353rd Special Operations Wing
The 353rd Special Operations Wing is a United States Air Force special operations unit based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, supporting United States Special Operations Command activities across the Pacific.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 353rd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command and the Air Force component assigned to United States Special Operations Command Pacific. Based at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, it provides specialized airpower, aviation support, special tactics, maintenance, logistics, and operational support for missions conducted with United States and partner forces across the Pacific and adjacent regions. The modern wing descends from two historically distinct organizations. Its earliest lineage began with the 3rd Air Commando Group, activated in 1944 during the Second World War. The group combined fighter, transport, liaison, medical, and airfield capabilities intended to establish and operate remote airstrips behind enemy lines. In the Philippines, its aircraft attacked Japanese airfields and installations, supported ground forces, escorted bombers, transported personnel and supplies, evacuated casualties, assisted guerrilla forces, conducted reconnaissance, and performed courier and search-and-rescue duties. Its aircraft included P-51 Mustangs, C-47 Skytrains, and L-5 Sentinels. The group later operated from the Ryukyu Islands and Japan before being inactivated in 1946. The second major predecessor was the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, organized in 1967 for electronic reconnaissance in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Flying EC-121R Batcat aircraft and later evaluating and operating QU-22 aircraft, the wing monitored activity associated particularly with the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was inactivated in 1970, although related reconnaissance activity continued through successor organizations. The two lineages were consolidated in 1985 under the 353rd Reconnaissance Wing designation. The organization was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Wing and activated in the Philippines in April 1989. Its post-Cold War mission centered on unconventional warfare training, special operations aviation, helicopter air refueling, joint and combined exercises, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue, and aeromedical evacuation. Following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the destruction of Clark Air Base, the unit operated temporarily from Okinawan locations and formally relocated to Okinawa in 1992. It became the 353rd Special Operations Group in December 1992, then returned to wing status in July 2021. The organization has maintained a forward-oriented regional role. It has supported NATO and allied operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia, developed special operations training capacity at Taegu Air Base in South Korea, and provided weather support for Army special operations forces. It has also taken part in disaster-response missions, including relief following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, and the 2018 Thai cave rescue. Its current structure includes special operations aircrews, special tactics personnel, aircraft maintenance units, and operational support elements, enabling it to generate and sustain missions throughout the Pacific theater.
History
The first predecessor of the 353rd Special Operations Wing was the 3rd Air Commando Group, established on 25 April 1944 and activated on 1 May of that year. It was designed as a self-contained air-ground organization capable of creating and sustaining airfields in contested areas, defending those facilities, attacking targets behind enemy lines, and providing direct support to ground forces. Its components included fighter, troop-carrier, liaison, headquarters, airdrome, and medical elements. During the Second World War, headquarters and ground personnel moved across the Pacific to the Philippines. The group began combat operations with P-51 fighters against Japanese airfields and installations in the Philippines. It also supported forces on Luzon, conducted fighter sweeps toward Formosa, escorted heavy bombers operating against Formosa and the China coast, and helped protect convoys. Its C-47 transport element moved personnel and cargo, delivered supplies by parachute, and evacuated wounded troops. Liaison aircraft performed reconnaissance, courier, search-and-rescue, artillery-spotting, and casualty-evacuation missions, while also resupplying allied and guerrilla forces. In April 1945, much of the group moved to Laoag in northern Luzon, where it established air-ground support stations and operated from a field situated well behind Japanese lines. Laoag later served as a staging point for flights toward Okinawa. In August the group moved to Ie Shima in the Ryukyus. Its fighters conducted surveillance missions over Japan, while its transport squadron helped evacuate Allied prisoners of war. The organization subsequently moved to Chitose Air Base in Japan, was reduced to paper strength, and was inactivated on 25 March 1946. The second major predecessor was the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, established in 1967 for an electronic reconnaissance program in Southeast Asia. It trained with EC-121R Batcat aircraft and began operational missions from Thailand on 25 November 1967. These unarmed day and night flights gathered electronic surveillance information, particularly in relation to activity along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The wing also evaluated YQU-22A and QU-22B aircraft and associated equipment. Organizational reductions led to its inactivation in December 1970; the final EC-121R mission associated with the lineage occurred in December 1971. The 3rd Air Commando Group and 553rd Reconnaissance Wing were consolidated in 1985 as the 353rd Reconnaissance Wing. The organization was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Wing in March 1989 and activated in the Philippines on 6 April 1989. Its mission involved training and operational readiness for unconventional warfare and special operations throughout the Pacific. It supported joint and combined exercises, helicopter air-refueling activity, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue, and aeromedical evacuation. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed Clark Air Base, forcing the organization to operate temporarily from Okinawan bases. It formally relocated to Okinawa in February 1992, with one squadron moving forward to South Korea. On 1 December 1992 it was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Group. The 320th Special Tactics Squadron joined in January 1993. During the 1990s the unit expanded regional training and support activity, including the development of Taegu Air Base as a special operations training location and the addition of weather support for Army Special Forces at Torii Station, Japan. It periodically deployed aircraft and personnel to Italy for NATO operations in the Balkans and to Southwest Asia for allied operations against Iraq. The organization has retained a substantial humanitarian and contingency-response role. It supported Operation Unified Assistance after the Indian Ocean tsunami, Operation Tomodachi after the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Operation Damayan after Typhoon Haiyan, and the 2018 Thai cave rescue. The 17th Special Operations Squadron was inactivated in July 2021, while the parent organization was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Wing on 14 July 2021. Its current force includes the 1st and 21st Special Operations Squadrons, the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, aircraft maintenance squadrons, and the 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron.
- 2021
Redesignated as the 353rd Special Operations Wing
[1]The organization returned to wing status on 14 July 2021.
- 2013
Operation Damayan
[1]The unit supported disaster relief in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyan.
- 2011
Operation Tomodachi
[1]The organization assisted relief operations following the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.
- 2005
Indian Ocean tsunami relief
[1]The unit supported Operation Unified Assistance, the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
- 1993
320th Special Tactics Squadron assigned
[1]The 320th Special Tactics Squadron joined the organization, adding pararescue, combat-control, and related special tactics capabilities.
- 1992
Relocated to Okinawa and became a group
[1]After the destruction of Clark Air Base, the unit relocated to Okinawa and was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December.
- 1989
Special operations wing activated
[1]The organization was redesignated and activated as the 353rd Special Operations Wing in the Philippines on 6 April 1989.
- 1985
Predecessor lineages consolidated
[1]The 3rd Air Commando Group and 553rd Reconnaissance Wing were consolidated under the 353rd Reconnaissance Wing designation.
- 1970
553rd Reconnaissance Wing inactivated
[1]The reconnaissance wing was inactivated on 15 December 1970 following reductions in personnel and equipment.
- 1967
553rd Reconnaissance Wing organized
[1]The second predecessor was organized for electronic reconnaissance operations in Southeast Asia using EC-121R aircraft.
Products and positioning
A forward-based United States Air Force special operations organization providing deployable aviation, special tactics, maintenance, and support capabilities for special operations and contingency response across the Pacific.
Special operations aviation
MC-130J Commando II operations
The 1st Special Operations Squadron operates MC-130J Commando II aircraft for specialized mobility, infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and related special operations missions. The aircraft provide a principal fixed-wing capability within the wing and support operations conducted with United States and partner forces in the Pacific.
Tiltrotor special operations aviation · 2019
CV-22B Osprey operations
The 21st Special Operations Squadron operates CV-22B Osprey aircraft. Their vertical-lift and long-range cruise characteristics support the movement of special operations personnel and equipment across distances and terrain that can challenge conventional aircraft.
Special operations ground support · 1993
Special tactics
The 320th Special Tactics Squadron provides specialized personnel associated with pararescue, combat control, and special reconnaissance. These capabilities connect air operations with ground-based special operations, including access, recovery, reconnaissance, and coordination functions.
Contingency response
Humanitarian and disaster-response support
The wing has repeatedly applied its aviation, support, rescue, and logistics capabilities to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Recorded activities include responses to major disasters in the Indian Ocean region, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Thai cave rescue
Thailand
Unit personnel assisted the multinational rescue effort at the Thai cave complex.
Outcome. The operation concluded with the rescue of the trapped youth football team and their coach.
- 2013Operation Damayan
Philippines
The unit assisted humanitarian relief in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Outcome. The deployment extended the wing's established disaster-relief role in the Pacific.
- 2011Operation Tomodachi
Japan
The organization contributed to relief efforts after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Outcome. The wing supported the broader United States-Japan disaster-response effort.
- 2005Operation Unified Assistance
Indian Ocean region
The unit supported the international humanitarian response following the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Outcome. The deployment demonstrated the wing's ability to use special operations aviation and support resources for disaster relief.
- 1967Southeast Asian electronic reconnaissance
Thailand · Southeast Asia
The 553rd Reconnaissance Wing flew unarmed electronic-surveillance missions, particularly monitoring activity associated with the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Outcome. The wing was reduced and inactivated in 1970, with related reconnaissance activity continuing through successor arrangements.
- 1945Philippines and Luzon operations
Philippines
The 3rd Air Commando Group conducted fighter attacks, close air support, transport, resupply, reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and casualty evacuation during operations in the Philippines.
Outcome. The group continued operations from Luzon and later moved through the Ryukyus and Japan during the final phase of the war.
Brand decisions
2021
Return to wing designationOtherBackground
The organization had operated under group status since 1992 while retaining a broad regional special operations role.
Action taken
It was redesignated the 353rd Special Operations Wing on 14 July 2021.
Aftermath
The current organization operates as a wing with aviation, special tactics, maintenance, and support squadrons in Japan and at other regional locations.
1992
Relocation to OkinawaStrategyBackground
The destruction of Clark Air Base during the Mount Pinatubo eruptions disrupted the unit's Philippine basing arrangement.
Action taken
The organization temporarily operated from Okinawan bases and formally relocated to Okinawa in February 1992, with one squadron moving to South Korea.
Aftermath
Kadena Air Base became the principal long-term base for the organization's Pacific special operations mission.
1992
Redesignation as the 353rd Special Operations GroupOtherBackground
The post-relocation organization was restructured within the Air Force special operations system.
Action taken
It was redesignated from the 353rd Special Operations Wing to the 353rd Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992.
Aftermath
The group continued its existing regional mission until returning to wing status in 2021.
1989
Transition to a Pacific special operations missionStrategyBackground
Following consolidation of its predecessor lineages, the organization was directed toward unconventional warfare training and special operations activities in the Pacific.
Action taken
It was redesignated and activated as the 353rd Special Operations Wing in the Philippines.
Aftermath
The unit developed a continuing regional role involving exercises, operational deployments, air refueling, rescue, and humanitarian response.
Recent events
- 2021
Unit redesignated from group to wing[1]
Leadership change · Other
The organization was redesignated from the 353rd Special Operations Group back to the 353rd Special Operations Wing, restoring the wing-level designation used since 1989.
- 2018
353rd Special Operations Wing assists Thai cave rescue[1]
Other
Personnel from the unit assisted the multinational response to the cave rescue operation in Thailand.
- 2013
353rd Special Operations Wing supports Operation Damayan[1]
Other
The unit assisted relief efforts in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyan.
- 2011
353rd Special Operations Wing supports Operation Tomodachi[1]
Other
The unit supported relief operations after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami through its regional special operations and support capabilities.
- 2005
353rd Special Operations Wing supports Operation Unified Assistance[1]
Other
The unit contributed personnel and operational support to the international humanitarian response following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/353d-special-operations-group · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled