THAILAND
Lineage and Honors History
of the

8th APS/SPS (PACAF)
Ubon RTAFB, 8 Dec 1965-16 Sep 1974

LINEAGE.

  • Constituted 8th Air Police Squadron, Fighter, Single Engine on 10 Aug 1948.
  • Activated on 18 Aug 1948.
  • Redesignated 8th Air Police Squadron, Fighter, Jet on 1 Mar 1950.
  • Redesignated 8th Air Police Squadron on 1 Mar 1950.
  • Inactivated on 1 Oct 1957.
  • Activated on 1 Dec 1965.
  • Organized on 8 Dec 1965.
  • Redesignated 8th Security Police Squadron on 15 May 1967.

HONORS.

SERVICE STREAMERS. None.
Seven campaign streamers and two decorations.

    The Vietnam Service Streamer, a unit award analogous to the award of the medal and ribbon for the individual is identical to the ribbon in design and color. A United States Air Force (USAF) unit qualified for the Vietnam Service Streamer if it was based in South Vietnam at any time between 1 July 1958 and 14 November, or 29 January through 28 March 1973.* A unit based during these same periods in Thailand and flying missions into or over Vietnam also received the Vietnam Service Streamer. Nonpaying combat support units based in Thailand at any time between 1 July 1958 and 28 March 1973 are also entitled to the service streamer.
    * Units earned the appropriate campaign streamers between 15 November 1961
        and 28 January 1973.
CAMPAIGN STREAMERS.
    A Campaign Streamer is a Vietnam Service Streamer with the name and dates of the campaign embroidered on it. With one exception, the Vietnam Air-Ground Campaign, a unit qualified for a campaign streamer if it was based in Vietnam or engaged in combat in Southeast Asia during the period of a designated campaign.

KOREAN WAR

  • Vietnam Defensive 1965-1966

  • Vietnam Defensive 1965-1966

  • UN Summer-Fall Offensive

  • Second Korean Winter

  • Korea Summer-Fall, 1952

  • Third Korean Winter

  • Korean Summer-Fall, 1953

VIETNAM WAR

["Current issue battle streamer as used on US military flags. Overall length 49" embroidered in white on the color of the "Vietnam Service" medal ribbon. This practice dates from June 1920 as prescribed by the Secretary of War and continues to this day." ]

Ubon Air Field, Thailand, 8 Dec 1965-16 Sep 1974.

  • Vietnam Air 1966

  • Vietnam Air Offensive 1966-1967

  • Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 1967-1968

  • Vietnam Air/Ground 1968

  • Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1968

  • Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1968-1969

  • TET 69/Counter-Offensive, 1969

  • Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969

  • Vietnam Winter-Spring 1969-1970

  • Sanctuary Counter-Offensive 1970

  • Southwest Monsoon, 1 July-30 November 1970

  • Commando Hunt V 1970-1971

  • Commando Hunt VI 15 May-31 October 1971




ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMERS. None.

DECORATIONS.

Presidential Unit Citation:

South Vietnam, 10 Oct 1966-10 Apr 1967

    Ubon Air Field, Thailand, 8 Dec 1965-16 Sep 1974.

  • (Thailand) 8 Jun 1966-16 Apr 1967;
  • ( Thailand ) 16 Dec 1966-2 Jan 1967;
  • ( Thailand ) 6 Mar 1968-31 Jul 1969;
  • ( Thailand ) 1 Jan 1971-1 Apr 1971.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device:

South Vietnam, 2 Apr-2 Sep 1967
  • 16 Dec 1965-15 Dec 1966;
  • 1 Apr 1968-30 Sep 1968;
  • 1 Jan 1970-31 Dec 1970;
  • 1 Oct 1971-31 Mar 1972;
  • 1 Apr 1972-22 Oct 1972;
  • 18 Dec 1972-15 Aug 1973.

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation:

  • (Korea) 27 Jun 1950-31 Jan 1951;
  • (Korea) 1 Feb 1951-31 Mar 1953.

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm:

South Vietnam, 2 Apr-2 Sep 1967

  • 16 Dec 1966-28 Jan 1973.

OPERATIONS. Served in Southeast Asia, 1965-74.

ASSIGNMENTS.

  • 8th Combat Support Group, 8 Dec 1965-16 Sep 1974.

STATIONS.

  • Ubon Air Field, Thailand, 8 Dec 1965;

  • Kunsan AB, South Korea, 16 Sep 1974.

COMMANDERS.

Maj James O'Bell
1 Dec 1965
Capt Thomas K. Irwin III
31 Aug 1966
1st Lt Thomas P. Lippay
1 Sep 1966
Maj David F. Ferree
27 Sep 1966
Maj Roger s. Espiritu
3 Oct 1966
Maj William M. Condie
29 Aug 1967
Maj Troy L. Tucker
30 Sep 1968
Maj Eugene A. Lamar
15 Aug 1969
Capt David P. Mills
12 Oct 1969
Capt John R. O'Leary (temp)
1 May 1970
Maj Norman B. Hess
15 Jun 1970
Capt John R. O'Leary (temp)
16 Dec 1970
Maj Norman B. Hess
1 Jan 1971
Capt Gerald McCormick
26 May 1971
Maj Joseph Conroy
5 Jun 1971
Lt Col Robert J. Foy
4 Mar 1972
Maj Allan E. Medsker
1 Jul 1972
Maj Martin N. Donley
7 Mar 1973
Capt Bernard R. Boucek (temp)
4 Oct 1973
Maj Deon J. Tollstrup
5 Oct 1973
Maj David W. Parr
8 Nov 1974
Capt Ralph G. Beckett (temp)
9 Nov 1974
Maj Richard D. Park
10 Jan 1974
Capt Milton E. Abbott (temp)
11 jan 1975
Maj Robet G. Chandler
31 Jan 1975
Maj Dudley R. DeWar
25 Apr 1975
Capt Paul V. Porter
20 Feb 1976
Maj Hart J. Guenther
2 Mar 1976
Maj William F. Dowd
12 Feb 1977
Maj Robert J. Hansel
17 Feb 1978
Maj Woodrow R. Pentecost Jr.
13 Feb 1979
Lt Col Byron C. Burson
19 Oct 1979-.

APPROVED by
MAURER MAURER, Chief, Historical Studies Branch

EMBLEM.
8th Security Police Squadron Emblem8th Security Police Squadron Emblem

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HQ PACAF/DPAP
REPLY TO ATTN OF:
SPP/CMS Narmore/449-9472, 10 JAN 1978

SUBJECT: Organizational Emblem, 8th Security Police Squadron

Concur. The 8th SPS was selected as the best PACAF Large Security Police unit in both 1976 and 1977. They are certainly deserving of this distinguished squadron emblem.

ERVIN C. STEWART, Colonel, USAF
Chief of Security Police

Approval of Squadron Emblem - 8th Air Police Squadron Ltr, 10 Jan 78.

8th Air Police Sq

    1. The attached emblem is approved for the 8th Air Police Squadron in accordance with AFR 900-3. The offical painting, its description and significance are forwarded for file and guidance in reproduction.

    2. This correspondence and attachments are permanent records and will be retained by the unit until inactivation, and then retired to the records center in accordance with AFM 181-5, Para 11. AFT900-3, contains instructions for ordering official photographs of the emblem.

    FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF
    JOHN R. ROBINSON, Lt Col, USAF
    Awards Division

UNIT EMBLEM: 8th AIR POLICE SQUADRON

SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of the elements of the proposed 8th Security Police Squadron emblem are as follows:

    a. The lightning bolt cutting diagnally across the center of the emblem is symbolic of the swiftness with which the 8th Security Police Squadron responds to any calling.

    b. The dragon in the lower right side is a Korean symbol which represents peace and happiness.

    c. The scales of justice are symbolic of not only the law enforcement and justice system but also of the delicate relationship existing between the peaceful co-existence and readiness of response to any contingency.

    d. The slogan "Vigilantia Pretium Libertas" is Latin for "Vigilance, The Price of Liberty".

MOTTO: VIGILANTIA PRETIUM LIBERTAS (Latin for "Vigilance, The Price of Liberty").

DESCRIPTION:

A disc edged with a narrow black border, the background divided per bend yellow and blue, in bend a red lightning bolt throughout between a pair of green scales above and a Korean dragon's head below (medium blue and green garnished yellow, white and black, langed red).

Attached above the disc a blank yellow scroll edged black.

Attached below the disc a yellow scroll edged black and inscribed "VIGILANTIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS" in black letters.

CABLE NUMBERS OF colors:

Air Force yellow
70068
Ultramarine blue, AF
65010
Pimento red
70042
Emerald green
70063
Medium blue (bluebird)
70211
Black
65018
White
65005

COMMENTS: The Lightning bolt has been reversed to issue from dexter and divide the disc per bend. The wire-like configuration has been omitted in order to enlarge the major design elements. Concurrence received from Mrs. Carroll in telecon with Mrs. Greene 14 July 1978.

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