5th Special Operations Squadron

The 5th Special Operations Squadron (5 SOS) is part of the 919th Special Operations Wing. The 5th is based at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates U-28 aircraft providing special operations capability.

Mission
The 5th Special Operations Squadron provides an Instructor cadre for the Air Force Special Operations Training Center's U-28 and Combat Aviation Advisor programs. It also provides intratheater support to Special Operations Forces worldwide in support of National Command Authorities taskings.

The 5th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., is a Total Force Integration unit whose members participate in the Active Duty mission of the Air Force Special Operations Training Center at Hurlburt. While 5th SOS members perform duty at Hurlburt as part of AFSOTC, the squadron administratively falls under the 919th Special Operations Wing, a USAF Reserve unit headquartered at Duke Field, Fla. Lt. Col. Pat Ryan is the current commander. 

History
The 5th transported men and supplies to and evacuated casualties from forward areas in Southwest and Western Pacific from, December 1944 – September 1945.

It conducted psychological operations and humanitarian programs during the Vietnam War from, 1965–1969.

It has trained for special operations, inflight refueling of special operations helicopters, and resupply missions, using modified C-130 aircraft since 1995. The 5th has periodically deployed to support special operations contingency operations worldwide.

Operations
Vietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
 * Streamer VS.PNG
 * Streamer AFGCS.PNG
 * Streamer IQCS.PNG

Lineage

 * 5th Combat Cargo Squadron (1944–1965)
 * 5th Air Commando Squadron (Psychological Operation) (1965–1968)
 * 5th Special Operations Squadron (1968 – present)

Assignments

 * 2d Combat Cargo Group (1944–1946)
 * 2d Air Division (1965–1966)
 * 14th Special Operations Wing (1966–1969)
 * 919th Special Operations Wing (1994 – present)

Bases stationed

 * Syracuse Army Air Base, New York (1944)
 * Baer Field, Indiana (1944)
 * Biak, Netherlands East Indies (1944–1945)
 * Dulag, Leyte (1945)
 * Okinawa (1945)
 * Yokota Air Base, Japan (1945–1946)
 * Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam (1965–1969)
 * Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnem (1969)
 * Eglin Air Force Base Auxiliary Field Three (Duke Field), Florida (1994–1999)
 * Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1999–2008)
 * Hurlburt Field, Florida (2008 – present)

Aircraft Operated

 * C-46 Commando (1944–1945)
 * C-47 Skytrain (1944–1945)
 * AC-47 Spooky (1965–1969)
 * U-10 Super Courier (1965–1969)
 * MC-130P Combat Shadow (1994–2008)
 * U-28 (2007 – present)