4th SOS celebrates 21st Birthday

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kai White
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
The 4th Special Operations Squadron celebrated its 21st birthday during a party, May 4, here.

While the 4th SOS has only officially been around since 1995, the squadron has roots dating back to the 4th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron which was activated in April 1942. The flyers of the 4th ACFS originally ferried fighters, bombers and non-combat aircraft around the world before it was disbanded in 1944.

“The 4th [SOS] has a huge amount of credibility, and that didn’t just start with us,” said Lt. Col. Derrick Barton, the commander of the 4th SOS. “The 4th [Air Corps] Ferrying Squadron started building its credibility way back during World War II. Each iteration of the 4th built onto it, and I hope to continue that trend into the future.”

In the late 1960s the squadron flew search and rescue, reconnaissance and forward air control missions on various C-47 Skytrain platforms as the 4th Air Commando Squadron.

Later known as the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, aircrews flew the EC-135A/C and G Stratolifter models as a communication link for Strategic Air Command from April 1970 to September 1992.

It wasn’t until the delivery of the Air Forces ‘new’ AC-130U Spooky gunship that the current 4th SOS was officially activated May 4, 1995.

“Today is about our heritage,” said Senior Master Sgt. Corey Fossbender, the senior enlisted manager for the 4th SOS. “Recognizing where we came from and the tremendous things that we have accomplished in the 21 short years we’ve been a squadron.”

Since then , the 4th SOS has built their credibility by providing cover-fire support from spooky gunships downrange during conflicts such as Operation Allied Force in Kosovo and firing the first shots during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“Our credibility means we are over our target on-time, putting rounds where they are needed, accurately, and efficiently,” said Barton. “It’s one of the things that keeps our squadron in high demand downrange.”