550th Special Operations Squadron

550th Special Operations Squadron
Lockhhed MC-130 as flown by the squadron
Active	1971–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Special Operations Training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Kirtland Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Wolfpack
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award^[1]
Insignia
550th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 25 November 1987)^[1]
1550th Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 22 May 1984)^[1]

The 550th Special Operations Squadron "Wolfpack" is part of the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates Lockheed HC-130s and Lockheed MC-130s, conducting special operations flying training.

Mission

To provide United States Special Operations Command and theater commanders the finest special operations and combat search and rescue forces in the world.^[2]

History

The 1550th developed, conducted, and monitored helicopter flying training from, 1971–1987, in addition to search and rescue missions from, 1976–1987. It has conducted special operations training since 1987.

Lineage

Designated as the 1550th Flying Training Squadron and activated on 1 April 1971

Redesignated 550th Flying Training Squadron on 1 October 1991

Redesignated 550th Special Operations Squadron on 1 April 1994^[1]

Assignments

1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing (later 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing), 1 April 1971
542d Operations Group, 1 October 1991
58th Operations Group, 1 April 1994 – present^[1]

Stations

Hill Air Force Base, Utah, 1 April 1971
Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 15 March 1976 – present^[1]

Aircraft

Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant 1971-
Sikorsky HH-53 1971- Super Jolly Green Giant
Bell UH-1N Twin Huey 1972-
Bell TH-1 Huey (1971–1987)
Bell UH-1 Huey (1971–1987)
Kaman HH-43 Huskie (1973–1975)
Lockheed HC-130P King (1987 – present)
Lockheed HC-130N King (1987 – present)
Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II (1994 – present)
Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow (1996 – 2013)^[2]

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 Robertson, Patsy (June 10, 2010). "Factsheet 550 Special Operations Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
1 2 550th SOS Fact Sheet Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine.

External links

550th Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Forces	Second Nineteenth Air University
Bases	Altus Columbus Goodfellow Gunter Annex Keesler Lackland Laughlin Luke Maxwell Randolph Sheppard Tyndall Vance
Wings	12th Flying Training 14th Flying Training 17th Training 33d Fighter 37th Training 42d Air Base 47th Flying Training 56th Fighter 58th Special Operations 59th Medical 71st Flying Training 80th Flying Training 81st Training 82d Training 97th Air Mobility 314th Airlift 502d Air Base
Groups	336th Training Group 381st Training Group

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Bases

Wings

Groups

Squadrons

Operations	1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 15th 16th 17th 19th 20th 21st 22d 33d 34th 43d 49th 67th 71st 73d 193d 318th 319th 427th 512th 522d 524th 550th 551st 711th 919th
Special Tactics	17th 21st 22d 23d 24th 26th 123d 125th 320th 321st
other	18th Flight Test 23d Weather Squadron

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