551st Special Operations Squadron | |
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Insignia of the 551st Special Operations Squadron. |
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Active | 1971 - 2007, 2009 - Current |
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 | One MInd, Any Weapon |
Equipment | Varied |
Decorations | |
Commanders | |
Commander | Lt Colonel J. Michael Nardo [1] |
The 551st Special Operations Squadron (551 SOS) is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The 551st had been based at Kirtland Air Force Base from 15 March 1976 until its deactivation 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.
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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]
Date | Base | Assignment | Aircraft |
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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) |
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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 |