27th Special Operations Wing
| 27th Special Operations Wing | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1947–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Special Operations |
| Part of |
 U.S. Special Operations Command Air Force Special Operations Command
|
| Garrison/HQ | Cannon Air Force Base |
| Decorations |
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|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Albert M. "Buck" Elton II |
| Notable commanders |
Lance L. Smith Edwin A. Doss |
The 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It is assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
The mission of the 27 SOW includes infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces; air refueling of special operations rotary wing and tiltrotor aircraft; and precision fire support. These capabilities support a variety of special operations missions including direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, personnel recovery, psychological operations and information operations.
The 27 SOW also is responsible for the Melrose Range, an air training range near the neighboring town of Melrose, New Mexico.
The Wing's origins date to 1939 as the 27th Bombardment Group. The group fought in the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres. Its ground personnel fought as infantry in the 1941–1942 Battle of Bataan with the survivors being forced to march as prisoners in the Bataan Death March. Its air echelon went on to be awarded five Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The Airmen of the 27th were among the most decorated USAAF units of the war. The 27th Special Operations Group carries the lineage and history of its highly decorated World War II predecessor unit.
The commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing is Colonel Benjamin Maitre.
Established as 27 Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947 at Kearney AAF, Nebraska with the 27th Fighter Group as its operational component. Fighter Squadrons of the 27th were the 522nd, 523rd and 524th.
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