About this Unit
The **9th Air Commando Squadron** was a United States Air Force unit activated during the Vietnam War. Established in 1967, it was part of the 14th Air Commando Wing and primarily operated out of Nha Trang and later Pleiku Air Base in South Vietnam. The squadron flew Douglas C-47D "Spooky" gunships, providing close air support, armed reconnaissance, and interdiction missions, particularly effective in night operations. The 9th Air Commando Squadron proved vital in supporting ground forces and disrupting enemy supply lines before being redesignated as the 9th Special Operations Squadron in August 1968.
Historical Facts
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Formation and Role: The 9th Air Commando Squadron was activated in March 1967 at Hurlburt Field, Florida, as part of the U.S. Air Force's Special Operations forces, with a primary mission of psychological warfare, unconventional warfare, and support for special operations in Southeast Asia.
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Aircraft Operated: The squadron primarily flew the Douglas C-47 "Skytrain" and later the AC-47 "Spooky" gunship, equipped with side-firing Gatling guns for close air support and ground attack missions.
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Operation Ranch Hand: The 9th Air Commando played a role in defoliation missions during the Vietnam War, spraying herbicides like Agent Orange to remove jungle cover used by enemy forces.
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PsyOps Missions: The unit was notable for psychological operations, including leaflet drops and broadcasting messages over loudspeakers to demoralize enemy troops and encourage surrender.
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Distinguished Service: Members of the 9th Air Commando Squadron received numerous awards for valor, including the Air Force Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and multiple Air Medals for their actions in combat.
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Night Operations: The squadron was famous for its "Spooky" gunship night missions, providing illumination with flares and devastating firepower to defend outposts and support ground troops under attack.
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Call Sign "Spooky": The AC-47s operated by the squadron were nicknamed "Spooky"—a call sign that became synonymous with the deadly and effective gunship missions over Vietnam.
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First Gunship Unit: The 9th Air Commando was among the first USAF units to operationally employ the gunship concept in combat, pioneering tactics that would be used by later aircraft like the AC-130.
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Support to MACV-SOG: The squadron frequently provided air support to covert MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group) missions deep behind enemy lines.
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Inactivation and Legacy: The squadron was inactivated in 1969, but its lineage and history live on through modern-day Air Force Special Operations units, commemorating its innovative and courageous service.
