551st Special Operations Squadron
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| 551st Special Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the 551st Special Operations Squadron. | |
| Active | 1971 – 2007, 2009 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Size | 92 active duty personnel and 66 civilian contractors |
| Part of | Air Force Special Operations Training Center, Hurlburt Field, Florida |
| Garrison/HQ | Cannon AFB, NM |
| Motto(s) | One MInd, Any Weapon |
| Mascot(s) | Owl |
| Equipment | previous MH-53J Pave Low III |
| Decorations |  |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lt Colonel Douglas J. Distaso[1] |
The 551st Special Operations Squadron (551 SOS) is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center and based out of Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The 551st had previously been based at Kirtland Air Force Base from 15 March 1976 until its inactivation on 10 May 2007.[2] It was reactivated in 2009 and currently is assigned to the AFSOC and trains aircrews on the MC-130 and AC-130.
Lineage
- Designated 1551st Flying Training Squadron on 1 April 1971.
- Organized 1 April 1971.
- Redesignated 551st Flying Training Squadron on 1 October 1991.
- Redesignated 551st Special Operations Squadron on 1 April 1994.
- Inactivated on 10 May 2007.
- Reactivated on 25 Jul 2009.
Operations
The 551st was originally designated the 1551st Flying Training Squadron, and was assigned to the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing. In 1994, it was redesignated the 551st Special Operations Squadron, and was reassigned to the 58th Special Operations Wing.
The 551st conducted helicopter training until it was inactivated in 2007. It is also responsible for special operations contingencies, exercises, and humanitarian rescue missions. The Squadron conducted training on the Pave Low helicopter, but suspended these operations due to the looming retirement of the helicopter.[3]
Stations, Assignments, & Aircraft
| Date | Base | Assignment | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1971 | Hill AFB, Utah | 1551th Aircrew Training and Test Wing | HH-43 Huskie 1971 – (1975) HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant (1971–1987) HC-130 Hercules (1973–1987) |
| HH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1971–1992) UH-1 Iroquois (1987–1994) HH-60 Pave Hawk (1990–1994) | |||
| 1 October 1991 | Kirtland AFB, New Mexico | 542d Operations Group | |
| 1 April 1994 | Kirtland AFB, New Mexico | 58th Operations Group | MH-53J Pave Low III |
| 2009 | Cannon AFB, New Mexico | 551st Special Operations Squadron | AC-130H Spectre MC-130W Combat Spear MQ-1 Predator |
| 2010 | Cannon AFB, New Mexico | 551st Special Operations Squadron | AC-130H Spectre AC-130W Stinger II MC-130J Combat Shadow II MQ-9 Reaper Dornier 328 Pilatus PC-12 M-28 Skytruck |
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 April 1974 – 31 May 1976
- 1 April 1976 – 31 March 1978
- 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987
- 1 July 1987 – 30 June 1989
- 1 January 1993 – 30 June 1994
- 1 July 1994 – 31 December 1995
- 1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998
- 1 July 1998 – 30 June 2000
- 1 July 2001 – 30 June 2002
- 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2003
- 1 July 2009 – 23 May 2011
References
- ^ Fact Sheet: 551st Special Operations Squadron. Air Education and Training Command. Accessed: 4 November 2007. [1]
- ^ "551st Special Operations Squadron [551st SOS]." Globalsecurity.org. Accessed: 4 November 2007. [2]
- ^ S. Rupp. "Special operations squadron halts Pave Low student training." Kirtland Air Force Base. Accessed: 4 November 2007. [3]