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

353rd SOG supports Operation Damayan relief efforts in Philippines

Honoring their sacrifice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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