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  • From left, Staff Sgt. Michael Wilson and Staff Sgt. Anthony Bliss, both loadmasters from the 1st Special Operations Squadron, prepare to drop the wreath from an MC-130H Combat Talon II off the coast of the Philippines Feb. 26, 2014 in memory of those who died in the crash of Stray 59. The flight honors those who were lost 33 years ago when a 1st SOS MC-130E, call sign STRAY 59, crashed during an exercise killing eight crew members and 15 passengers. (U. S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer)

    1st SOS pays tribute to Stray 59

    A 1st Special Operations Squadron crew conducted their annual wreath drop Feb. 26 off the coast of the Philippines to pay tribute to the crew of Stray 59. Stray 59 was the call sign of an MC-130E from the 1st SOS that crashed Feb. 26, 1981 during an exercise killing eight of the nine crew members and 15 special operators that were passengers. The
  • Staff Sgt. Alicia Chavez, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron independent duty medical technician, passes out ear plugs to displaced people onboard an MC-130P Combat Shadow Nov. 14, 2013, as they are transported from Tacloban Airport to Manila, Philippines. Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen are deployed in support of Operation Damayan, enabling night operations to facilitate the flow of aid. The role of U.S. military forces during any foreign humanitarian assistance event is to rapidly respond to mitigate human suffering and prevent further loss of life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer)

    353rd SOG supports Operation Damayan relief efforts in Philippines

  • Staff Sgt. Aaron Davis, 320th Special Tactics Squadron combat controller, presents the POW/MIA flag to a member of the 18th Wing honor guard during the National POW/MIA flag ceremony Sept. 20, 2013 on Kadena Air Base, Japan. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is one of six days throughout the year that Congress mandates the flying of POW/MIA flag. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer)

    Honoring their sacrifice

  • Members of the 17th Special Operations Squadron salute as the aircrew of MC-130P Combat Shadow 69-5825 completes a final taxi before the aircraft's departure from Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 17, 2013, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The aircraft will retire after 44 years of active service and more than 18,000 flying hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer/Released)

    17th SOS retires first Combat Shadow in Pacific

    A crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron began the final flight of MC-130P Combat Shadow, tail 69-5825, July 18 from Kadena Air Base to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. "After having executed a wide variety of missions in the aircraft over the last 13 years, I have mixed emotions seeing her headed to retirement" said Lt. Col. Daniel
  • Master Sgt. Edward Timmons, 353rd Special Operations Group, poses for a picture with his daughter, Isabella, 7, recently at his daughter school. In the past year, Timmons has had two major surgeries and completed radiation treatments to help battle thyroid cancer. Timmons looks forward to hitting his one year mark in September, so he can officially be in remission. (Courtesy photo)

    Family strength helps Air Commando fight cancer

    Family strength, one of the 13 critical attributes of an Air Commando, holds different purpose and meaning for many people. For one senior NCO, family strength helped him live. After enduring two major surgeries, completing radiation treatments, and battling depression along with other side effects caused by the prescription drugs to combat his
  • U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ben Maitre, 353rd Special Operations Group commander, receives the guidon from Maj. Gen. George Williams, Air Force Special Operations Command, vice commander during the 353rd SOG assumption of command on Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 10, 2013. Maitre most recently served as a National Defense Fellow at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer/Released)

    Batcats welcome new commander

    Members across Team Kadena joined the 353rd Special Operations Group to welcome a new leader.Lt. Col. Ben Maitre assumed command of the 353rd SOG during a ceremony held here May 10. Maj. Gen. George Williams, Air Force Special Operations Command vice commander, highlighted the group's recent accomplishments before passing the 353rd SOG guidon."Your
  • Tech. Sgt. Ray Decker prepares his rucksack prior to boarding an MC-130P Combat Shadow on March 16, 2011, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Decker is from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

    U.S. Leaders Recall Japan Disasters, Relief Efforts

    President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta issued statements today marking the upcoming one-year anniversary of the "3/11" earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that devastated Japan.Obama said he and First Lady Michelle Obama join all Americans in honoring the memory of the 19,000 victims lost or
  • SENDAI, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Kelsey Kent is an electronic power production craftsman forward deployed to Sendai Airport to help the Japanese recover and rebuild in the wake of the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami. Other Airmen with him took to calling the Boise, Idaho native “Clark,” because, as one NCO put it, “That guy’s Superman – he can do anything.” Sergeant Kent is from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)

    Pacific Air Commando selected to latest Portraits in Courage edition

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz named Staff Sgt. Kelsey Kent as one of 18 Airmen honored in the sixth volume of Portraits in Courage during an address at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20. Each year, Air Force leadership highlights Airmen who demonstrate
  • SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Michael Fletcher, 353rd Special Operations Group NCO in charge of air transportation team, sits on a forklift at Sendai Airport, Japan, March 20, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

    Special ops port dog keeps Operation Tomodachi relief aid flowing at Sendai Airport

    A little more than 14 years ago, Tech. Sgt. Michael Fletcher -- an Airman basic at the time -- was lost on the streets of Tokyo. It was the first weekend of his first week at his first assignment, Yokota Air Base. Two Japanese couples saw the confused young Airman and helped him get home. Rather than merely giving him directions, they gladly
  • SENDAI, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Chris Sefton reviews aircraft landing schedules March 29, 2011. A team of 20 Airmen forward deployed to Sendai Airport to help the Japanese recover and rebuild in the wake of the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami. Sergeant Sefton is a ground radio technician with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)

    Recovering hope: Airmen help Japanese rebuild Sendai Airport

    In the aftermath of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Sendai Airport, Japan, was a disaster -- cars littered the runway, debris had piled up inside the terminal, there was no power. Sendai Airport was written off by many as gone forever. That is, until Airmen stationed in Japan arrived there to help. Airlifters from Yokota Air Base
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