27th Special Operations Group

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27th Special Operations Group
A 16th Special Operations Squadron AC-130H Spectre gunship on the flightline at Cannon AFB
Active	1939–1945; 1948–1952; 1991–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	27th Special Operations Wing
Garrison/HQ	Cannon Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Intelligent Strength[1]
Insignia
27th Special Operations Group emblem[a]
27th Fighter-Escort Group emblem[b]
27th Bombardment Group emblem[c][1]

The 27th Special Operations Group (27 SOG) is the flying component of the 27th Special Operations Wing, assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The group is stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

The Group carries out global special operations tasks as an Air Force component of the United States Special Operations Command. It conducts infiltration/exfiltration, combat support, helicopter and tilt-rotor aerial refueling, psychological warfare, and other special missions. It directs the deployment, employment, training, and planning for squadrons that operate the AC-130W, MC-130J, CV-22B, U-28A and MQ-9, and provides operational support to flying operations.^[2]

During the Second World War, its predecessor unit, the 27th Bombardment (later Fighter) 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. Later, its air echelon was 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.

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