20TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON
Mission
The 20th
Special Operations Squadron (20th SOS), located at Hurlburt Field
Fla., is one of nine flying squadrons within the 1st Special
Operations Wing. Known as the "Green Hornets," the 20th SOS
flies the MH-53J/M
Pave Low III/IV, the Air Force's most sophisticated helicopter.
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The primary mission of the 20th
SOS is to conduct day or night low-level penetration into hostile
enemy territory, to accomplish clandestine infiltration and
exfiltration, aerial gunnery support and resupply of special
operations forces throughout the world. These operations involve
tactical low-level navigation, night vision goggle operations,
airland and airdrop techniques and over-water operations. The unique
capabilities of the MH-53M Pave Low allow the 20th to operate from
unprepared landing zones in any type of terrain and from otherwise
inaccessible areas.
Background
In
December 1989, members of the 20th SOS were mobilized as part of a
joint task force for Operation Just Cause, successfully restoring
democracy in Panama.
Among the first units to deploy to
Operation Desert Shield in August 1990, 20th SOS crew members and
aircraft led U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches in the air strike, opening the
air war in Operation Desert Storm. A 20th SOS crew rescued Navy Lt.
Devon Jones, logging the first successful combat rescue of a downed
Airman since the Vietnam War. The crew deservedly earned the MacKay
Trophy for their accomplishments.
Squadron personnel deployed
in support of Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, providing support
to a National Command Authorities resolution. Members of the 20th
SOS, participating in operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, went into
harms way in attempting a rescue of two downed French crewmen,
receiving two Purple Heart Medals and the coveted Cheney Award.
Green Hornet crews were also involved in the search and
rescue operations resulting from the CT-43 crash in which Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown and his party lost their lives. These same crews
deployed shortly thereafter to support the American Embassy
evacuations in Monrovia, Liberia - airlifting more than 2,000
evacuees to safety. The squadron deployed crews and aircraft to
Southwest Asia in support of Central Command and Operation Desert
Thunder in February 1998. The Pave Low gave the theater commander a
night, all-weather personnel recovery capability, unparalleled in the
U.S. inventory.
In 1999, the Pave Low III's were upgraded to
the MH-53M Pave Low IV. The M model brought more technology and
vastly superior avionics to the mission, furthering the capabilities
and resources available to the crews flying the world's most
sophisticated helicopter. These new technologies were battle tested
during Operation Allied Force when the Green Hornets rescued downed
pilots from an F-117 and an F-16, earning two Silver Stars and
numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses.
In 2001, terrorism
brought great tragedy to our nation and the Green Hornets were quick
to respond in the initial recovery efforts at the Pentagon and Ground
Zero in New York City supporting Operation Noble Eagle. But our work
did not stop there. The 20th rapidly deployed in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom, engaging in the fight against terrorism in
Afghanistan with continuing endeavors into Iraq as the Global War on
Terror continues.
To date, the Green Hornets have flown
direct assaults on numerous high profile targets and effected the
rescue and exfiltration of hundreds of US and allied soldiers.
Included among these heroic actions are the daring daylight medevac
of 32 injured soldiers in the midst of a battle and the rescue of a
downed aircrew deep in hostile territory, which earned the squadron
its second MacKay Trophy.
Lineage
Constituted
20th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942; Activated on 2 Mar
1942; Redesignated 20th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 20th
Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943; 20th Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; Inactivated on 27 Nov 1945;
Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) w/20th Helicopter Squadron, which was
constituted on 24 Feb 1956; Activated on 9 Jul 1956; Discontinued,
and inactivated, on 8 Mar 1960; Activated on 24 Sep 1965; Organized
on 8 Oct 1965; Redesignated 20th Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug
1968; Inactivated on 1 Apr 1972; Activated on 1 Jan 1976.
Assignments
Air Force Combat Command, 2
Mar 1942; Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942;
76th Observation (later,
76th Reconnaissance; 76th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 12 Mar
1942; III Reconnaissance Command, 23 Aug 1943; Army Air Forces,
India-Burma Sector, 26 Dec 1943 (attached to 5306th Photographic and
Reconnaissance Group [Provisional], 26 Dec 1943-17 Jan 1944, and to
Tenth Air Force, 17 Jan-7 Mar 1944); Tenth Air Force, 7 Mar 1944
(attached to 5320th Air Defense Wing [Provisional], Mar-May 1944);
8th Photographic (later, 8th Reconnaissance) Group, 25 Apr 1944; Army
Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, Oct-27 Nov 1945; Eighteenth Air
Force, 9 Jul 1956 (attached to 314th Troop Carrier Wing, 9 Jul
1956-); Ninth Air Force, 1 Sep 1957-8 Mar 1960 (remained attached to
314th Troop Carrier Wing to 16 Jul 1959; attached to 354th Tactical
Fighter Wing, 16 Jul 1959-8 Mar 1960); Pacific Air Forces, 24 Sep
1965
2d Air Division, 8 Oct 1965 (attached to 6250th Combat
Support Group, c. 10 Dec 1965-8 Mar 1966); 14th Air Commando (later,
14th Special Operations) Wing, 8 Mar 1966; 483d Tactical Airlift
Wing, 1 Sep 1971-1 Apr 1972; 1st Special Operations Wing, 1 Jan 1976;
1st Special Operations (later, 16th Operations) Group, 22 Sep 1992-15
November 2006. 1st Special Operations Group, 16 November 2006-.
Stations
Savannah AB, GA, 2 Mar 1942;
Pope Field, NC, 28 Mar 1942; Vichy AAB, MO; 14 Dec 1942; Morris
Field, NC, 8 May 1943; Key Field, MS, 31 Aug-8 Nov 1943; Camp Anza,
CA, 11-c. 17 Nov 1943; Bombay, India, 26 Dec 1943; Camp Deolali,
India, 28 Dec 1943; Guskhara, India, 5 Jan 1944 (flight operated from
Kisselbari, India, 6-25 Mar 1944); Kisselbari, India, 26 Mar 1944
(operated from Dinjan, India, 1 May-20 Jun 1944; detachment at
Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 21 May-20 Jun 1944; operated from Tingkawk
Sakan, Burma, 21 Jun-c. 10 Nov 1944; detachment at Myitkyina, Burma,
10 Jul-c. 25 Aug 1944); Myitkyina, Burma, c. 9 Nov 1944
(flight
operated from Akyab, Burma, 12 Apr-22 May 1945); Nagaghuli, India, c.
20 Apr 1945; Dergaon, India, 6 Jul 1945; Piardoba, India, Sep-4 Nov
1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 26-27 Nov 1945; Sewart AFB, TN, 9 Jul 1956;
Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 16 Jul 1959-8 Mar 1960; Tan Son Nhut AB, South
Vietnam, 8 Oct 1965; Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 15 Jun 1966; Udorn
RTAFB, Thailand, 1966; Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 5 Sep 1969; Cam
Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 25 Sep 1970-1 Apr 1972; Eglin AF
Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 1 Jan 1976-.
Aircraft
A-20, DB-7, L-1, L-4, and P-43, 1942-1943; P-40,
1942-1945; L-5, 1942-1945; B-25, 1942-1945; P-51/F-6, 1945; H-21,
1956-1960; CH-3, 1965-1969; UH-1, 1967-1972; UH-1, 1976-1985; CH-3,
1976-1980; MH-53, 1980-.
Honors
Service
Streamers
World War II
American Theater
Campaign
Streamers
World War II
India-Burma
Central Burma
China
Defensive
Vietnam
Vietnam Defensive
Vietnam Air
Vietnam
Air Offensive
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II
Vietnam Air
Offensive, Phase III
Vietnam Air/Ground
Vietnam Air Offensive,
Phase IV
TET 69/Counteroffensive
Vietnam Summer-Fall,
1969
Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970
Sanctuary
Counteroffensive
Southwest Monsoon
Commando Hunt V
Commando
Hunt VI
Commando Hunt VII
Vietnam Ceasefire
Southwest
Asia
Defense of Saudi Arabia
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
Panama, 1989-1990
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citations
Southeast
Asia
8 Mar 66-7 Mar 67
21 Jun 68-30 Jun 69
Southeast
Asia (Army General Order No. 25, June 2001)
1
Jun 67-31 Aug 68
1
Nov 68-31 Mar 72
Gallant Unit Citation
6
Oct 01-30 May 03
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with
Combat "V" Device
10 Jan-12 Mar 66
1 Nov 66-1 Apr
67
16 Jun 67-20 Jun 68
1 Jul 67- 30 Jun 68
1 Jul 70-30 Jun
71
1 Sep 71-31 Dec 71
1
May 82-30 Apr 84
1
Jun 97-31 May 99
1
Jul 03-30 Jun 05
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards
1
Jan 76-31 Mar 77
6 Nov 78-2 Mar 79
15 Jul 79-15 May 80
16
May 80-30 Apr 82
1 May 85-30 Apr 87
1 May 88-30 Apr 90
16
Apr 92-15 Apr 94
1 Jun 95-31 May 97
1
Jul 99-30 Jun 01
1
Jul 01-30 Jun 03
1
Sep 04-31 Aug 06
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses
with Palm
1 Jan-30 Aug 68
16 Jun 67-1 Apr 72
Emblem
Significance
Blue background represents the sky, the
primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and
the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The black disc
denotes the night sky, which is the theater of operations of special
operations units. The band represents the unit's heritage when
organized in 1976 in tri-service support of an unconventional warfare
mission. The stars reflect the nine primary functions of the unit and
the nine aerospace employment principles of war. The red star
signifies the unit's participation in Operation J-CATCH. The green
hornet symbolizes the hovering capabilities of the rotary wing
aircraft that the unit utilizes in a low-level environment. The
hornet's "stinger" denotes the gunship weaponry.
Point
Of Contact
1st Special Operations Wing, Public Affairs
Office, 131 Bartley St., Suite 326; Hurlburt Field, FL 32544-5271;
DSN 579-7464 or (850) 884-7464; e-mail: 1sow.pa@hurlburt.af.mil