820 RED HORSE SQUADRON
MISSION
The RED HORSE mission is to support combat air power worldwide, RED HORSE provides the Commander of Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) a dedicated, flexible, airfield and base heavy construction and repair capability. RED HORSE also provides many special capabilities that allow the COMAFFOR to move and support missions as the air order of battle dictates. The standard RED HORSE capability consists of 404 personnel (engineers and support personnel) with approximately 1,000 short-tons of vehicles, heavy construction and support equipment. This organic support allows the unit to operate independently for extended periods of time until normal supply channels are established. In addition to the standard capability, the RED HORSE special capabilities consist of approximately 2,200 short-tons, which can be tailored to meet specific construction and repair requirements. When operating in a higher threat, non-permissive environment outside a forward operating base or collocated operating base, the RED HORSE commander, in coordination with the area commander (i.e. combat arms land force commander), determines additional security requirements based on operational risk.
HISTORY
The 820th Civil Engineering Squadron (Heavy Repair) (CES(HR)) was activated 12 Jan 1966 and organized and deployed to Tuy Hoa AB, on 8 April 1966. The 820th CES(HR) completed nearly 80% of all the construction at Tuy Hoa, including 170 aircraft protective, revetments, 120,000 square feet of wooden buildings, and 175,000 square yards of AM-2 matting. The unit relocated to Da Nang AB on 28 February 1969 and stayed there until 15 April 1970.
The 820th CES, HR returned to the United States on 15 April 1970, as a Tactical Air Command asset located at Nellis AFB, NV. On 10 March 1989 it was redesignated the 820th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron (RHCES). On March 1994, the 820th RHCES was redesignated the 820th RED HORSE Squadron (RHS).
RED HORSE is known for its special capabilities, and up until the organization of the 801st RED HORSE Training Squadron on 21 November 2021, the 820rd RHS provided much of that training and operated special capability schools at Nellis AFB, NV. This school included water-well drilling, explosive demolition, quarry operations, concrete mobile operations, material testing, and concrete and asphalt paving.
Nellis AFB became home to the Airborne RED HORSE flight when USAF leadership combined all the CONUS active-duty RHS airborne teams in 2012 at one location to better obtain the needed certifications.
OPERATIONS
In 1966, the 820th CES (HR) built aircraft shelters in South Vietnam. In January 1969, the 820th CES(HR) built shelters at Da Nang AB to house the USAF F-4 Phantoms of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. In total, the 820th CES(HR) engineers built almost 400 aircraft shelters in Vietnam, and many were covered in concrete for extra protection.
In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, the 820th RHCES supported Ahuas Tara, Joint Task Force-Bravo, deploying multiple times to Honduras to complete nation-building activities, including building schools, drilling water wells, and constructing water crossings. In 1991, during one of their JTF-B deployments, the 820th RHCES completed a major earth stabilization and repair to a runway, taxiway, and apron on the Nicaraguan border. This airfield allowed special operations units to complete missions in Nicaragua. They also completed nation-building activities. During the 1991 deployment, a team of personnel, while convoying from Soto Cano to Tegucigalpa, were shot at, wounding seven.
In 1990-1991, the RH2 team from the 820th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron deployed in support the coalition effort during the Gulf War in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm/Desert Finale. They deployed, augmenting the 823 RHCES, which was already in theater. This combined unit deployed throughout the AOR, completing major infrastructure projects in support of the war effort during both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. At the end of the hostilities, but before the peace accord was signed, the demo teams from both units forward deployed to southern Iraq and completed base denial operations on two Iraqi bases (Operation Desert Finale), with the 820th RHCES demo team deploying to Tallil AB in southern Iraq. This team deployed with 80,000 pounds of explosive, denying a 15,000-foot runway and three taxiways as well as critical infrastructure. These denial operations were the first-ever modern-day operation of their kind.
In 1992, a team of 34 personnel deployed to Cairo West AB in support of Operation Restore Hope. This team built two K-Spans (approximately 50 feet by 200 feet) to secure and store $20M of WRM at this air base.
In 1994, a team of 820th RHS personnel deployed to Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba in support of Operation Sea Signal. This team constructed K-Spans to store food supplies and erected large tents for cooking food in support of the approximate 54,000 Haitian and Cuban migrants/refugees bed down at GTMO.
In 1999, the 820th RHS deployed in support of Joint Task Force Shining Hope during Operation Allied Force. Their work included critical road and bridge repairs and construction of a new 1,000-foot taxiway at Rinas Airport, Tirana, Albania.
In 2000, the 820th RHS’s New Horizon projects included constructing the Mont Toiut Community Center on the island of Grenada. These projects improved the readiness of US engineers while responding to the host nations civic needs.
In 2002, the 820th RHS completed the largest construction project assigned to RED HORSE since the Vietnam War, a $17.6M MILCON ramp construction project at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2012, the 820th RHS’s New Horizons Project was in Tambo de Mora, Peru, a town hit by a devastating earthquake in 2007. The RED HORSE Engineers collaborating with their Peruvian military engineer counterparts to build a new town community center with a central park area, playground, library, clinic and auditorium.
In 2016, the 820th RHS’s New Horizon project was in the Dominican Republic. The team built a medical clinic in Loma Alta. The clinic included both patient rooms and doctors’ quarters. The project exercised readiness capabilities and had both active and reserve RED HORSE personnel working on building the clinic.
In September 2021, the 820th RHS went to Holliman AFB to participate in Operation Allies Welcome. The Department of Defense, through the U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, provided transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provided Afghan evacuees essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan.
UNIT PATCH
LINEAGE
12 Jan 1966 – Designated 820th Civil Engineering Squadron (Heavy Repair), and activated
8 Apr 1966 – Organized
15 Oct 1969 – Redesignated 820th Civil Engineering Squadron, Heavy Repair
10 Mar 1989 – Redesignated 820th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron
1 Mar 1994 – Redesignated 820th RED HORSE Squadron
STATIONS
8 Apr 1966 – Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam
15 Apr 1969 – DaNang AB, South Vietnam
15 Apr 1970 – Nellis AFB, NV, Area 2
ASSIGNMENTS
8 Apr 1966 – Seventh Air Force
15 May 1967 – Civil Engineering Group (Heavy Repair)(later, 1 Civil Engineering Group, Heavy Repair)
16 Mar 1970 – Seventh Air Force
15 Apr 1970 – Twelfth Air Force