551st Special Operations Squadron Official History

Mission
To provide combat ready MH-53J/M aircrews to Air Force Special Operations Command

Lineage
Designated the 1551st Flying Training Squadron and activated on 1 Apr 1971. Re-designated as the 551st Flying Training Squadron on 1 Oct 1991 and finally as its current designation on 1 Apr 1994.

Assignments
1 Apr 71 - 30 Sep 91, 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing, Hill AFB, UT
1 Oct 91 - 31 Mar 94, 542nd Operations Group, Kirtland AFB, NM
1 Apr 94 - May 07, 58th Operations Group, Kirtland AFB, NM

Stations
1 Apr 71 - 14 Mar 1976, Hill AFB, UT
15 Mar 1976 - May 2007, Kirtland AFB, NM

Aircraft
1971 - 1975, HH-43 Huskie
1971 - 1987, HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant
1971 - 1992, HH-3 Jolly Green Giant
1973 - 1987, HC-130 Hercules
1987 - 1994, UH-1 Iroquois
1990 - 1994, HH-60 Pave Hawk
1994 - 2007, MH-53J Pave Low III

Operations
Conduct helicopter flying training as well as support special operations contingencies, exercises, and humanitarian rescue missions

Honors

Service Streamers
None

Campaign Streamers
None

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
1 Apr 1974 - 31 May 1976
1 Apr 1976 - 31 Mar 1978
1 Jul 1985 - 30 Jun 1987
1 Jul 1987 - 30 Jun 1989
1 Jan 1993 - 30 Jun 1994
1 Jul 1994 - 31 Dec 1995
1 Jul 1996 - 30 Jun 1998
1 Jul 1998 - 30 Jun 2000
1 Jul 2001 - 30 Jun 2002
1 Jul 2002 - 30 Jun 2003