555th RED HORSE Lineage and Honors

555th RED HORSE SQUADRON (AFRC)

Lineage:

The 555 Civil Engineering Squadron, (Heavy Repair) was activated on 1 October 1965 as a result of increased construction requirements in Viet Nam.
Organized on 12 Oct 1965.
Redesignated 555 Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair, on 15 Oct 1969.  
It was inactivated in 15 December 1969 after being heavily decorated. The remaining Heavy Repair units were renamed “RED HORSE” squadrons, which is an acronym for Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.

The concept of the 555 RHS began in 1998 when PACAF identified a shortfall after draw downs left the 554 RHS short of manning and not fully mission capable.
The proposal for the 555th to be located at Nellis was approved by Air Staff in June 2001.
Redesignated 555 RED HORSE Squadron on 21 Aug 2001. The Organizational Change Request, identifying the unit as an official Air Force organization, was approved and effective 1 October 2001.
Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 2001.

The primary mission of the 555 RED HORSE Squadron (Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) is worldwide construction in support of combat air forces.
The Triple Nickel is a self-sufficient, combat engineering squadron with the primary task being Construction and Heavy Repair of Airfields and other pavement surfaces.
The self-sufficient part comes from our internal support by services, supply, vehicle maintenance, medical, and administration troops. The 555th is a Total Force Unit.
This is the first Total Force Engineering unit in the Air Force.

Honors:

Service Streamers: None

Campaign Streamers:
Vietnam:
Vietnam Defensive 1965-1966
Vietnam Air 1966
Vietnam Air Offensive, 1966-1967
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 1967-1968
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1968
Vietnam Air/Ground 1968
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1968-1969
TET 69/Counteroffensive 1969
Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969
Vietnam Winter/Spring 1969-1970

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: None

Decorations:
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jan-31 Aug 1967; 1 Jan-15 Dec 1969.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:  1 Apr 1966-15 Dec [1969]

Assignments:

2d Air Division, 12 Oct 1965
Seventh Air Force, 1 Apr 1966
1 Civil Engineering Group, 15 May 1967-1969
610 Regional Support Group, 1 Oct 2001-

Stations:

Cam Rahn Bay, South Vietnam, 12 Oct 1965-15 Dec 1969.
  Nellis AFB, NV, 1 Oct 2001-

Emblem
Approved on 11 May 1966

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