• 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

  • Friendship strengthens during JCET exercise

    Members from the 353rd Special Operations Group joined members of the Royal Thai Air Force for Exercise Teak Torch Jan. 27 through Feb. 7 in Udon Thani, Thailand.                                     "This exercise is conducted to focus on exchanges with our Thai counterparts in order to enhance

  • Group announces annual award winners

    Col. Ben Maitre, 353rd Special Operations Group commander announced the group's 2013 annual award winners during a ceremony Jan. 17 at the Rocker NCO club.The winners are: AirmanSenior Airman John Grimesey, 320th Special Tactics SquadronNoncommissioned OfficerTech. Sgt. April Riener, 353rd Special

  • 353rd SOG supports Operations Damayan

    Last November the 353rd Special Operations Group was preparing for a combined exercise in the Philippines as Typhoon Haiyan began to form in the Pacific. After causing flooding and damage on six central islands and killing more than 6,000 people, Super Typhoon Haiyan became known as one of the

  • Talon II pilot recognized by Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators

    As a child, he was inspired by meeting a commercial airline pilot as he walked down the aisle greeting passengers. At 15, he completed his first solo in an AT-6 Texan World War II trainer and went on to serve four years in the Civil Air Patrol. Now after nearly 24 years of service, he is being