33rd Special Operations Squadron The 33rd Special Operations Squadron became an active component of the 27th Special Operations Wing July 31, 2009. This newly assigned squadron was formed in direct response to combat needs of today's overseas contingency operations. Lineage: Organized as 33 Aero Squadron on 12 June 1917; Demobilized on 14 April 1919; Reconstituted and redesignated as 33 Pursuit Squadron on 24 March 1923; Activated on 25 June 1932; Redesignated: 33 Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 6 Dec. 1939; 33 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 12 March 1941; 33 Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942; 33 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 3 Feb. 1944; Inactivated on 22 June 1945; Redesignated as 33 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 3 March 1953; Activated on 8 April 1953; Inactivated on 25 June 1953; Redesignated as 33 Fighter-Day Squadron on 7 May 1956; Activated on 25 July 1956; Inactivated on 19 Nov. 1956; Redesignated 33 Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron on 18 Aug. 1969; Activated on 15 Oct. 1969; Inactivated on 1 Oct. 1982; Redesignated 33 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 7 Sept. 1984; Activated on 1 Jan. 1985; Redesignated 33 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov. 1991; Inactivated on 15 Nov. 1993; Redesignated as 33 Special Operations Squadron on 29 April 2009; Activated on 29 May 2009. Assignments: Unkn, 12 June-Dec. 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, Dec 1917-Jan 1919; unkn, Jan-14 April 1919. 8 Pursuit Group, 25 June 1932; Iceland Base Command, 6 Aug 1941; 342 Composite Group, 11 Sep 1942; 24 Composite Wing, 18 Mar 1944; Iceland Base Command, 15 June 1944-9 June 1945. 37 Fighter-Bomber Group, 8 Apr-15 June 1953. 342 Fighter-Day Group, 25 Jul-19 Nov 1956. 363 Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 363 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 15 Oct 1969-1 Oct 1982. 363 Tactical Fighter (later, 363 Fighter) Wing, 1 Jan 1985; 363 Operations Group, 1 May 1992-15 Nov 1993. 27 Special Operations Group, 29 May 2009-. Stations: Camp Kelly, TX, 12 Jun-11 Aug 1917; Etamps, France, 19 Sep 1917; Clermont-Ferrand, France, c. 25 Sep 1917; Issoudun, France, Dec 1917; Bordeaux, France, 6 Jan-18 Mar 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, 5-14 April 1919. Langley Field, VA, 25 June 1932; Mitchel Field, NY, 14 Nov 1940-27 July 1941; Iceland, 6 Aug 1941-9 June 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 20-22 June 1945. Clovis AFB, NM, 8 Apr-25 June 1953. Myrtle Beach, AFB, SC, 25 Jul-19 Nov 1956. Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Oct 1969-1 Oct 1982. Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1985-15 Nov 1993. Cannon AFB, NM, 29 May 2009-. Aircraft: Nieuport 83, 1918. P-12, 1932-1935; P-6, 1933-1936; in addition to PB-2, 1936-1939, and P-36, 1939-1940, included P-6, YP-37 and A-17 during 1937-1940; P-40, 1940-1944; P-39, 1942-1943; P-47, 1944-1945. RF-4, 1969-1982. F-16, 1985-1993. Operations: Constructed facilities, maintained aircraft, and functioned as a flying training unit, 1917-1918. Performed air defense for Iceland, Aug 1941-May 1945. Not operational, 1953 and 1956. During 1969-1982, conducted RF-4 aircrew training in tactical reconnaissance tactics and techniques. Trained in tactical fighter missions designed to destroy enemy forces, 1985-1993. Deployed aircrews and aircraft to Southwest Asia (SWA); participated in Operation Southern Watch over southern Iraq in support of United Nations operations, 1992-1993. Lt. Col. Gary L. North, commander of 33 Fighter Squadron, became the first F-16 pilot to score an aerial victory in SWA, 27 Dec. 1992. Service Streamers: World War I Theater of Operations. Campaign Streamers: World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease Fire Campaign. Decorations: Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1974-1 July 1976; 2 July 1976-30 June1978; 1 Oct. 1981-[1 Oct. 1982]; 1 Jan. 1988-30 Dec. 1989; 1 Jan. 1992-15 Nov. 1993.