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7th Special Operations Squadron

7th Special Operations Squadron
7th SOS CV-22 Osprey at RAF Lakenheath
Active17 Jul 1942 to 30 Nov 1943
19 Feb 1945 to 3 Oct 1946
14 May 1964 to present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSpecial Operations
RoleAir infiltration and exfiltration
Part ofAir Force Special Operations Command
752d Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQRAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
Decorations Gallant Unit Citation
AFOUA w/V Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
7th Special Operations Squadron emblem (Approved 11 January 1965)[1]
27th Observation Squadron emblem (approved 28 December 1942)[2]
7th SOS MC-130 flying over a village in Germany
Lockheed MC-130 Combat Talon in flight

The 7th Special Operations Squadron is an active flying unit of the United States Air Force. It is a component of the 752d Special Operations Group (752 SOG), United States Special Operations Command, and is currently based at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall in Suffolk, UK. From their base at RAF Mildenhall, the 7th Special Operations Squadron is able to deploy or extract troops from hostile, sensitive, or otherwise undesirable locations.

The squadron flies the CV-22 Osprey. Their mission is to provide long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of non-conventional special operation forces. The CV-22 is fitted with advanced electronic warfare systems, terrain following and avoidance radars, and navigation systems allowing them to operate under almost any adverse weather or time condition, to maximum efficiency.

  1. ^ Robertson, Patsy (19 March 2012). "Factsheet 7 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 140