Squadron CV-22 Osprey in formation in formation with Ospreys from the 8th Special Operations Squadron
Active
1942–1945; 1956–1960; 1965–1972; 1976–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)
Pony Express/Green Hornets
Engagements
China-Burma-India Theater Vietnam War Desert Storm Kosovo War Afghanistan War[1]
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
20th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 9 December 1993)[1]
20th Special Operations Squadron unofficial Pony Express emblem
20th Helicopter Squadron emblem[2]
20th Observation Squadron emblem (approved 31 October 1942[3]
Military unit
The 20th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates Bell Boeing CV-22 Ospreys on special operations missions. It traces its history back to the activation of the 20th Observation Squadron (Light) at Savannah, Georgia, in March 1942.
The squadron conducts 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.[4]
^ abcDollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 20 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
^Approved either 22 May 1957 or 7 July 1958. Endicott, p. 478.
^Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 108–109
^"Library: Fact Sheet 20th Special Operations Squadron". 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 8 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
and 23 Related for: 20th Special Operations Squadron information
The 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron is part of the 27th SpecialOperations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates Bell Boeing CV-22 Ospreys...
The 33rd SpecialOperationsSquadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 27th SpecialOperations Group at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico...
activation The 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron, designated the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) from April 1943 to August 1943 The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance...
The 15th SpecialOperationsSquadron is part of the 1st SpecialOperations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates Lockheed MC-130J Commando II aircraft...
Forces Operations Command. The Army has the largest number of these units under the Army SpecialOperations Brigade (Kenya) containing the 20th Parachute...
The 415th SpecialOperationsSquadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 58th Operations Group at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico...
The 711th SpecialOperationsSquadron is an active reserve squadron of the United States Air Force, part of the 919th SpecialOperations Wing at Duke Field...
The 859th SpecialOperationsSquadron is a reserve unit of the United States Air Force. It was first activated in October 1942 as the 517th Bombardment...
assigned to Joint SpecialOperations Command, Pope Field, NC 724th Operations Support Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. 724th Intelligence Squadron, Pope Field, NC...
The 9th SpecialOperationsSquadron is part of the 27th SpecialOperations Wing (27 SOW) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron operates MC-130J...
the targets and be extracted by U.S. Air Force SpecialOperations Command 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron "Green Hornets" Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV Helicopters...
UH-1F variant for USAF for specialoperations use and attack operations used solely by the USAF 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron, "the Green Hornets". YAH-1Q...
Global Security's 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron (20th SOS) retrieved June 6, 2007 Kirkpatrick, Matthew D. SpecialOperationsSquadron: Pony Express from...
Regiment 171st SpecialOperations Aviation Squadron 173rd SpecialOperations Aviation Squadron Royal Australian Air Force No. 4 Squadron, B Flight Royal...
States Air Force 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (disambiguation), units of the United States Air Force 20thSpecialOperationsSquadron, a unit of the United...
Global Information
United States
United States Air Force
Presidential Unit Citation 
Gallant Unit Citation 
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
