353d Special Operations Group The 353d Special Operations Group ( 353 SOG ) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command . It is stationed at Kadena Air Base , Japan . The 353 SOG is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U . S . Special Operations Command , Pacific ( SOCPAC ) , a subcommand of the United States Pacific Command . The group ' s origins date to 1944 as the 3rd Air Commando Group . The unit was assigned to Fifth Air Force in the Philippines in 1944 for operations with P - 51 Mustang s , C - 47 Skytrain s , and L - 5 Sentinel aircraft . It attacked Japanese airfields and installations in the Philippines , supported ground forces on Luzon , and provided escort for missions to Formosa and the China coast . It also made raids on airfields and railways on Formosa , and furnished cover for convoy s . In addition , the group transported personnel , dropped supplies to ground troops and guerrilla forces , evacuated casualties from front - line strips , adjusted artillery fire , and flew courier and mail routes . Units . The 353d Special Operations Group consists of the following squadrons : Lineage . The group ' s lineage and honors can be traced not just through its own history , but through the history of two predecessor organizations , the 3d Air Commando Group and the 553d Reconnaissance Wing . History . World War II . When activated , the 3rd Air Commando Group trained to establish and maintain an airstrip behind enemy lines , to provide for its own supply and air defense , to attack targets in the enemy ' s rear areas , and to furnish air support for ground operations . The group ' s headquarters , liaison , and airdrome squadrons , as well as its medical dispensary and the ground echelons of the 3rd Fighter Squadron and 318th Troop Carrier Squadron sailed from the west coast in early November 1944 , arriving on Leyte on 1 December 1944 . The ground echelon of the 4th Fighter Squadron sailed a week later and arrived on Leyte in early January 1945 . The flying personnel of the 3rd and 4th Fighter Squadrons , as well as some enlisted members of their engineering sections , were air - transported to Nadzab , New Guinea , where they received the group ' s new P - 51 aircraft . The separated squadrons flew patrol missions in New Guinea until joining the group on Leyte in January 1945 . Began combat in the Philippines by flying bombing and strafing missions against airdromes on Mindanao . Later , on Luzon , the fighters continued bombing and strafing missions . In addition , the group provided air support to ground forces , flew fighter sweeps to Formosa , and escorted heavy bombers on bombing missions to Formosa and the China coast . The air echelon of the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron flew their C - 47s across the Pacific , arriving at Nadzab , New Guinea , in late October 1944 . The squadron carried cargo and passengers and air - evacuated wounded soldiers to Australia until it moved to Leyte in mid - January 1945 . While on Luzon , this squadron also para - dropped supplies to ground forces . The liaison squadrons received their L - 5s in late January 1945 , and thereafter evacuated wounded from advanced points , flew courier , search and rescue , and reconnaissance missions , spotted for signal aircraft warning battalions , and dropped supplies to allied and guerrilla forces . In April 1945 , the Group , less the liaison squadrons , moved from Mandaldan , on the Lingayen Gulf , to Laoag , in northwest Luzon , in recently captured territory 150 miles behind enemy lines . The group operated the base and the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron provided most of the resupply . The group set up air - ground support stations that directed aircraft to targets and tactical radio ground stations situated with U . S . and guerrilla ground forces . In June 1945 Laoag became the staging field for flights to Okinawa . In August 1945 , the group moved to Ie Shima , in the Ryukyus , from where the fighter squadrons flew surveillance missions over Japan . The 318 TCS participated in the evacuation of allied prisoners of war from Japan . By the end of October 1945 , the group moved to Chitose AB , Japan . By February 1946 the squadrons were reduced to paper strength and the group inactivated the next month . Cold War . Beginning in February 1967 , the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing trained to support a special electronic reconnaissance program utilizing 30 EC - 121R aircraft , with a C - 121G used for pilot and flight engineer training . Moved to Thailand in increments beginning mid - September 1967 and began day and night unarmed reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia on 25 November 1967 . A wing detachment at Nakhon Phanom Airport , Thailand , performed combat evaluation of YQU - 22A aircraft and associated equipment , December 1968 – August 1969 . From July to early September 1970 the wing provided combat evaluation of the QU - 22B aircraft and on 1 October 1970 the QU - 22Bs were placed in full operation , reducing the need for EC - 121s . Strength of the wing was reduced in both personnel and equipment , and in mid - December 1970 the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing inactivated . One reconnaissance squadron , the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron , was reassigned to the 388TFW and stayed at Korat RTAFB . The 554th Reconnaissance squadron was inactivated with that squadron number then assigned to what was Detachment 1 at Nakon Phanom RTAFB . The last 553rd Reconnaissance EC - 121R mission occurred on 6 December 1971 . Modern era . The 353d Special Operations Wing activated in April 1989 in the Philippines to train for unconventional warfare and special operations activities in the Pacific area of operations . Maintained capabilities by participating in joint / combined and other theater exercises and training opportunities . Also maintained helicopter air refueling operations and supported humanitarian and disaster relief operations , as well as performed some search and rescue and aeromedical evacuation missions . Following the destruction of Clark AB during the volcanic eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 the group temporarily operated from bases on Okinawa , then officially relocated there in February 1992 , with one squadron moving forward to South Korea . Redesignated to group level in December 1992 , but continued operations as before . In February 1996 developed Taegu AB in South Korea as a special operations training base . Gained a weather flight in April 1996 and began providing weather support for U . S . Army Special Forces at Torii Station , Japan . From December 1996 periodically deployed aircraft and personnel to Italy to support NATO operations in the Balkans and to Southwest Asia to support allied operations against Iraq .