History
The 73d Aero Squadron managed an airpark supporting the Air Service of the U.S. Second Army from, c. 15 November 1918-1919.
Redesignated the 73d Pursuit Squadron in 1929, now part of the Air Corps, it trained for pursuit missions from 1931 to 1935, when it was redesignated the 73d Attack Squadron, and in 1939 the 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium). The squadron conducted reconnaissance in support of flood-relief in southern California during March 1938.
It flew combat missions in the Northern Pacific from, December 1941-August 1943, when it was disbanded. Reconstituted and consolidated with 3rd Strategic Support Squadron, which performed airlift support for Strategic Air Command bases from 1950 to 1961. The consolidated squadron then redesignated 73d Special Operations Squadron on the inactive list.
It was activated in 2006 to operate the new MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft. The 73d was the first flying special operations squadron to move to Cannon Air Force Base after the fighter squadrons left.
As of April 2012 the MC-130W was redesignated as the AC-130W Stinger II due to the change on missions with the Dragon Spear conversion program.
Read more about this topic: 73d Special Operations Squadron
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Let us not underrate the value of a fact; it will one day flower in a truth. It is astonishing how few facts of importance are added in a century to the natural history of any animal. The natural history of man himself is still being gradually written.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“When we of the so-called better classes are scared as men were never scared in history at material ugliness and hardship; when we put off marriage until our house can be artistic, and quake at the thought of having a child without a bank-account and doomed to manual labor, it is time for thinking men to protest against so unmanly and irreligious a state of opinion.”
—William James (1842–1910)
“It may be well to remember that the highest level of moral aspiration recorded in history was reached by a few ancient Jews—Micah, Isaiah, and the rest—who took no count whatever of what might not happen to them after death. It is not obvious to me why the same point should not by and by be reached by the Gentiles.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)