USAF 129th ACS / Vintage Patch

USAF 129th Air Commando Squadron / California Air National Guard / Vintage No-Tab Patch

The patch is approx. 3" across; embroidery on black cloth. No tab on the bottom, as is seen in later SOS versions of the patch. VERY rare! Circa 1963/68'

The California Air National Guard's introduction to the world of special operations began when Air Force leaders decided to phase out active duty air commando units (Known as Air Resupply units) in 1954. Despite the decision, there was still a need to maintain a limited number of crews and aircraft to support unconventional warfare missions. After lengthy deliberations, the Air Force decided in 1955 to establish four special air warfare units within the Air National Guard: the 129th in California, the 130th in West Virginia, the 143d in Rhode Island, and the 135th Air Resupply Group in Maryland. The 129th Air Resupply Squadron was established in April 1955 as a new California Air National Guard unit with no previous United States Air Force history or lineage by the National Guard Bureau. Activated on 4 April at Hayward Municipal Airport, the squadron was assigned to the 129th Air Resupply Group. Allocated to Military Air Transport Service (MATS), and equipped with C-46 Commando transports. 

129th ACS SA-16A Albatross, AF Ser. No. 51-0025, circa 1965

The 129th was designated at the time as a "Psychological Warfare" unit which supported USAF unconventional warfare (guerrilla warfare), direct action (commando-type raids), strategic reconnaissance (intelligence gathering), and PSYWAR operations. The C-46 was supplemented by SA-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft beginning in 1956. The SA-16 (later redesignated HU-16) completely replaced the C-46s in 1963. Training for water landings with the SA-16 was extremely hazardous. To make matters worse, doctrine required pilots to land their aircraft on the water at night, with no landing lights.  

Ultimately, the 129th's mission included counterinsurgency, military civic action, psychological operations, tactical air operations, and unconventional warfare. In addition to blacked-out water landings, the SA-16 crews practiced pulling personnel from the ground by means of the Fulton Recovery System, which was "like bungee jumping in reverse." 

Reassigned to Tactical Air Command in 1963 and re-designated as Air Commando unit, following the revival of an active duty air commando unit at Hurlburt Field, Florida in line with President John F. Kennedy's initiative to bolster the United States military special forces during the early involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1963, the 129th participated in Exercise Swift Strike III, one of the largest military maneuvers since World War II. During the exercise, the unit not only flew a variety of special air warfare missions. Continuing its mission and training with the Active duty 1st Air Commando Group in Northern Florida, in 1968 HQ USAF directed all Air Commando organizations be re-designated as "Special Operations" units to be more descriptive of their mission. 

Rescue and Recovery

In May 1975 after the end of the Vietnam War, the mission of the 129th was realigned and the unit became part of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, Military Airlift Command. In 1980 the unit moved from Hayward to Naval Air Station Moffett Field. 

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the 129th Rescue Wing's mission is to train and prepare to perform its wartime mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. The 129th has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.

The 129th has been assigned to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003 by the Air Force Special Operations Command re-organized Air National Guard rescue units and created separate squadrons for fixed-wing, helicopter and Pararescue elements of the 129th Rescue Squadron. The HH-60G helicopter flight became 129th Rescue Squadron; the HC-130P Hercules flight become the 130th Rescue Squadron, and the pararescue flight became the 131st Rescue Squadron. 

The 129th RQS has been assigned to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in support of the Global War on Terrorism. 

Partial History

Activated 129th Air Resupply Squadron and Allocated to National Guard Bureau (NGB) on April 3, 1955

129th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1 November 1958

129th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium), 28 January 1962

129th Air Commando Squadron, 1 July 1963

129th Special Operations Squadron, 8 August 1968

129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3 May 1975

129th Air Rescue Squadron, 1 October 1989

129th Rescue Squadron, 16 March 1992

129th Rescue Squadron October 1, 1995 -

Assigned:

129th Wing ( see below for the Wing's previous designators )

Stationed:

Hayward Airport 1956 - 1980

Naval Air Station Moffett Field (later, Moffett Federal Airfield) 1980 - 

Aircraft:

C-46 Air Commando Transports

In 1956 the Group received Black-Painted Amphibious SA-16 (re-designated HU-16) Albatross aircraft

The C-46's were phased-out by 1962 leaving the Squadron flying HU-16s

SA-16 Albatross 1963 - 1968

C-119 Flying Boxcar 1968 - 1975

Cessna U-3A 1968 - 1975

U-6A Beaver 1968 - 1975

Ran a U-6 "Beaver" training mission for the USAF called "Lucky Tiger" for RVN bound personnel

U-10D Super Courier 1968 - 1975

HH-3E Jolly Green Giant 1975 - 1991

HH-60G Pave Hawk 1991 - Today

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