| NKP Commandos |
| Organizational Information |
| River in Laos |
| Observation Squadron Sixty Seven VO-67- This U.S. Navy unit operated from 1967 to 1968 at NKP. Their mission was to detect, hinder and penalize North Vietnamese infiltration of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Operating the OP-2E Neptune aircraft, these brave, unarmed airmen implanted acoustic sensors along the Trail in support of Project Muscle Shoals. The project later became known as Igloo White. www.vo-67.org |
| 609th Special Operations Squadron Known as the Nimrods, the pilots and airmen flew the A-26A Counter Invader aircraft on air interdiction missions above the Ho Chi Minh Trail to stem the flow of North Vietnamese troops and supplies into South Vietnam. The 609th flew the A-26 aircraft from NKP during the years of 1966-1969. www.a-26legacy.com |
| 18th Special Operations Squadron The 18 SOS was assigned to NKP from approximately Aug. 71 to Dec. 72 and flew gunship missions in support of the Secret War in Laos. The AC-119K could disrupt enemy activity by laying down suppressive fire continuously, allowing U.S. supported forces the opportunity to retreat or regroup, to fight another day. www.ac-119gunships.com |
| 554th Reconnaissance Squadron The 554th flew the Beech QU-22B aircraft from NKP from approximately Dec. 70 to Sep 72. Known as the Vampires, the QU-22Bs orbited near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, picking up signals from acoustic sensors and relaying them to the Task Force Alpha facility at NKP. www.personalpages.tdstelme.net/~westin/bat cat2.htm |
| Detachment 4, 6th Aerial Port Squadron The 6th APS hauled troops and cargo throughout Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. They brought the mail, our food and everything else we needed, often taking fire on landing and take-off. Their motto was "Anytime Anywhere", and they meant it. Flying the venerable C-130, they always arrived on-time. |
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| 56th Combat Support Group- This group supported the organizations listed above, by providing specialized support in the areas of Transportation, Supply, Munitions Maintenance, Avionics Maintenance, Field and Organizational Maintenance, Intelligence, Security Police, Finance, Personnel, Communications, Civil Engineering, Life Support, Medical and Dental Services, and a Special Services Squadron. These support units made it possible for the air crews to fly and fight. These proud and dedicated professionals made an enormous contribution to the success of the 56th Special Operations Wing. |
