▁provide ▁AC - 1 1 9 G ▁Sh adow ▁gun ship ▁air ▁support ▁during ▁the ▁Vietnam ▁War . ▁It ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁with ▁the ▁draw down ▁of ▁United ▁States ▁forces ▁in ▁Vietnam . ▁During ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁the ▁line ages ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Re con na issance ▁Squadron ▁( B omb ard ment ), ▁ 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 , ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁activ ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁at ▁K ad ena . ▁ ▁Mission ▁ ▁E qui pped ▁with ▁the ▁MC - 1 3 0 P ▁Com bat ▁Sh adow , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁is ▁task ed ▁with ▁providing ▁aer ial ▁ref uel ing ▁to ▁special ▁operations ▁hel ic op ters . ▁Air ▁cre ws ▁are ▁spe cially ▁trained ▁in ▁day ▁and ▁night , ▁low - level ▁delivery ▁of ▁troops ▁and ▁equipment ▁via ▁a ird rop ▁or ▁air land ▁operations ▁and ▁flying ▁using ▁night ▁vision ▁g og g les . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 7 th ▁Observ ation ▁Squadron ▁( Light ) ▁was ▁constit uted ▁on ▁ 5 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁activ ated ▁on ▁ 2 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁at ▁Prov idence , ▁Rh ode ▁Island ▁with ▁Air ▁Force ▁Com bat ▁Command . ▁On