633d Special Operations Wing

333d Special Operations Wing Active as the 633d Special Operations Wing
Douglas A-1E Skyraider of the wing's 6th Special Operations Squadron
Active	1968-1970
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Special Operations
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Engagements	Vietnam War
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
633d Special Operations Wing emblem (approved 29 May 1969)[1]

The 333d Special Operations Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was active from July 1968 through March 1970 at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam. In 1985, the wing was consolidated with the 333d Bombardment Group as the 333d Special Operations Wing.

History

Vietnam War

The 633d Combat Support Group ^[2] had provided support for Air Force unis at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam since the spring of 1966. In February 1968, the 6th Air Commando Squadron, flying Douglas A-1 Skyraiders moved to Pleiku from England Air Force Base, Louisiana and was assigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing, which was located at Nha Trang Air Base. The 633d Special Operations Wing was activated in July 1968 to act as the headquarters for both units stationed at Pleiku.^[1][3][4]

The wing engaged in special operations combat, including close air support, air escort, day and night interdiction, and visual and photographic reconnaissance from its activation until November 1969^[1]

In November 1969 its only operational squadron was inactivated in Operation Keystone Cardinal, the first reduction in United States Air Forces combat forces as ceilings on forces in South Vietnam were reduced and the United States began to withdraw. Its Douglas A-1 Skyraiders were transferred to the 56th Special Operations Wing in Thailand.^[5] The wing managed the reduction of United States forces at Pleiku until March 1970, when it was inactivated and transferred its remaining equipment and personnel to the 6254th Air Base Squadron.

Consolidation and redesignation

In July 1985, the wing was consolidated with the 333d Bombardment Group, a World War II unit that also served in the Pacific area. The consolidated unit was designated the 333d Special Operations Wing, but has never been active under that designation.^[6]

Lineage

• Established as the 633d Special Operations Wing and activated on 9 July 1968 (not organized)

Organized on 15 July 1968

Inactivated on 15 March 1970^[1]

Consolidated with the 333d Bombardment Group as the 333d Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985^[6]

Assignments

• Pacific Air Forces, 9 July 1968 (not organized)
• Seventh Air Force, 15 July 1968 – 15 March 1970^[1]

Units

• 6th Air Commando Squadron (later 6th Special Operations Squadron), 15 July 1968 – 15 November 1969
• 633d Combat Support Group, 15 July 1968- 15 March 1970^[1]

Stations

• Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, 9 July 1968 – 15 March 1970^[1]

Aircraft

• Douglas A-1 Skyraider, 1968-1969

Campaigns and awards

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device	15 July 1968 – 31 May 1969	633d Special Operations Wing[1]
	Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm	15 July 1968 – 15 March 1970	633d Special Operations Wing[1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III	9 July 1968 – 31 October 1968	633d Special Operations Wing[1]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV	1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969	633d Special Operations Wing[1]
	Tet 1969/Counteroffensive	23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969	633d Special Operations Wing[1]
	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969	9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969	633d Special Operations Wing[1]
	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970	3 November 1969 – 15 March 1970	633d Special Operations Wing[1]

References

Notes

1. Ravenstain, pp. 290-291
2. Robertson, Patsy (March 9, 2010). "Factsheet 633 Air Base Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
3. Robertson, Patsy (August 23, 2011). "Factsheet 14 Flying Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
4. Robertson, Patsy (9 April 2015). "Factsheet 6 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
5. USAF Force Withdrawal from Southeast Asia, p. 14
6. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• "Project Corona Harvest, USAF Force Withdrawal from Southeast Asia 1 January 1970 – 30 June 1971 (Secret, automatically declassified 1984)" (PDF). Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces. 31 May 1972. Retrieved 5 October 2015.