71st Special Operations Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 71st Special Operations Squadron


caption= 71st Special Operations Squadron Patch
dates= 9 February 1943 - 31 July 1946
15 March 1947 - 1 October 1973
1 October 1987 - 1 October 1993
20 May 2005 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Special Operations Training
role=
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command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
19th Air Force
58th Special Operations Wing
58th Operations Group
current_commander=
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The 71st Special Operations Squadron (71 SOS) is part of the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates CV-22 Osprey conducting special operations flying training.

Mission

Provide Combat Ready CV-22 Aircrews to Air Force Special Operations Command. [ [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6200 71st SOS Fact Sheet] ]

History

The 71st participated in airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany, the relief of Bastogne, and aerial transportation of passengers and cargo throughout the European Theater of Operations during World War II. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

It conducted Reserve troop carrier training after the war. The 71st was called to active duty status during the Korean War from, 1951-1953 and again during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. From June to December 1968, the squadron continued airlift support of Tactical Air Command and Air Force Logistics Command, while training in operations of AC-119G gunships. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

On 5 January 1969 the 71st moved to South Vietnam and engaged in combat gunship, forward air control, and other special operations. In less than 6 months it returned to the United States to resume reserve training with new aircraft. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

It was again called to active duty status on 1 January 1991. It carried out combat search, rescue, visual reconnaissance and other special operations in Southwest Asia from, January-April 1991. The 71st was again relieved from active status on 21 April 1992. [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

The 71 SOS was reactivated on 20 May 2005 and currently serves as the Air Force's CV-22 training squadron. [ [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6200 71st SOS Fact Sheet] ]

Operations [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Desert Storm

Lineage [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

*71st Troop Carrier Squadron (1943 - 1949)
*71st Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 - 1967)
*71st Tactical Airlift Squadron (1967 - 1968)
*71st Air Commando Squadron (1968)
*71st Special Operations Squadron (1968 - Present)

Assignments [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

*434th Troop Carrier Group (1943 - 1946)
*434th Troop Carrier Group (1947 - 1963)
*930th Troop Carrier Group (1963 - 1968)
*1st Air Commando Wing (1968)
*14th Special Operations Wing (1968 - 1969)
*930th Special Operations Group (1969 - 1973)
*4th Air Force (1987 - 1990)
*919th Special Operations Wing (1987 - 1993)
*58th Special Operations Wing (2005 - Present)

Bases stationed [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1943)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1943)
*RAF Fulbeck, England (1943, 1944)
*RAF Welford, England (1943 - 1944)
*RAF Aldermaston, England (1944 - 1945)
*Mourmelon-le-Grand, France (1945)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1945)
*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1945)
*George Field, Illinois (1945 - 1946)
*Greenville Army Air Base (1946)
*Stout Field, Indiana (1947 - 1949)
*Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana (1949 - 1952)
*Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia (1952 - 1953)
*Bakalar Air Force Base, Indiana (1953 - 1968)
*Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio (1968)
*Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam (1968 - 1969)
*Bakalar Air Force Base, Indiana (1969 - 1970)
*Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana (1970 - 1973)
*Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona (1987 - 1993)
**Deployed: King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia (12 January 1991 - c. 16 March 1992)
*Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico (2005- Present)

Aircraft Operated [ [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp AFHRA 71 SOS Page] ]

*L-4 Grasshopper (1943 - 1945)
*L-5 Sentinel (1943 - 1945)
*L-1 Vigilant (1944 - 1945)
*UC-130 Norseman (1944 - 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1953 - 1957)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957 - 1968, 1970)
*AC-119 Shadow (1968 - 1969)
*A-37 Dragonfly (1971 - 1973)
*CH-3 Sea King (1987 - 1990)
*HH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1987 - 1992)
*MH-60 Black Hawk (1992 - 1993)
*CV-22 Osprey (2005 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0071sos.asp USAF 71st Special Operations Squadron History]
* [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6200 71st Special Operations Squadron Fact Sheet]

External links

* [http://www.71stsos.com/ 71 SOS Veterans Page]