.


1st Source, History
In 2007, the company folded its Trustcorp Mortgage Company subsidiary into its bank subsidiary.


1st Source, History
In December 2014, the bank opened 2 branches and remodeled 6 others in Fort Wayne, Indiana at a cost of about $8 million. All 8 locations do not use traditional teller windows in favor of "side-by-side" banking where tellers share their screens and work space with clients.


1st Source, History
In December 2015, the bank broke ground on 2 additional branches in Fort Wayne.


1st Source, History
In 2016, the bank made the most Small Business Administration loans in Indiana among banks with less than $10 billion in assets.


1st Source, History
In October 2016, the bank received approval to open a branch in Sarasota, Florida.


1st South Carolina Regiment
The 1st South Carolina Regiment (Infantry) was authorized on June 6, 1775, at Charleston, South Carolina, for service with the South Carolina State Troops. On November 4, 1775, the unit was adopted into the Continental Army and on February 27, 1776 was assigned to the Southern Department. The regiment saw action at the Siege of Savannah and the Siege of Charleston. The British Army captured the regiment at Charleston on May 12, 1780, together with the rest of the Southern Department.


1st South Carolina Regiment, Engagements
The unit was involved in the following battles, skirmishes and sieges:


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment
Orr's Rifles was a South Carolina infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment, History, Formation
On 20 July 1861, James Lawrence Orr organized the First South Carolina Rifle Regiment at Sandy Springs. He was elected Colonel; J. Foster Marshall was elected Lt. Colonel, and Daniel A. Ledbetter, Major. Ten companies were recruited in the following districts (counties were known as districts between 1800 & 1868)


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment, History, Formation
The regiment had seen no action by the time Orr left, but the name "Orr's Rifles" stuck throughout the war.


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment, History, Initial duty
First posted to Sullivan's Island, SC to defend Charleston Harbor, others called them the "Pound Cake Regiment" in reference to their "light" garrison duty. The 20th SC Infantry was referred to as the "Poundcake Brigade" on account of limited engagements and they were so close to home, their families could bring them poundcake or other treats.


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment, History, Transfer to Virginia
In April 1862, the full-strength 1,000-man unit was transferred to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia (ANV). In June, it was incorporated into Gregg's Brigade, of A.P. Hill's Light Division, of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson Corps (often termed the "Left Wing" early in the war).


1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment, History, Surrender
Lee surrendered the ANV, including Orr's Rifles, at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865. After three years of combat, the regiment comprised 9 officers and 148 enlisted men.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
The 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored) was a Union Army regiment during the American Civil War, formed by General Rufus Saxton. It was composed of escaped slaves from South Carolina and Florida. It was one of the first black regiments in the Union Army.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Department of the South staff officer James D. Fessenden was heavily involved in efforts to recruit volunteers for the 1st South Carolina. Although it saw some combat, the regiment was not involved in any of the war's major battles. Its first commander was Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who—like all the other officers—was white.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
A proclamation by Confederate President Jefferson Davis had ordered that members of the regiment would not be treated as prisoners of war if taken in battle:  The enlisted men were to be delivered to state authorities to be auctioned off or otherwise treated as runaway slaves, while the white officers were to be hanged.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Colonel Higginson wrote "We, their officers, did not go there to teach lessons, but to receive them. There were more than a hundred men in the ranks who had voluntarily met more dangers in their escape from slavery than any of my young captains had incurred in all their lives." The regiment was particularly effective at conducting raids along the coast of Florida and Georgia, due to their familiarity with the terrain.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
The regiment was a step in the evolution of Union thinking towards the escaped slaves who crossed their lines. Initially they were returned to their owners. Next they were considered contraband and employed as laborers. Finally the legal fiction that they were property was abandoned and they were allowed to enlist in the Army, although in segregated units commanded by white officers. Harriet Tubman served with these men as a cook, nurse, spy, and scout.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Susie King Taylor, whose husband and other relatives fought with the regiment, also served as a laundress and nurse for the men from August 1862 until mustering out on February 9, 1866. As a holdover from the "contraband" days, black privates were paid $10 per month, the rate for laborers, rather than the $13 paid to white privates. The men served as the precedent for the over 170,000 "colored" troops who followed them into the Union Army.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Col. Higginson, a minister, author and abolitionist, documented the Gullah dialect spoken by the men and made a record of the spirituals that they sang. Captain Seth Rogers was regimental surgeon and wrote extensive war time letters. His nephew, Captain James Seth Rogers, previously of the 51st Massachusetts, was captain of Company B.


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Higginson later wrote a book about his experiences title "Army Life in a Black regiment".


1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
The regiment was re-designated the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment on February 8, 1864.


1st South Indian International Movie Awards
The 1st South Indian International Movie Awards were presented on June 22, 2012, in Dubai, UAE, to honour the best cinematic achievements of the South Indian film industry in the year 2011. Producing films in four Dravidian languages of South India, professionals were handed over a total of 71 Awards. The ceremony was hosted by R. Madhavan and Lakshmi Manchu at the Dubai World Trade Centre, while the "Generation Next Awards Night" was hosted by Parvathy Omanakuttan and held a day before at Park Hyatt on June 21.


1st South Indian International Movie Awards
Nominated by a jury, the final winners were decided by a public voting system. The most successful film was Dookudu, which fetched eight Awards in total.


1st South Western Mounted Brigade
The 1st South Western Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. By 1915 its regiments had been posted away so it was broken up; it never saw active service as a brigade. The Headquarters may have formed the HQ for 2/1st Southern Mounted Brigade.


1st South Western Mounted Brigade, Formation
Under the terms of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9), the brigade was formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It consisted of three yeomanry regiments, a horse artillery battery and ammunition column, a transport and supply column and a field ambulance. The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was attached for training in peacetime.


1st South Western Mounted Brigade, Formation
As the name suggests, the units were drawn from South West England, predominantly Wiltshire, Somerset, Hampshire and Dorset.


1st South Western Mounted Brigade, World War I
The brigade was mobilised on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War. Initially assigned to the Portsmouth Defences in August 1914, the brigade moved to the Forest Row area of Sussex in October 1914. Thereafter, the regiments left the brigade for other formations.


1st South Western Mounted Brigade, World War I
By 1915, with its regiments having been posted away, the brigade was dissolved. The headquarters staff may have been used to form the 2/1st Southern Mounted Brigade.


1st Soviet Antarctic Expedition
The First Soviet Antarctic Expedition was led by Mikhail Somov; his scientific deputy was V. G. Kort. The expedition lasted from 30 November 1955 to 1957 and involved 127 expedition members and 75 crew members.


1st Soviet Antarctic Expedition
Three diesel-electric ships were used to transport the expedition. They were RV Ob (flagship; captain I. A. Man), RV Lena (captain A. I. Vetrov) and the refrigerator ship No. 7 (captain M. A. Tsygankov). The final ship was used only for transporting perishables. Ob and Lena were icebreakers 130m long and displacing 12,600 tons.


1st Soviet Antarctic Expedition
The principal task of the expedition was to organise the main base, Mirny, and perform limited scientific observations. Other tasks were reconnaissance of sites for the inland bases Vostok and Sovetskaya; and oceanography of the Indian ocean.


1st Space Launch Squadron
The United States Air Force's 1st Space Launch Squadron was a space launch unit located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It was responsible for USAF Delta II launches from its activation in October 1990 to its inactivation in August 2009.


1st Space Launch Squadron, History
Air Force launch operations were transferred from Air Force Systems Command to Air Force Space Command in the early 1990s. Phase I of the Launch Transfer Plan began on 1 October 1990, with the redesignation of the Eastern and Western Space and Missile Centers, as the 30th and 45th Space Wings.


1st Space Launch Squadron, History
The 1st Space Launch Squadron was activated on 1 October 1990 and became Air Force Space Command's first Delta II launch squadron. Its final launch of a Delta II was on 17 August 2009. Its final launch successfully placed the USA-206, or GPS IIR-21(M) navigation satellite into orbit. The squadron was inactivated on 30 September.


1st Space Launch Squadron, References, Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website .


1st Space Operations Squadron
The United States Space Force's  1st Space Operations Squadron  is a space operations unit located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. The squadron is responsible for performance launch, on-orbit, emergency, end-of-life testing and disposal operations providing warning, navigation, R&D, surveillance and weather to the president and the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and nine combatant commanders worldwide.


1st Space Operations Squadron
It was first activated in 1961 as the 1st Aerospace Surveillance and Control Squadron as the SPACETRACK component of NORAD's Space Detection and Tracking System. It was the operational version of Project Space Track. It continued this mission as the 1st Aerospace Control Squadron until inactivation in 1976. It depends on Space Delta 9 when this unit is created in 24 July 2020.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
The squadron conducts command and control for four distinct constellations: Defense Support Program (DSP), Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) and a NASA research and development program, in low earth to deep space orbits, and is Air Force Space Command's only multi-mission Satellite Operations Control Center. 1 SOPS is supported by the Air Force Reserves unit, the 7th Space Operations Squadron.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
The squadron operates and maintains 24-hour Air Force Satellite Control Network command and control capability for Defense Support Program and Midcourse Space Experiment constellations. It also operates and maintains a research and development space system providing vital space weather data worldwide.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
The 1st Squadron performs launch and early-orbit operations for GPS and DSP systems including satellite activation, initial checkout and transfer to mission orbit. It plans and executes tracking, telemetry and command functions for GPS, DSP, MXS and a NASA research and development satellite to maintain spacecraft state-of-health, sustain on-orbit operations and accomplish mission taskings. They respond to all satellite emergencies, and support end-of-life testing and disposal operations for GPS, DSP and MSX and NASA research and development spacecraft as required.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
The squadron maintains DSP spacecraft positional knowledge and distributes data to worldwide users. It also conducts MSX and NASA research and development training and evaluation.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
The Multi-Mission Space Operations Center (MMSOC) is a revolutionary approach to space operations—an operations center focused on forging a one-of-a-kind operations/acquisition team to demonstrate and field emerging space missions and satellite C2 technologies in a rapid, decisive manner. The MMSOC is structured to operate a variety of satellite missions, including satellite initiatives without a program office, satellite missions of small scale (small constellations), new missions transitioning from concept toward full-scale operations, and all research, development, test and evaluation satellites with operational utility remaining after test and evaluation are complete.


1st Space Operations Squadron, Mission
Mission control crew shifts conduct 24-hour operations supporting the three major functions of satellite control; telemetry, tracking and commanding. Orbital analysts and program engineers provide program specific knowledge and support to the crews. The operators perform pre-contact planning, real time contact and post-contact evaluation. The squadron conducts more than 2,000 contacts a month.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track
The squadron was originally organized on 14 February 1961, as the 1st Aerospace Surveillance and Control Squadron, a unit of Air Defense Command and became operational on 1 July 1961 as the SPACETRACK component of NORAD Space Detection and Tracking System (SPADATS). It was the operational version of research and development Project Space Track. Effective 1 October 1961, the Squadron was assigned to the 9th Aerospace Defense Division, which had been activated on 15 July 1961. The squadron name changed to 1st Aerospace Control Squadron on 1 July 1962.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track
Until April 1966, when operations were moved to the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex, The squadron was located on the bottom two floors of Ent Air Force Base building P4 Annex, a former hospital building, adjacent to the NORAD command center.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track
The squadron was responsible for tracking all artificial earth satellites, space probes, carrier rockets, and debris, US and foreign. The mission included detecting additional objects previously unknown and maintaining a complete catalogue. It controlled a global network of ground sensors. It was the operational version of research and development Project Space Track and the Space Track component of NORAD's Space Detection and Tracking System


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Sensors
The squadron had essentially the same set of sensors used by Project Space Track, with the addition of two additional Baker-Nunn cameras, one of which was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force at RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. In March 1961, the Laredo Air Force Base sensor was transferred from Air Research and Development Command to Air Defense Command. It was operated by Detachment 1 of the squadron. In January 1968, the System 440L over-the-horizon radar reached initial operational capability. In 1968, SPACETRACK was also supported by the Royal Radar Establishment at Great Malvern, England. By mid-1969, three USAF Baker-Nunn cameras were operated in support of SPACETRACK under the 18th Surveillance Squadron, despite questions about their on-going utility in view of increasing radar tracking accuracies. An AN/FPS-85 phased array radar became operational at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in May 1970.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
The squadron initially made orbital predictions by computing ephemerides based on standard Kepler orbits. As a satellite got lower into the atmosphere, drag made it difficult to forecast the ephemeris of the satellite accurately. By 1962, the situation was somewhat better. The Soviet satellite Sputnik 4 was slowly entering lower orbits because of atmospheric drag. Using a new program, (Satellite General Perturbations Differential Corrections) and observations from the radar at Shemya Air Force Station, the orbital analyst plotted the changing orbital period and was able to predict the exact revolution on which the satellite reentered the atmosphere.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
To make progress in automating ephemeris forecasts, Aeronutronic and TRW Inc. developed sophisticated new programs. Squadron orbital analysts evaluated the two programs. The Aeronutronic submission was named Spiral Decay and the TRW submission, Electronic Systems Precision Orbit Determination (ESPOD). ESPOD had been developed for Program 437, an anti-satellite program, to enable computation of trajectories for satellite intercept.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
As a demonstration of the effectiveness of Spiral Decay, the program was used to forecast the reentry of Soviet Kosmos 23. Public media had been alerted to the impending decay and many people in Canada saw the fiery reentry. One racetrack even dimmed the lights to enhance the show. Spiral Decay was considered a more sophisticated program than ESPOD and used less computer time to attain more accurate results. It was selected as the standard for analysis, significantly helping predict future decay trajectories. It was also adopted as the primary computer capability for weapon engagement and was useful in more precisely locating sensors, such at the radar at Dyarbakir Air Station, Turkey.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
On 1 March 1965, the rocket body of Kosmos 61 exploded between revolutions 1 and 2, giving 1st Aero another challenge to catalog the many fragments. Because the orbital period was 106 minutes, the fragments would not decay quickly. Two computer programs, SPACESWEEP and ALTEC, aided automation of the task but, when Cosmos 200 broke up on 23 January 1968, the breakup created severe problems to the Space Defense Center because of the amount of manual work needed.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
Also in March 1965, the Special Projects Division was supporting evaluation of the upgraded Shemya radar and the associated computer, in a project nicknamed Blue Fox. Blue Fox used both Spiral Decay and ESPOD to determine the accuracy of the new Shemya system, tracking satellites Transit 2A and ANNA 1B, a Navy geodetic satellite. The Blue Fox results, showing radar range biases of 129 meters or less, proved that the Shemya AN/FPS-80M was now the most accurate tracking radar in the system.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Orbital computations
Orbital elements computed by the squadron, along with those computed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, were included in the Satellite Situation Reports regularly published by the Goddard Center.)


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
In April 1961 a Philco 2000 computer was installed for dedicated squadron use. It was considered the fastest computer in the world at the time of installation. It still used IBM punched cards for data entry and was infamous for devouring the cards. The computer was programmed using Fortran for batch processing and the TAC assembly language for other work. However, Orbital Analysts still had Friden Square Root Calculators on their desks, a necessary tool.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
Project Space Track at Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Massachusetts was the backup facility for squadron operations. About 49 hours before the 1st Squadron became operational, the Navy's Transit 4A carrier rocket exploded. Orbital analysts at the 1st and at Hanscom achieved a landmark in satellite tracking by identifying 296 of the fragments. On 5 June 1962, the relationship with Hanscom was formalized when several squadron officers activates the Space Track Center Alternate Facility at Hanscom. From 25 March to 6 April 1962, squadron orbital computations were transferred to Project Space Track while the Ent computer was being modified.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
In mid-1962, the NORAD Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence expressed appreciation for the information and technical assistance the squadron provided in support of NORAD analysis of the Soviet Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 operations.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
A new Soviet launch, which occurred on 1 November 1963. In plotting the observations made by the BMEWS radar at RAF Fylingdales, England, and other sensors the data showed an apparent change in the satellite's orbital period. The data indicated that the Soviets had boosted the satellite, changing its orbit. This confirmed a boast by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that the Soviets had a maneuverable satellite, something that had been treated with some disbelief by the intelligence community. It is now known that the satellite, called Polyot, was in fact a prototype orbital carrier rocket for an anti satellite system. Only one other Polyot was launched (in April 1964); the system never became operational.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
In mid-1965, there was concern that two Soviet satellites had attempted a rendezvous in space. Aeronutronic technicians combined the existing Xroads and Groundtrack programs into a new program that could compare the relative positions of two satellites. This enabled the duty orbital analyst to prove that a rendezvous had not taken place.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
In 1966, the Gemini IV astronauts saw what appeared to be a nearby space object. The COMBO program did not identify any nearby satellites. Shortly thereafter a short movie clip of the mystery object taken by the astronauts indicated it was probably something associated with the spacecraft, perhaps dangling from a tether.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
Squadron operations were based on the techniques developed at Project Space Track. By 1962, initial observations were processed by the Report Association Program which ran automatically twice a day plus twice for BMEWS data. The program associated observations with known orbits. The output of the program, plus data from the Checker Program, was sent to the duty space surveillance officer and technician for review with some assistance from the duty orbital analyst as needed.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
Other special duty orbital analyst activity occurred when a satellite neared decay. When the orbital period fell below 90 minutes, the duty space surveillance officer notified the duty orbital analyst and a special analyst was normally assigned to monitor the decay. In the unusual case of the decay of a Discoverer recovery vehicle that had not come down where programmed, the duty orbital analyst had access to a special computer program, which provided a sub-satellite trace for one revolution, to assist in specifying the track. New friendly launches were handled by a duty orbital analyst dedicated to the task but, in the case of new Soviet launches, an analyst for intelligence was assigned.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Space Track, Operations
Analysis of interplanetary and lunar probe launches were handled by Special Project Analysts, who had several special astrodynamic programs to assist in computations. The Encke program was used when the vehicle was within 125 earth radii and the Interplanetary program, adjusting for planetary perturbations, for vehicles beyond that distance. The Special Project Analysts also handled special requests for such things as very accurate orbital elements or decay information for a satellite (as might be required by research or educational groups). These analysts also monitored incoming technical papers, attended technical meetings to obtain information which was of use to the mission, and monitored improvements in decay forecasts.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Satellite control
On 5 October 1987, the squadron was reactivated, renamed the 1st Satellite Control Squadron, and began its ever-growing satellite control mission. On 16 February 1988, the squadron began its first commanding on the DSP constellation.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Satellite control
The Space Operations Center (SOC) was operationally turned over to AFSPC on 21 December 1989. The SOC increased its mission on 20 February 1990, when the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program mission was operationally turned over. In May 1996, satellite command authority for the first research and development satellite controlled by AFSPC, Technology for Autonomous Operational Survivability, was given to 1st SOPS.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Satellite control
On 4 December 1998, the squadron assumed command and control capability on the Midcourse Space Experiment, which became an operational program on 1 October 2000, with the first-ever transfer of operations from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to AFSPC.


1st Space Operations Squadron, History, Satellite control
Operated Space Detection and Tracking System Center, tracking and cataloging man-made objects in space, 1961-1976. Satellite command and control for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, and the Defense Support Program, 1987-.


1st Space Operations Squadron, References, Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website .


1st Space Surveillance Squadron
The United States Air Force's  1st Space Surveillance Squadron (1 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at Griffiss AFB, New York.


1st Space Surveillance Squadron, Mission
The mission of the 1 SSS was to operate the Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) system to gather space intelligence and track space systems in near-Earth orbits. The LASS operation supported USAF space intelligence requirements, while being assisted by the 18th Intelligence Squadron's Det 1 for SIGINT support. This coverage augmented worldwide coverage of space signals activities at similarly equipped sites at Misawa AB, Japan, Osan AB, Republic of Korea and at RAF Feltwell and RAF Edzell in the United Kingdom.


1st Space Surveillance Squadron, History
Due to the creation of mobile versions of the space surveillance systems in 1992 and the BRAC decision regarding Griffiss AFB, AFSPC inactivated the 1 SSS during 1995, distributing surveillance mission requirements to other units. The equipment held at the Verona Test Annex, N.Y. was also distributed to units with similar capabilities.


1st Space Wing
The 1st Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force active from 1983 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.


1st Space Wing
The Wing was constituted on 18 Oct 1982 and activated on 1 January 1983 with assignment to Space Command (later, Air Force Space Command). It was inactivated on 15 May 1992 along with the 3d Space Wing, also at Peterson AFB, and the 21st Space Wing, a unit with a more historic lineage, took their place.


1st Space Wing, Emblem, Blazon
Azure, from chief two rays pilewise or, terminating at base on a demi-globe light blue edged and grid-lined sable, surmounting the rays and globe are two uneven ellipses saltirewise argent, each intersected with a mullet of four points of the second and delineated of the fourth; positioned between the rays at dexter chief a globe and at sinister a mullet of five points and below them a smaller mullet of the same all of the fifth, all within a diminished bordure of the second.


1st Space Wing, Emblem, Significance
The globe represents the earth as viewed from space; the earth being both the origin and control point for all man-made space activities. The lines of latitude and longitude emphasize the global nature of Air Force space operations. The two uneven ellipses represent both low and high orbital paths traced by satellites in earth orbit shown as four-point stars. The two yellow rays depict space surveillance and communications capability from ground base sensors. The larger of the two stars represents the Space Command, and the smaller and closest star to earth represents the 1st Space Wing of the Space Command. The two stars also along with the distinctive blue shading and small globe symbolize the space environment.


1st Spahi Regiment
The 1st Spahi Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis) is an armored regiment of the modern French Army, previously called the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains). It was established in 1914 as a mounted cavalry unit recruited primarily from indigenous Moroccan horsemen. The regiment saw service in the First World War, and in the Second World War as part of the Forces Françaises Libres, as well as post-war service in the French-Indochina War and elsewhere. The modern regiment continues the traditions of all former Spahi regiments in the French Army of Africa.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War I
The Moroccan Spahis of the French Army were created in 1914 by Général Hubert Lyautey. The initial title of the regiment was that of the Régiment de Marche de Chasseurs Indigènes à Cheval (R.M.C.I.C). The French Army had already raised four regiments of indigenous cavalry in both Algeria and Tunisia during the 19th century, and extended the designation of "spahis" to the Moroccan mounted units recruited after 1908.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War I
The first Marching Moroccan Spahi Regiment (Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains, R.M.S.M) participated in the First Battle of the Marne. Subsequently, sent to the Orient Front, the regiment served with distinction at Pogradec, Skumbi, Bofnia, Uskub and on the Danube. The regiment was accordingly awarded 5 citations and a fourragere with the colors of the Médaille militaire.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Inter-war period
The regiment was redesignated as the 21st Moroccan Spahi Regiment (21e Régiment de Spahis Marocains, 21e R.S.M.) in 1921 and served in the campaigns in the Levant from 1920 to 1927. The regiment was awarded 3 additional citations plus a fourragere in the colors of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures. In 1929, the regiment was renamed as the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment (1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains, 1er R.S.M).


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
On July 1, 1940, Captain Paul Jourdier, who commanded the 1st Squadron of the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment, (1e RSM) decided to defect from the Vichy-led Army of the Levant and join the British forces in Palestine. While on maneuvers in southern Lebanon, Jourdier succeeded in detaching a small contingent comprising half of his squadron. The 1st RSM at this stage in the war was still a mounted cavalry unit, consisting of mostly North African Muslim troopers under French officers.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
Reinforced by detached units that had separately crossed the border between Lebanon and Palestine, plus volunteers from London, the squadron undertook mounted operations in Eretria. The squadron conducted horse-mounted cavalry charges at Umbrega, still under the leadership of Captain Paul Jourdier. The defection of a regular cavalry unit of the Vichy forces was widely publicized by the British and Free French forces, making use of photographs showing charging spahis.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
The regiment was subsequently dismounted and participated in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign on trucks, as part of the 1st Free French Brigade.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
Other squadrons were created, forming first one then two army corps reconnaissance groups (GRCA), commanded by Jourider and Robert de Kersauson.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
Reinforced by a company of the 501e Régiment de chars de combat of the Free French Forces, the 2nd Group constituted the Free French Flying Column which participated in the Battle of El Alamein. It subsequently participated in the advance to Tunisia, initially as part of the British 8th Army, then in 1943 in the FFF commanded by Général Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
On September 25, 1942, the two Groups were merged to form the 1st Moroccan Spahi Marching Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains, 1er R.M.S.M), under the command of Jean Rémy.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
As a reconnaissance regiment of the 2nd Armored Division 2e DB, the 1st RMSM participated in the Liberation, suffering heavy losses in both France and Germany.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II
The original (i.e. non-regiment de march) 1e RSM saw mounted horse combat in Syria before being motorized in Morocco during 1943. The unit then took part in the battle of Royan, France in 1945. It was subsequently merged with the 8th Dragoon Regiment (French: 8e Régiment de Dragons).


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II, Decorations
The 1st Marching Moroccan Spahi Regiment 1er RMSM was awarded the distinction of Compagnon de la Libération by decree of August 7, 1945 and cited twice at the orders of the armed forces.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II, Regimental Colors
The Regimental Colors of the 1e RMSM include in golden letters, the following inscriptions in the folds:


1st Spahi Regiment, History, World War II, Regimental Colors
Between 1944 and 1945, as part of the corps of the 2e DB, the 1e RMSM suffered the loss of 184 men out of whom 12.5% were Moroccan.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Post-war: 1945-62
One squadron of the 1st RSM served in the First Indochina War, between 1945 and October 1946.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Post-war: 1945-62
During the post-war era the regiment underwent several changes in title, as well as being transferred between a number of different garrisons. In 1947, the regiment was designated as the 1st Regiment of Moroccan Spahis (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains, 1er RSM), a title it retained during its remaining service in Morocco.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Post-war: 1945-62
In 1956 the 1st RSM was transferred to Algeria. The regiment was then re-designated as the 1st Regiment of Spahis (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis, 1e RS). In October 1958 its title was again changed to the 21st Regiment of Spahis  (French: 21e Régiment de Spahis, 21e RS) - in order to avoid confusion with the 1st Regiment of Algerian Spahis (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis Algériens, 1e RSA).


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
The 1st Spahi Regiment continued in the French Army after the end of the Algerian War in 1962, although most of the other units of the former Armee d'Afrique were disbanded. Reportedly one of General Charles de Gaulle's ministers urged that the 1st RSM be retained in service because of its distinguished role in the Free French Forces during World War II. De Gaulle responded:


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
In 1961, the regiment was transferred to Speyer Germany,  as part of the French Forces of Germany (French: Forces Françaises en Allemagne, FFA). Its role was that of a reconnaissance regiment of the 2nd Army Corps 2e CA.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
In 1965, following the dissolution of the 1st Regiment of Algerian Spahis, the regiment was given its present-day title of the 1st Spahi Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis, 1er RS).


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
In 1984 the regiment was transferred from Germany and the FFA, to be incorporated in the 6th Light Armoured Division 6e DLB and garrisoned in Valence.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
The regiment participated in Opération Daguet during 1991, as part of the French contingent in the Gulf War.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
In 2009, the regiment left the 6th Light Armoured Brigade 6e BLB and joined the 1st Mechanized Brigade. On August 1, 2015, the regiment was reintegrated in the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
The regiment's armored vehicle core consists of 48 AMX, 90 VAB and 110 trucks. The regiment trains new recruits at headquarters; including armored vehicle crewmen and various mechanical trades as well as musicians and non-commissioned officers.


1st Spahi Regiment, History, Modern
The most decorated unit of the modern Armoured Arms and Armoured Cavalry branch of the French Army, the regiment carries 14 battle honors on its colors.


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Uniform and insignia
As mounted cavalry the North African personnel of the regiment wore high turbans, red jackets, wide blue-grey trousers and a white burnous (cloak). A dark blue over-cloak with hood was worn over the burnous, to distinguish the Moroccan spahis from their red-cloaked Algerian and Tunisian counterparts. After mechanization, features such as the double burnous/cloak and red sash of the historical Spahi uniform were retained and are still worn by the modern regiment on parade. A red forage cap of a model worn since the 1940s, is another present-day distinguishing feature.


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Uniform and insignia
The regimental insignia is a combination of the Cross of Lorraine with the Sharifian Pentagram from the Flag of Morocco.


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Regimental Song
Nous étions au fond de l’AfriqueGardiens jaloux de nos couleursQuand, sous un soleil magnifiqueRetentissait ce cri vainqueur :En avant ! En avant ! En avantC’est nous les AfricainsQui revenons de loinVenant de nos paysPour sauver la PatrieNous avons tout quittéParents, gourbis, foyers,Et nous gardons au cœurUne invincible ardeurCar nous voulons porter haut et fier,Le beau drapeau de notre France entière,Et si quelqu’un venait à y toucher,Nous serions là pour mourir à ses pieds. Battez tambours, à nos amoursPour le Pays, pour la Patrie,Mourir au loin, c’est nous les Africains.


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Regimental Song
Pour le salut de notre EmpireNous combattons tous les vautoursLa faim, la mort nous font sourireQuand nous luttons pour nos amours. En avant ! En avant ! En avant ! De tous les horizons de FranceGroupés sur le sol africainNous venons pour la délivranceQui, par nous se fera demainEn avant ! En avant ! En avant ! Et lorsque finira la guerreNous reviendrons à nos gourbisLe cœur joyeux et l’âme fièreD’avoir libéré le PaysEn criant, en chantant, en avant !


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Decorations
The Regimental Colors of the 1st Spahi Regiment is decorated with:


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Decorations
Fourragere with colors of the Médaille militaire, with olives of the Croix de guerre 1914-1918, Croix de guerre 1939-1945 and Fourragere with colors of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures


1st Spahi Regiment, Traditions, Decorations
Fourragere with colors of the Croix de la Libération since June 18, 1996


1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)
The 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) is a division-level special operations forces command within the United States Army Special Operations Command. The command was first established in 1989 and reorganized in 2014 grouping together the Army Special Forces (a.k.a. "the green berets"), psychological operations, civil affairs, and support troops into a single organization operating out of its headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.


1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Mission
The mission of 1SFC (A) is to organize, equip, train, and validate forces to conduct full-spectrum special operations in support of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Geographic Combatant Commanders, American ambassadors, and other governmental agencies. The new command includes all seven Special Forces groups (including the five active duty and two Army National Guard groups), two Psychological Operations groups, a civil affairs brigade, and a sustainment brigade. The Command has the ability to rapidly deploy a high-level headquarters to run sustained, unconventional campaigns in foreign theaters.


1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Regiment
All seven Special Forces Groups were redesignated as part of the 1st Special Forces Regiment, and as such, were made part of its historical lineage, with all the campaign credits and battle honors that go with it. The Regiment is ceremonial, not operational.


1st Special Forces Group (United States)
The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) (1st SFG) (A) is a unit of the Special Forces regiment of the United States Army. It is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions throughout the Indo-Pacific Command area of operations: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, counter-insurgency, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, information operations, counterproliferation of weapon of mass destruction, and security force assistance.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
It was among the first groups of the Special Forces to be officially formed. The group is responsible for operations in the Pacific. Currently, the First Battalion is stationed at Okinawa while the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and Group Support Battalions are stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
1st Special Forces Group's history began at Fort Bragg, NC, in 1955. Four Special Forces Operational Detachments - the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 16th - were selected from the 77th Special Forces Group and transferred to the Pacific theater over the next year. 1st Special Forces Group was officially activated at Fort Buckner, Okinawa, on 24 June 1957, with LTC A. Scott Madding as commander and MSG Robert L. Voss as the sergeant major. The 1st


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Special Forces Group holds the distinction of having the first and last Special Forces soldiers killed in Vietnam: Captain Harry Cramer killed 21 October 1957, and Captain Richard M. Rees killed 15 December 1973. Decades later, another 1st Special Forces Group soldier became the first American to die by hostile fire in Afghanistan: Sergeant First Class Nathan Chapman killed 2 January 2002.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
The 1st Special Forces Group on Okinawa was one of two Special Action Forces/Security Assistance Forces (SAF) built around Special Forces Groups. The other was built around the 8th Special Forces Group in Panama. SAF Asia  from which 1st Group could task organize a detachment for any time of mission in the Pacific rim. During the Vietnam War, it sent teams to Vietnam for six-month temporary duty. It also ran Camp Hardy Combat Training Center in the Northern Training Area of Okinawa to train SF, Navy SEALs, and US Marines deploying to Vietnam. It also earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its work during the year 1973.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Following the war in South Vietnam, and the withdrawal of American military forces in Southeast Asia, the emphasis on military actions shifted away from the Asia-Pacific region and focused more on Europe and the NATO Allies. Special Forces, which had grown to a total of seven groups in 1963, faced severe cuts in the peacetime army; as a result, 1st Group was inactivated 28 June 1974 at Ft. Bragg, NC. After a 10-year hiatus, the need for an Asian unconventional warfare force was recognized, and Alpha Company, 1st Battalion was reactivated at Fort Bragg on 15 March 1984. This company and the remainder of the 1st Battalion were assembled and deployed to Torii Station, Okinawa during the spring and summer of 1984. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions, along with Headquarters and Service Company were officially reactivated 4 September 1984 at Fort Lewis, Washington.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Brought back to life as part of overall growth in the support to U.S. strategic efforts in Asia, the unit focused on the Pacific Command area of operations but were routinely deployed out of Asia to support unified commanders throughout the world. Unit members supported theater security engagement within the PACOM area of operations, contingency operations in Haiti, Central Asia, and Bosnia. Operational Detachments "Alpha" deployed to Haiti to conduct Coalition Support Team missions in 1993–94 in support of U.S. Joint Task Force 190 and Multi-National Force operations supporting Operation Uphold Democracy.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Additional ODAs conducted Humanitarian Demining Operations in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam earning Humanitarian Service Medals for their efforts in both Laos and Thailand. Elements from the 1st SFG (A) conducted training with military units from newly created states from the former Soviet Union that supported the development of the Central Asian Battalion (CENTRASBAT), a regional peace-keeping force in the mid-1990s. By the end of the millennium, 1st SFG (A) soldiers had deployed for the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Following the 11 September attacks, members of the 1st SFG (A) were quick to answer President George W. Bush's call to action, deploying individual soldiers to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and deploying back-to-back battalion rotations to the Republic of the Philippines. Starting in February 2002, elements of the 1st SFG (A) deployed to conduct unconventional warfare in the Southern Philippines by and with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to assist the Government of the Philippines (GOP) in the destruction of terrorist organizations and the separation of the population from terrorist organizations.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Over the next three years, 1st SFG (A) members built an admirable record in the Philippines training six light infantry battalions, three light reaction companies from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), treating over 31,000 Filipinos in MEDCAP events, helping to professionalize the AFP and providing operations and intelligence fusion teams to actively assist the AFP in targeting terrorist cells. Due to its efforts, the Province of Basilan was no longer a haven for terrorists, and the AFP continues to make progress against terrorist groups in the Southern Philippines.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
For its tremendous efforts, the 1st SFG (A) was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation on 24 January 2004 for its outstanding meritorious performance in a difficult and challenging mission while supporting the Global War on Terrorism in Asia. Throughout 2003–2004, the 1st SFG (A) deployed many soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. By November 2004 the unit deployed an entire battalion to Afghanistan as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A).


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Unit history
Today, 1st SFG (A) continues to support the Global War on Terrorism with operations in the Philippines, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as maintaining US security relationships with partner nations throughout the Pacific.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Area of responsibility
The following is a list of countries in Asia that fall into the 1st Group Area of Responsibility:


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
Constituted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, First Regiment, First Special Service Force, a combined Canadian-American organization


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
Activated 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana.


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
Reconstituted 15 April 1960 in the Regular army. concurrently consolidated with Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion (activated 19 June 1942), and consolidated unit re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (constituted 14 June 1957 in the Regular Army and activated 24 June 1957 in Japan), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces (organic units concurrently constituted and activated 4 October 1960)


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
Group inactivated 28 June 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Lineage
(Former Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Company N, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit re-designated as Company N, 75th Ranger Regiment – hereafter separate lineage)


1st Special Forces Group (United States), Campaign participation credit
World War II: Aleutian Islands*, Naples-Foggia*, Anzio*, Rome-Arno*, Southern France (with arrowhead)*, Rhineland*


1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron
The 1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group, based at Eglin Aux Air Field #9 (Hurlburt Field), Florida.


1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron, Overview
The 1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron (SOCMS) is responsible for organizational and all intermediate level maintenance on 141 different avionic, electronic warfare, sensor, electrical, pneudraulic, fuel and engine maintenance systems, specifically AC-130 gunships, MC-130H Combat Talon IIs, MC-130P Combat Shadows and MH-53J/M PAVE LOW III/IV helicopters assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing. Technical support is provided on Communication/navigation, guidance and control, sensor, electronic warfare, pneudraulics, electrics and fuel systems, engines and propellers. The squadron's unique repair capabilities cover the entire range—from vacuum tube, solid state and infrared components, to laser and fiber optic technology. In addition to maintenance for the wing's operational and transient aircraft, the squadron performs test and development work for ongoing acquisitions in support of Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Department of Defense.


1st Special Operations Squadron, Mission
The 1st Special Operations Squadron is part of the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates the MC-130J Commando II, providing special operation capabilities. Air crews are trained in night low-level flying, using night vision goggles to deliver troops and equipment into denied areas during adverse weather conditions at night by airdrop or landing.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History
The 1st conducted gunnery testing and training from 1939 to 1942. It flew administrative airlift from 1949 to 1952 and 1953–1954.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History
The 1st flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from 8 July 1963 – 7 November 1972 and 15 December 1972 – 28 January 1973. It also trained South Vietnamese air force pilots in counter-insurgency operations from, July 1963 – November 1972. It acquired the Combat Talon mission from the redesignated 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 15 December 1972. Three MC-130 Combat Talons from the 1st SOS led the Night One mission of Operation Eagle Claw, the hostage rescue mission in Iran, in April 1980.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History
The 1st operated the MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft until 2020, and now flies MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of joint and allied special operations forces.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
The 1st Special Operations Squadron was originally constituted as the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated on 17 June 1963 under Pacific Air Forces. It organized on 8 July 1963 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, and was assigned to the 34th Tactical Group. It was reassigned the following year, on 8 July, to the 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing (although attached to the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing after 21 November 1965).


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
Relocating to Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, it was reassigned to the 2d Air Division on 18 February 1966, and reassigned again to the 14th Air Commando Wing on 8 March 1966. Redesignated the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Fighter, on 15 August 1967, it was reassigned on 20 December 1967 to the 56th Air Commando Wing (redesignated the 56th Special Operation Wing in August 1968), and moved to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base, Thailand. On 1 August 1968 the 1st was redesignated as the 1st Special Operations Squadron.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
The 1st saw extensive combat in Southeast Asia, from 8 July 1963 – 7 November 1972 and from 15 December 1972 – 28 January 1973. In its early years in Southeast Asia, the squadron flew a variety of aircraft, beginning with the Douglas B-26 Invader and North American T-28 Trojan in 1963 and 1964, both aircraft used for close air support. While at its initial home base at Bien Hoa AB, aircrews of the 1st Air Commando Squadron performed the first combat tests of the famous Douglas FC-47 gunship, beginning in December 1964.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
In 1964 the 1st began flying the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, the aircraft with which it is most closely associated, but continued to fly other types into 1966. Its primary mission after the move to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB was interdiction along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, but its pilots and planes also flew cover for pilot rescue missions, and it continued to fly close air support missions for U.S. and Vietnamese ground forces. It also trained Vietnamese Air Force pilots in counterinsurgency operations, from July 1963 – November 1972. Aircraft flown by the 1st were the B-26 (1963–1964); North American T-28 Trojan (1963–1964); Helio U-10 Courier (1963–1966); Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1963–1966); RB–26 (1963–1964); A–1 (1964–1972); FC-47 (1964–1965); AC-47 (1965); and the C (later MC)-130 beginning in 1972.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
Among its pilots was Major Bernard Francis Fisher, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on 10 March 1966 over South Vietnam. In the first action of the Vietnam War that merited the award of the Air Force Cross, Captain Howard Rudolph Cody and his navigator First Lieutenant Atis Karlis Lielmanis both received the award posthumously for extraordinary heroism on 24 November 1963 while flying an A-26 out of Bien Hoa AB on a close air support mission. Two other early recipients of the Air Force Cross were Maj.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Vietnam War
Carl Berg Mitchell and his navigator, Capt. Vincent Joseph Hickman. Maj. Mitchell and Capt. Hickman were awarded the medal posthumously for an A-26 mission over Dong Nai Province on 14 January 1964. Capt . John Edgar Lackey received the award for extraordinary heroism during a search and rescue mission over Laos on 18 and 19 March 1972. The last pilot of the 1st to be awarded the Air Force Cross was Maj. James C. Harding, for extraordinary heroism in action near Tchepone, Laos from 10 to 13 April 1972.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Post-Vietnam operations
Following the end of combat operations at the end of 1972, the 1st was reassigned to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing on 15 December 1972 and relocated to Kadena AB, Japan (although a segment of the squadron operated from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB until 28 January 1973). The squadron was reassigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, on 15 January 1981, relocating in the process to Clark Air Base, Philippines.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Post-Vietnam operations
On 1 March 1983 the squadron was reassigned to the 2nd Air Division; to the Twenty-third Air Force on 1 February 1987; and to the 353rd Special Operations Wing (later the 353rd Special Operations Group), on 6 April 1989. The 1st SOS relocated to Kadena AB, Japan, on 5 February 1992.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Post-Vietnam operations
In August 2000, a crew from the 1st SOS, along with another from the 17th SOS, flew a C-130 each to deliver 19 tons of disaster relief aid across the Pacific to assist in Vietnam's worst flooding in a century. Nearly 22,000 pounds of plastic sheeting, 3,600 blankets and 5,000 water containers were flown from Guam to Okinawa and then on to Vietnam by the two Kadena-based C-130s.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Post 2000 assignments
As an integral part of the 353rd Special Operations Group, the 1st Special Operations Squadron operated the MC-130H Combat Talon II until 2020. They currently operate the MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of joint and allied special operations forces. This aircraft is capable of delivering troops and equipment into denied areas at night by airdrop or landing. Its aircrews are specially trained in night low-level flying, using night vision goggles. The 353rd Special Operations Group is the focal point for all U.S. Air Force special operations activities throughout the USPACOM theater. The group contains more than 1000 Airmen and six squadrons.


1st Special Operations Squadron, History, Post 2000 assignments
Throughout its history, the unit has been extremely active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. In 2005, the unit supported Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, the relief effort from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2011, the unit supported Operation TOMODACHI, the relief effort from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. In 2013, the unit supported Operation DAMAYAN, the relief effort from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Republic of the Philippines.


1st Special Operations Wing
The 1st Special Operations Wing (1 SOW) at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of three United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).


1st Special Operations Wing
The 1st Special Operations Wing is a successor organization of the 16th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.


1st Special Operations Wing, Heraldry
The unit's current emblem was approved on 6 June 1963.


1st Special Operations Wing, Heraldry
The 16th Pursuit Group's emblem was approved in 1934. It has four lightning bolts—representing the four assigned squadrons—depicting destruction from the sky.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
The beginnings of the 1st Special Operations Wing can be traced to the authorization by the Army Air Service of the 16th Pursuit Group on 24 March 1923 as part of the United States Army Panama Department at Albrook Field, Canal Zone. The unit, however, was not activated until 1 December 1932. The 16th Pursuit Group spent its entire existence in the defense of the Panama Canal. The Group was progressively redesignated, in keeping with the changes sweeping through the Army Air Corps, becoming first the 16th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) in 1939 and finally the 16th Fighter Group in 1942. It was disbanded in the Canal Zone on 1 November 1943.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
Although subordinate squadrons assigned to the Group changed over the years the Group headquarters remained at Albrook Field throughout its existence. Squadrons assigned were:


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
As the U.S. prepared for World War II in 1940–1941, the 16th Pursuit Group, as of 1939 could count only 22 Curtiss P-36A Hawks on hand as of 1939, although these were the best fighter aircraft to be had at the time (in addition, Group Headquarters had two Northrop A-17's and two North American BC-1's).


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
Additionally, as of February 1939 the Group was shown on Order of Battle documents with 10 Douglas B-18's, but these belonged to its 44th Reconnaissance and 74th Attack Squadrons, which were assigned to the Group at the time (the 44th Recon Squadron changed its status from "Assigned" to "Attached" on 1 February 1940, and finally being transferred entirely to the 9th Bomb Group 20 November, to whom it was also attached).


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
In June 1941, relief for the P-36A's arrived in the form of 6 Curtiss P-40B's and 64 P-40C's, although, though these were split between the 16th and 32nd Pursuit Groups (the 16th got 32 P-40C's). These new aircraft arrived not a moment too soon, because as of April and May 1941 not fewer than 17 of the Groups P-36A's were either unserviceable or awaiting deposition due to either a lack of parts or as a result of the hard use they had endured during the intense training program then ongoing.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
With the arrival of the P-40s, morale improved dramatically, and the Group headquarters added a rare Sikorsky OA-8 to its roster for rescue and communications duties, and had lost one of its A-17's and one BC-1 by August, at which time all remaining P-36A's were transferred to the newly formed 32d Pursuit Group.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
As of the outbreak of war in December 1941, the Group had 20 serviceable P-40C's (plus five others awaiting disposition and three unserviceable – two from the 24th Pursuit Squadron and one from the headquarters squadron (HHS), 41-13498) but 10 new P-40E's had arrived, although one of these was promptly crashed. One other P-40C didn't have a prop, and all elements of the Group were dispersed at Albrook Field.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
By mid-January 1942, it was found expedient to send a detachment of the Headquarters to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico to liaise with the VI Interceptor Command headquartered there, and detachments of six P-40C's were also quickly moved to Atkinson Field, British Guiana and Zandery Field, Dutch Guiana, to provide local air defense for the other elements stationed at those remote bases for Ferrying Command. Besides these, the Group had 23 P-40C's, eight P-40E's and 14 of its former P-36A's back at Albrook.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
As of mid-February 1942, the Group elements still stationed at Albrook had the following aircraft on hand but only had 11 pilots between them of whom only seven had more than one year experience on pursuit aircraft (the numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of each type operational):


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
As the squadrons of the group moved through their various deployments from the start of the war on, the group headquarters became less and less important in day-to-day operations and, finally, on 17 January 1943, the Group Headquarters was moved from Albrook to La Joya Auxiliary Airdrome No. 2 to attempt to get the men assigned at Group back into the midst of "field" operations that were being endured by the subordinate squadrons.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 16th Pursuit Group
In actuality, the Group was disbanded on 31 October 1943, at which time the HHS still had a solitary Curtiss P-36A assigned. The Command and Control responsibilities of the surviving former Squadrons of the Group then came under the umbrella of the XXVI Fighter Command.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
The next unit in the lineage of the 1 SOW is the 1st Air Commando Group, which inherited the history and lineage of the 16th Fighter Group.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, amidst the Quebec Conference in August 1943, was impressed by Brigadier Orde Wingate's account of what could be accomplished in Burma with proper air support. To comply with Roosevelt's proposed air support for British long range penetration operations in Burma, the United States Army Air Forces created the 5318th Air Unit to support the Chindits. In March 1944, they were designated the 1st Air Commando Group by USAAF Commander General Hap Arnold. Arnold chose Colonel John R. Alison and Colonel Philip Cochran as co-commanders of the unit.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
Alison was a veteran flight instructor of P-40 aircraft, and gained renown as a pilot with Major David Lee "Tex" Hill's 75th Fighter Squadron, part of Col Robert Lee Scott, Jr.'s 23d Fighter Group, the USAAF successor of the AVG's famed Flying Tigers in the China-Burma-India Theater. General Claire Lee Chennault lobbied to Arnold, who knew Alison from service at Langley Field, suggesting Alison be given the new command. Cochran was a decorated P-40 veteran pilot from the North African Campaign noted for his unconventional aerial tactics.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
As a result, the 5318th Provisional Air Unit was formed in India in late 1943. As a miscellaneous unit, the group was comprised until September 1944 of operational sections (rather than units): bomber; fighter; light-plane (and helicopter); transport; glider; and light-cargo.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
The 1st Air Commando Group consisted of a squadron of 30 A-model P-51 Mustangs led by Lt. Col. Grattan M. "Grant" Mahony, a squadron of 12 B-25H bombers led by Lt. Col. Robert T. Smith, 13 C-47 air transports led by Major William T. Cherry, Jr., 225 Waco CG-4A military gliders led by Captain William H. Taylor, Jr., and 100 L-1 and L-5 Sentinel liaison aircraft led by Major Andrew Rebori and Lt. Col. Clinton B. Gaty. The group tested the United States' first use of a helicopter in combat, six Sikorsky R-4s led by Lt. Col. Clinton B. Gaty, in May 1944.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
A tragic accident occurred where 2 CG-4 gliders towed by one of the unit's Skytrains collided killing several American and British Chindits. The commander of the British unit, Lt. Col . D.C Herring restored confidence in the Americans who were worried whether the Chindits would trust them to fly them on operations by sending the Air Commandos a message that became the unit's motto;


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
Please be assured that that we will go with your boys any place, any time, anywhere.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
The unit was redesignated the 1st Air Commando Group on 25 March 1944. It provided fighter cover, bomb striking power, and air transport services for the Chindits (Wingate's Raiders), fighting behind enemy lines in Burma. Operations included airdrop and landing of troops, food, and equipment; evacuation of casualties; and attacks against enemy airfields and lines of communication.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
The 1ACG started receiving better-performing P-51B Mustangs in April 1944. They converted from P-51 Mustang to D-Model P-47 Thunderbolt fighters by September 1945. The unit eliminated its B-25 Mitchell bomber section in May 1944.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
In September 1944, after the original unit was consolidated with the headquarters component of the new establishment (also called 1st Air Commando Group), the sections were replaced by a troop carrier squadron, two fighter squadrons, and three liaison squadrons. The group continued performing supply, evacuation, and liaison services for allied forces in Burma until the end of the war, including the movement of Chinese troops from Burma to China in December 1944. It also attacked bridges, railroads, airfields, barges, oil wells, and troop positions in Burma; and escorted bombers to Burmese targets, including Rangoon. Switched back to P-51 Mustangs (D-models) in January 1945. Left Burma in October and inactivated in New Jersey in November 1945.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
On 15 March 1945, 40 P-51D Mustangs armed with drop tanks attacked Don Muang airfield, which harbored little more than 100 Japanese aircraft. At 1:30 PM (1330 military time), the Mustangs strafed every aircraft in sight, and destroyed at least 50% of the aircraft there. More Japanese aircraft that managed to takeoff were shot down and destroyed. On 9 April 1945, a second attack was launched with 33 Mustangs total. Anti - Aircraft fire was heavy, and three Mustangs were shot down.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, 1st Air Commando Group
During their brief (less than two-year) combat operations in the China Burma India Theater, the 1ACG accomplished a number of "firsts." Their first joint operation with the Chindits--Operation Thursday—was the first invasion of enemy territory solely by air, and set the precedent for the glider landings of Operation Overlord associated with the Normandy Landings on D-Day. They also used helicopters in combat for the first time, executing the first combat medical evacuations. They pioneered the use of air-to-ground rockets. These firsts and others had a lasting effect on how air operations would directly support ground operations.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
In April 1961 General Curtis Lemay directed HQ Tactical Air Command to organize and equip a unit to train USAF personnel in World War II–type aircraft and equipment; ready surplus World War II-era aircraft for transfer, as required, to friendly governments provide to foreign air force personnel in the operation and maintenance of these planes develop/improve: weapons, tactics, and techniques.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
In response to Lemay's directive, on 14 April 1961 Tactical Air Command activated the 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The unit had an authorized strength of 124 officers and 228 enlisted men. The 4400th CCTS consisted of World War II aircraft: 16 C-47 transports, eight B-26 bombers, and eight T-28 fighters. The declared mission of the unit would be to train indigenous air forces in counterinsurgency and conduct air operations. The 4400th CCTS acquired the logistics code name "Jungle Jim," a moniker that rapidly became the nickname of the unit.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
As the military conditions in South Vietnam continued to deteriorate, United States Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara actively began to consider dispatching United States military forces to test the utility of counterinsurgency techniques in Southeast Asia. In response, Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay pointed out that the 4400th was operationally ready and could serve as an Air Force contingent for that force.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
On 11 October 1961, President John F. Kennedy directed, in NSAM 104, that the Defense Secretary "introduce the Air Force 'Jungle Jim' Squadron into South Vietnam for the initial purpose of training Vietnamese forces." The 4400th was to proceed as a training mission and not for combat at the present time. "Jungle Jim" was a code name and nickname of the original 4400th CCTS and Air Commandos. Members wore an Australian-type green fatigue slouch hat in the style Johnny Weissmuller wore in the Jungle Jim films.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
The mission was to be covert. The commandos were to maintain a low profile in-country and avoid the press. The aircraft were painted with Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) insignia, and all pilots wore plain flight suits minus all insignia and name tags that could identify them as Americans. They also sanitized their wallets and did not carry Geneva Convention cards. Those Air Commandos who served with the Raven Forward Air Controllers in the Secret War in Laos from 1966 to 1974 would continue this sanitized routine during their service there.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, Vietnam
Elevated to group level as 4440th Combat Crew Training Group, 20 March 1962. The provisional TAC group was replaced by AFCON 1st Air Commando Wing in Apr 1962 and assumed air commando operations and training responsibility. Trained United States and RVNAF aircrews in the United States and South Vietnam in unconventional warfare, counter-insurgency, psychological warfare, and civic actions throughout the Vietnam War.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, From the 1970s
Between 11 January and 30 June 1974, the USAF Special Operations Force and 1st Special Operations Wing merged their operations, and on 1 July 1974, concurrent with its redesignation as the 834th Tactical Composite Wing, the wing assumed responsibility for operating the USAF Air Ground Operations School, which trained personnel in concepts, doctrine, tactics, and procedures of joint and combined operations until 1 February 1978, and the USAF Special Operations School, which trained selected American and allied personnel in special operations, until March 1983.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, From the 1970s
Elements of the wing participated in the Operation Eagle Claw attempt in April 1980 to rescue U.S. hostages held in Tehran, Iran. Thereafter, continued to work closely with multi-service special operations forces to develop combat tactics for numerous types of aircraft and conduct combat crew training for USAF and foreign aircrews. Conducted numerous disaster relief; search and rescue; medical evacuation; and humanitarian support missions.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, From the 1970s
A notable rescue operation they participated in was the rescue of tourists from the roof of their 26 story hotel during the 1980 MGM Grand fire in Las Vegas. Part of the unit was participating in the yearly Exercise Red Flag at Nellis AFB when the call came from local authorities that several hundred people were trapped on the roof of the enflamed MGM. It took several local and military helicopters several hours flying in dangerous conditions to rescue as many people as they could, only being able to take about twenty people per trip.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, From the 1970s
Supported drug interdiction efforts in a coordinated program involving multiple US and foreign agencies, 1983–1985. Conducted airdrop and airlift of troops and equipment; psychological operations, close air support, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and attacks against enemy airfields and lines of communications in support of the rescue of US nationals in Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury), October to November 1983, and the restoration of democracy in Panama (Operation Just Cause), December 1989 to January 1990.


1st Special Operations Wing, History, From the 1970s
Beginning in August 1990, the wing deployed personnel and equipment to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. These forces carried out combat search and rescue, unconventional warfare, and direct strike missions during the war, including suppression of Iraqi forces during the Battle of Khafji, January 1991.