About this Unit
The 580th Air Resupply Squadron was a United States Air Force special operations unit activated in 1951 during the early years of the Cold War. Initially assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, the squadron was tasked with unconventional warfare missions, including psychological operations, aerial resupply, and support for covert activities. During the Korean War, the 580th deployed to Wheelus Air Base, Libya, where it provided critical support for special operations in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. The unit was inactivated in 1956 as part of a broader reorganization of USAF special operations forces.
Historical Facts
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Special Operations Role: The 580th Air Resupply Squadron (ARS) was a specialized unit of the United States Air Force, organized for unconventional warfare, psychological operations, and clandestine missions during the early Cold War.
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Activated in 1951: The squadron was activated on 15 September 1951 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, in response to the growing need for psychological warfare and special operations capabilities during the Korean War.
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Psychological Warfare Missions: The 580th ARS was tasked with dropping leaflets, broadcasting propaganda, and conducting psychological operations behind enemy lines, mainly in the European theater.
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Secretive Deployments: The squadron operated in secrecy, often flying low-level night missions to infiltrate agents and supplies, and exfiltrate personnel from hostile territories.
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Stationed in England: In 1953, the 580th ARS was relocated to RAF Wheelus, Libya, and later to RAF Molesworth, England, supporting NATO and U.S. interests in Europe and the Mediterranean.
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Unique Aircraft: The squadron flew a variety of modified aircraft, including the B-29 Superfortress, C-119 Flying Boxcar, and SA-16 Albatross, equipped for airdrops, agent insertions, and psychological ops.
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Collaboration with the CIA: The 580th ARS frequently worked in coordination with the Central Intelligence Agency for covert Cold War operations, including support for resistance groups behind the Iron Curtain.
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Infiltration and Exfiltration: The unit specialized in inserting and extracting special forces, intelligence agents, and refugees from Soviet-controlled areas in Europe.
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Deactivation: The unit was inactivated on 25 October 1956 as the Air Force reorganized its special operations and psychological warfare capabilities.
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Legacy: The 580th ARS set the precedent for later Air Force special operations units, such as Air Commando and Special Operations Squadrons, and its history is recognized in the lineage of today’s Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
