Editing Tactical Air Command (section)

==== Special Operations Units ====
Air Force [[Special Forces]] units became part of TAC in 1961 when a counter-insurgency force was activated at [[Eglin AFB]], Florida. Aircraft of these units consisted of a combination of propeller-driven World War II and Korean War-vintage fighters, modified trainers, [[Douglas B-26 Invader]] attack bombers and an eclectic collection of cargo and utility aircraft.<ref name="multi99">Thigpen, Jerry L. (2001). The Praetorian STARShip: The untold story of the Combat Talon. Air University Press, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ASIN: B000116LSI</ref> Originally activated as a Combat Crew Training Squadron, the unit was upgraded to a wing and designated as the [[1st Special Operations Wing|1st Air Commando Wing]]. In 1964, TAC ordered a squadron of specially modified [[C-130 Hercules|C-130E]] aircraft to support [[U.S. Army Special Forces]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] teams operating deep inside enemy territory. As the war in Vietnam intensified, additional air commando units were organized in Southeast Asia. In 1968, these units were redesignated as "Special Operations" squadrons.