17th Special Operations Squadron

17th Special Operations Squadron
Lockheed MC-130J Commando IIs of the squadron taxiing down the Kadena Air Base runway during an exercise in 2016
Active	1942–1946; 1952–1953; 1969–1971; 1989–2020; 2021–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Special Operations
Part of	Air Force Special Operations Command 27th Special Operations Wing 27th Special Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico
Motto(s)	No Mission Too Demanding[1]
Mascot(s)	Jackal
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater Vietnam War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
17th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 21 December 2011)[2]
17th Special Operations Squadron emblem (approved 19 July 1993)[2]
17th Special Operations Squadron emblem[3] (approved 28 June 1990)[4]
17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) emblem (approved 4 May 1943)[5]

The 17th Special Operations Squadron (17 SOS) is an active unit of the United States Air Force, stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron operates AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft and is assigned to the 27th Special Operations Group, 27th Special Operations Wing. The squadron was previously part of the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, where it operated MC-130J Commando II aircraft providing special operations capability.

The squadron traces its lineage back to the 17th Observation Squadron, constituted and activated in 1942 during World War II. After being redesignated as the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), the squadron flew North American B-25 Mitchells in the New Guinea campaign, the Philippines Campaign, and over Japan on armed reconnaissance missions. The 17th was inactivated after the end of the war. It was reactivated and inactivated unmanned as the 17th Liaison Squadron in the early 1950s. The 17th Special Operations Squadron was activated in 1969 to provide AC-119G Shadow gunship air support during the Vietnam War. It was inactivated in 1971 with the drawdown of United States forces in Vietnam. During the 1980s the lineages of the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 17th Liaison Squadron, and the 17th Special Operations Squadron were consolidated as the 17th Special Operations Squadron, and it was activated in 1989 in Kadena. In 2020, the unit consolidated with the 1st Special Operations Squadron.^{[citation needed]}