The 20th Special Operations Squadron,
located at Hurlburt Field Fla., is one of eight flying squadrons
within the 16th Special Operations Wing. Known as the "Green
Hornets," the 20th SOS flies the MH-53J Pave Low IIIE, the
Air Force's most sophisticated helicopter.
The primary mission of the 20th SOS is to conduct
day or night low level penetration into hostile enemy territory,
to accomplish clandestine infiltration and exfiltration, aerial
gunnery support and re-supply of special operations forces throughout
the world. These operations involve tactical low-level navigation,
night vision goggle operations, air land and airdrop techniques
and over-water operations. The unique capabilities of the MH-53J
Pave Low allow the 20th to operate from unprepared landing zones
in any type of terrain and from otherwise inaccessible areas.
The 20th SOS was formed as the 20th Helicopter
Squadron in 1956, to perform traditional helicopter missions with
H-21s for the Tactical Air Command. In 1965, the unit's CH-3E
helicopters were transferred to Southeast Asia and the squadron
began unconventional warfare and special operations as the Pony
Express. In 1967, when joined by the UH-1F/P helicopters formerly
assigned to Project Lucky Tiger, they became the "Green Hornets."
It was on one of these 20th HS missions that Captain James P.
Fleming earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism during
combat. The Green Hornets continued to do unconventional warfare
missions for seven distinguished years, until deactivation of
the 20th Helicopter Squadron in 1972.
Reactivated in 1976 at Hurlburt Field, the unit
mission remained unconventional warfare and special operations
using UH-1N gunships and CH-3Es. The HH-53H Pave Low replaced
the CH-3E in 1980, providing a long range, heavier lift helicopter
capability. The crews used the Pave Low avionics to arrive over
target, on time and undetected - where they performed terminal
operations wearing night vision goggles. In 1983, the UH-1Ns began
two years of outstanding support as part of then Vice President
George Bush's South Florida Drug Enforcement Task Force, participating
in Operation Bahamas, Antilles and Turks. The Op BAT Hueys flew
hundreds of daring over-water missions from the Bahamas before
transferring to Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., in 1985.
In 1986, the Green Hornets flew the specially
equipped and highly capable MH-53H Pave Low and have been flying
the new MH-53J Pave Low III since 1988. The new Pave Low "J-model"
features new integrated avionics, enhanced cockpit controls and
displays and improved weapons systems. In December 1989, members
of the 20th SOS were mobilized as part of a joint task force for
Operation Just Cause, successfully restoring democracy in Panama.
Among the first units to deploy to Operation
Desert Shield in August 1990, 20th SOS crew members and aircraft
led U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches in the air strike, opening the air
war in Operation Desert Storm. A 20th SOS crew rescued Navy Lt.
Devon Jones, logging the first successful combat rescue of a downed
airman since the Vietnam War. The crew deservedly earned the MacKay
Trophy for their accomplishments. Most recently, 20th SOS personnel
deployed in support of Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, providing
support to yet another National Command Authorities resolution.
Members of the 20th SOS, participating in operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
went into harms way in attempting a rescue of two downed French
crewmen, receiving two Purple Heart Medals and the coveted Cheney
Award. Most recently, Green Hornet crews were involved in the
search and rescue operations resulting from the CT-43 crash in
which the Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and his party lost their
lives. These same crews deployed shortly thereafter to support
the American Embassy evacuations in Monrovia, Liberia - airlifting
more than 2,000 evacuees to safety. Most recently, in February
1998, the squadron deployed crews and aircraft to Southwest Asia
in support of Central Command and Operation DESERT THUNDER. Pave
Low gave the theater commander a night, all-weather personnel
recovery capability, unparalleled in the US inventory.
The highly trained and motivated crews of the
20th SOS stand ready, willing and able to deploy worldwide to
support any theater commander's special operations force helicopter
requirements, fulfilling the motto - "Any Time, Any Place."
Lineage
Constituted 20th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942. Activated on 2 Mar 1942. Redesignated: 20th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943; 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 27 Nov 1945. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 20th Helicopter Squadron, which was constituted on 24 Feb 1956. Activated on 9 Jul 1956. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Mar 1960. Activated on 24 Sep 1965. Organized on 8 Oct 1965. Redesignated 20th Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1972. Activated on 1 Jan 1976.
Assignments
Air Force Combat Command, 2 Mar 1942; Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942; 76th Observation (later, 76th Reconnaissance; 76th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 12 Mar 1942; III Reconnaissance Command, 23 Aug 1943; Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, 26 Dec 1943 (attached to 5306th Photographic and Reconnaissance Group [Provisional], 26 Dec 1943–17 Jan 1944, and to Tenth Air Force, 17 Jan–7 Mar 1944); Tenth Air Force, 7 Mar 1944 (attached to 5320th Air Defense Wing [Provisional], Mar–May 1944); 8th Photographic (later, 8th Reconnaissance) Group, 25 Apr 1944; Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, Oct–27 Nov 1945. Eighteenth Air Force, 9 Jul 1956 (attached to 314th Troop Carrier Wing, 9 Jul 1956–); Ninth Air Force, 1 Sep 1957–8 Mar 1960 (remained attached to 314th Troop Carrier Wing to 16 Jul 1959; attached to 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, 16 Jul 1959–8 Mar 1960). Pacific Air Forces, 24 Sep 1965; 2d Air Division, 8 Oct 1965 (attached to 6250th Combat Support Group, c. 10 Dec 1965–8 Mar 1966); 14th Air Commando (later, 14th Special Operations) Wing, 8 Mar 1966; 483d Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Sep 1971–1 Apr 1972. 1st Special Operations Wing, 1 Jan 1976; 1st Special Operations (later, 16th Operations) Group, 22 Sep 1992–.
Stations
Savannah AB, GA, 2 Mar 1942; Pope Field, NC, 28 Mar 1942; Vichy AAB, MO, 14 Dec 1942; Morris Field, NC, 8 May 1943; Key Field, MS, 31 Aug–8 Nov 1943; Camp Anza, CA, 11–c. 17 Nov 1943; Bombay, India, 26 Dec 1943; Camp Deolali, India, 28 Dec 1943; Guskhara, India, 5 Jan 1944 (flight operated from Kisselbari, India, 6–25 Mar 1944); Kisselbari, India, 26 Mar 1944 (operated from Dinjan, India, 1 May–20 Jun 1944; detachment at Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 21 May–20 Jun 1944; operated from Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 21 Jun–c. 10 Nov 1944; detachment at Myitkyina, Burma, 10 Jul–c. 25 Aug 1944); Myitkyina, Burma, c. 9 Nov 1944 (flight operated from Akyab, Burma, 12 Apr–22 May 1945); Nagaghuli, India, c. 20 Apr 1945; Dergaon, India, 6 Jul 1945; Piardoba, India, Sep–4 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 26–27 Nov 1945. Sewart AFB, TN, 9 Jul 1956; Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 16 Jul 1959–8 Mar 1960. Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 Oct 1965; Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 15 Jun 1966; Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 5 Sep 1969; Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 25 Sep 1970–1 Apr 1972. Eglin AF Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 1 Jan 1976–.
Aircraft
A–20, DB–7, L–1, L–4, and P–43, 1942–1943; P–40, 1942–1945; L–5, 1942–1945; B–25, 1942–1945; P–51/F–6, 1945. H–21, 1956–1960. CH–3, 1965–1969; UH–1, 1967–1972. UH–1, 1976–1985; CH–3, 1976–1980; MH–53, 1980–.
Operations
Trained in aerial reconnaissance, Mar 1942–Dec 1943. Combat in CBI, 31 Jan 1944–5 May 1945. Trained using special operations helicopters, 1956–1960. Combat in Southeast Asia, Dec 1965–Mar 1972. Trained in special operations and conducted humanitarian missions, 1976–. Combat in Panama, Dec 1989–Jan 1990, and Kuwait, Jan–Feb 1991.
Honors
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; Central Burma; China Defensive. Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air
Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Panama, 1989–1990.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citations: (Southeast Asia), 8 Mar 1966–7 Mar 1967; 21 Jun 1968–30 Jun 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 10 Jan–12 Mar 1966; 1 Nov 1966–1 Apr 1967; 16 Jun 1967–20 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1967–30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1970–30 Jun 1971; 1 Sep 1971–31 Dec 1971; 1 May 1982–30 Apr 1984. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1976–31 Mar 1977; 6 Nov 1978–2 Mar 1979; 15 Jul 1979–15 May 1980; 16 May 1980–30 Apr 1982; 1 May 1985–30 Apr 1987; 1 May 1988–30 Apr 1990; 16 Apr 1992–15 Apr 1994. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 1 Jan–30 Aug 1968; 16 Jun 1967–1 Apr 1972.
Emblem
Sable, a bend sinister Azure, charged on the sinister with nine mullets in bend sinister, eight Or above one Gules, debruised by a hornet Vert; each segment fimbriated of the third; all within a diminished bordure of the first. MOTTO: GREEN HORNETS. Approved on 9 Dec 1993 (DFSC 94–02308); replaced emblems approved on 7 Jul 1958 (K 10549), 22 May 1957 (9304 A.C.), and 31 Oct 1942 (K 2883).
(Current as of September 1998)