6993rd Security Police Squadron

• Vietnam War Origins: The 6993rd Security Squadron was activated in 1967 during the Vietnam War to provide airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) support, primarily using EC-47 aircraft. • “Silent Warriors” Nickname: Members of the squadron were often called “Silent Warriors” due to their covert and highly sensitive intelligence-gathering missions. • Key Role in Ho Chi Minh Trail Operations: The squadron played a crucial part in intercepting enemy communications along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, disrupting North Vietnamese Army logistics and operations. • Integration with Aircrews: The 6993rd Security Squadron worked closely with Air Force flight crews, often sending linguists and cryptologists on dangerous combat missions aboard EC-47s. • Multiple Locations: The squadron operated from several bases in Southeast Asia, including Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Pleiku, Da Nang, and Nakhon Phanom in Thailand. • Heroic Actions: Personnel from the 6993rd were awarded numerous decorations for valor, including the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross, for their actions during combat missions. • Tragic Losses: The squadron suffered casualties during the war, most notably the loss of EC-47 “Baron 52” in February 1973, which resulted in the deaths of eight airmen and remains a subject of POW/MIA investigations. • Technological Pioneers: The 6993rd used cutting-edge (for the time) electronic surveillance equipment, making them pioneers in airborne SIGINT operations. • Disbandment and Legacy: The squadron was inactivated in 1974 as U.S. involvement in Vietnam ended, but its legacy continues in modern Air Force intelligence units. • Honored by the National Security Agency: The 6993rd Security Squadron is commemorated at the National Cryptologic Museum for its significant contributions to U.S. military intelligence during the Vietnam War.