16th Special Operations Squadron

16th Special Operations Squadron
16th Special Operations Squadron Patch
Active	16 April 1942 – 1 April 1944 13 June 1944 – 29 December 1945 30 October 1968 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Special Operations
Part of	Air Force Special Operations Command 27th Special Operations Wing 27th Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Cannon AFB
Motto(s)	Spectre
Decorations	DUC PUC GUC AFOUA w/V Device RVGC w/ Palm

The 16th Special Operations Squadron (16 SOS) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates the AC-130W Stinger II aircraft in support of special operations.

Train and maintain its combat-ready force to provide highly accurate firepower in support of both conventional and unconventional forces.

The 16th ferried aircraft from factories to units in US and Canada and conducted pilot training from April 1942 – April 1944. It flew combat aerial transportation missions from India into Burma and China from December 1944 – October 1945.

The 16th flew combat missions in Southeast Asia where it was charged with attacking convoys on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the defense of hamlets and fire bases, providing close air support to troops in contact with the enemy, providing convoy escort, and battlefield illumination, November 1968 – July 1974. As the war drew to a close the squadron supported Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon and figured prominently in the rescue of the Mayagüez. In all 53 members of the 16 SOS were killed in action during the Vietnam War.

In November 1979 the 16th set a flight endurance record of 29.7 hours, flying non-stop from Hurlburt Field, Florida to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.