9th SOS honors father of special operations

  • Published
  • By Dylan Laurie
  • 16 SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla --  The 9th Special Operations Squadron auditorium at Eglin Air Force Base was renamed during a ceremony Oct. 6 honoring retired Brig. Gen. Benjamin Harold King.

General King, known as the father of modern Air Force Special Operations, established the Jungle Jim program, the precursor to the Air Commandos.

During the event, members of General King's family unveiled the dedication plaque, which was designed and donated by the Air Commando Association. The plaque was presented by Air Commando and Special Operations friends and 96th Air Base Wing personnel.
A portion of the plaque reads, "As a real hero of the 'Greatest Generation,' his motto was: 'The mission of the Air Force is to fly and fight -- and don't you ever forget it.' He certainly didn't."

General King fought as a fighter pilot in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and was credited with nine enemy aircraft destroyed while amassing 1,146 flying hours in more than 400 combat missions.

From May 1961 until March 1962, he served as commander of the 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron and 4400th CCT Group, at Eglin Auxiliary Field # 9, now Hurlburt Field. General King died in 2004.