, ▁the ▁squad ron ▁began ▁training ▁Republic ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁Air ▁Force ▁pil ots ▁on ▁the ▁gun ships ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁and ▁turned ▁over ▁its ▁aircraft ▁to ▁the ▁ 8 1 9 th ▁Com bat ▁Squadron ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁September ▁ 1 9 7 1 . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁days ▁later ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁September . ▁ ▁K ad ena ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Squadron ▁▁ ▁On ▁ 1 9 ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁the ▁line ages ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Re con na issance ▁Squadron , ▁ 1 7 th ▁L ia ison ▁Squadron , ▁and ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Squadron ▁were ▁cons olid ated ▁as ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Squadron , ▁although ▁the ▁unit ▁remained ▁in active . ▁The ▁ 1 7 ▁S OS ▁was ▁react iv ated ▁on ▁ 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 5 3 d ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Wing ▁( l ater ▁the ▁ 3 5 3 d ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Group ) ▁at ▁K ad ena ▁Air ▁Base , ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁Lock he ed ▁H C - 1 3 0 P / N ▁Com bat ▁Sh adow ▁search ▁and ▁rescue ▁transport ▁( l ater ▁red es ign ated ▁the ▁MC - 1 3 0 P / N ▁to ▁reflect ▁its ▁special ▁operations ▁role ). ▁ ▁Since ▁then , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁has ▁provided ▁cover t ▁aer