551st Special Operations Squadron

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551st Special Operations Squadron
MH-53J Pave Low IIIE during training mission (000324-F-0308N-005).jpg
Squadron MH-53J Pave Low IIIE during training mission
Active1971–2007; 2009–2021
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Special Operations Training
Motto(s)The Best Teach the Rest[ citation needed ]
Mascot(s)Owl[ citation needed ]
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
551st Special Operations Squadron emblem [a] [1] 551st Special Operations Squadron.jpg
1551st Flying Training Squadron emblem [b] [1] 1551 Flying Training Sq emblem.png

The 551st Special Operations Squadron was a special operations squadron of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center until 2017 and then assigned to the 492nd Special Operations Wing. It was based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 551st had previously been stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico as an Air Education and Training Command unit within the 58th Special Operations Wing from 15 March 1976 until its inactivation on 10 May 2007. [2]

Contents

The squadron was reactivated in 2009 and assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command to train aircrews on the Lockheed MC-130 and Lockheed AC-130. It was inactivated again on 15 Jun 2021. [3] [4]

History

The 551st was originally designated the 1551st Flying Training Squadron and was assigned to the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing (later the 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing). In 1994, it was redesignated the 551st Special Operations Squadron, and was reassigned to the 58th Operations Group.

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. [5]

Lineage

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 9 October 1992.
  2. ↑ Approved 9 October 1986.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Factsheet 551 Special Operations Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "551st Special Operations Squadron [551st SOS]". GlobalSecurity.org. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "551st Special Operations Squadron Flies One Last Time".
  4. 1 2 "551st Flies One Last Time".
  5. ↑ Rupp, Sheila (24 March 2007). "Special operations squadron halts Pave Low student training". 58th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, May 2007, Maxwell AFB, AL
  7. 1 2 3 Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, July 2009, Maxwell AFB, AL
  8. ↑ Sanchez, Raquel (13 February 2013). "AFSOC stands up Air Warfare Center". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
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