551st Special Operations Squadron

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 inactivation on 10 May 2007. It was reactivated in 2009 and currently is assigned to the AFSOC and trains aircrews on the MC-130 and AC-130.

Lineage

 * Designated 1551st Flying Training Squadron on 1 April 1971.
 * Organized 1 April 1971.
 * Redesignated 551st Flying Training Squadron on 1 October 1991.
 * Redesignated 551st Special Operations Squadron on 1 April 1994.
 * Inactivated on 10 May 2007.
 * Reactivated on 25 Jul 2009.

Operations
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.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

 * 1 April 1974 – 31 May 1976
 * 1 April 1976 – 31 March 1978
 * 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987
 * 1 July 1987 – 30 June 1989
 * 1 January 1993 – 30 June 1994
 * 1 July 1994 – 31 December 1995
 * 1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998
 * 1 July 1998 – 30 June 2000
 * 1 July 2001 – 30 June 2002
 * 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2003
 * 1 July 2009 – 23 May 2011