This article is about the 12th Special Operations Squadron, formerly the 12th Fighter Squadron, activated in 2015. For 12th Special Operations Squadron of the Vietnam War, see 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron.
12th Special Operations Squadron
12th Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle and a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber[note 1]
Active
1941–2007; 2015–present
Country
United States
Branch
United States Air Force
Role
Special operations
Part of
Air Force Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ
Cannon Air Force Base
Nickname(s)
Dirty Dozen (World War II)
Motto(s)
In Omnia Paratus (Latin) Ready for Anything (1957-present)
Engagements
Southwest Pacific Theater Korean War Vietnam War[1]
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation (United States) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V device Air Force Outstanding unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Korean Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Commanders
Current commander
Lt. Col. Charles W. Lutter, III[citation needed]
Insignia
12th Special Operations Squadron emblem[note 2][1]
12th Fighter Squadron emblem[note 3][2]
12th Fighter Squadron emblem (World War II)[3]
Military unit
The 12th Special Operations Squadron is assigned to the 27th Special Operations Group at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. Its mission is the launch and recovery of MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft from unprepared locations throughout the world. The squadron was activated in 2015 to replace a detachment that had been performing the same mission since October 2013.[4]
The squadron was previously active at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska as the 12th Fighter Squadron, part of the 3d Operations Group. The squadron operated the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle aircraft conducting air superiority missions.
The mission of the 12th is to launch and recover Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operationally employed by the 2d, 3d and 33d Special Operations Squadrons. To avoid the inherent delay in transmitting commands through satellite communications to RPAs from distant stations, the squadron deploys to locations where it can operate the craft for takeoff and landing using line of sight signals. This minimizes risk during critical flight operations, while permitting mission operations to be performed from more remote secure locations.[4]
Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).
^ abcMusser, James M. (29 October 2018). "Factsheet 12 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
^Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 65–66
^Watkins, p. 18
^ abKay-Fantozzi, A1C Shelby. "Cannon activates 12th SOS". 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 26 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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