About this Unit
The 581st Air Resupply and Communication Squadron was a United States Air Force unit activated in 1951 during the Korean War. Assigned to conduct psychological operations, covert resupply, and support for unconventional warfare, the squadron operated from bases in Japan and Okinawa. Utilizing aircraft such as the B-29 Superfortress and C-119 Flying Boxcar, the 581st executed a variety of missions including leaflet drops, agent insertions, and supply drops behind enemy lines. The unit remained active until 1956, playing a significant role in special operations and psychological warfare efforts in the Far East during the early Cold War.
Historical Facts
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Formation and Role: The 581st Air Resupply and Communications Squadron was activated in 1951, at the height of the Korean War, and was specifically tasked with psychological operations, clandestine missions, and unconventional warfare support.
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Korean War Involvement: The unit played a key role in the Korean War, conducting leaflet drops, radio broadcasts, and supply missions deep behind enemy lines to support guerrilla operations and psychological warfare efforts.
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Special Operations Focus: The squadron was part of the Air Resupply and Communications Service, a precursor to today’s Air Force Special Operations, specializing in covert and unconventional missions.
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Aircraft Variety: The 581st operated various aircraft, including the B-29 Superfortress, C-47 Skytrain, and SA-16 Albatross, modified for infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions.
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Guerrilla Support: The squadron supported both U.S. and allied guerrilla units operating in North Korea, delivering supplies, agents, and communications equipment to resistance fighters.
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Vietnam War Prelude: Although primarily active during the Korean War, the tactics, equipment, and lessons developed by the 581st influenced later U.S. Air Force special operations in the Vietnam War.
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Base of Operations: The unit was initially based at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, before moving to Clark Air Base in the Philippines to be closer to the region of operations.
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Secret Missions: Many of the 581st’s missions remain classified, but declassified records indicate it conducted some of the earliest U.S. Air Force special operations missions in Asia.
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Notable Achievements: The 581st was recognized for its ingenuity and bravery, with crew members often flying into hostile territory at low altitude and under cover of darkness.
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Legacy: The squadron was inactivated in 1956, but its pioneering work in unconventional warfare, psychological operations, and special air missions laid the groundwork for today’s Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
