| 67th Special Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 67th SOSMC-130J Commando II atRAF Mildenhall. | |
| Active | 14 Nov 1952 – 18 Mar 1960 10 May 1961 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Special Operations |
| Part of | Air Force Special Operations Command |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Mildenhall |
| Nickname | Night Owls (1994–present) |
| Equipment | MC-130J Commando II C-146A Wolfhound |
| Engagements | Desert Storm Kosovo War[1] |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award withCombat "V" Device Air Force Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award NavyMeritorious Unit Commendation[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 67th Special Operations Squadron emblem(approved 8 May 2007)[1] | .png) |
| 67th Special Operations Squadron emblem(approved 16 June 1994)[2] |  |
| 67th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron emblem(approved 15 August 1985)[2][3] |  |
| 67th Air Rescue Squadron emblem |  |
The67th Special Operation Squadron (67th SOS), nicknamedthe Night Owls, is an activeUnited States Air Force unit operating theLockheed MC-130J Commando II andFairchild Dornier C-146A Wolfhound. It is based atRAF Mildenhall,Suffolk, in the United Kingdom and assigned to the752d Special Operations Group. It was originally activated atRAF Sculthorpe in 1952, transferred toMorón Air Base in Spain in 1966, relocated toRAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1970, transferred toRAF Alconbury,Cambridgeshire in 1992 and, finally, moved to RAF Mildenhall in 1995. The 67th SOS is tasked with flying single or multi-ship low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters, infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland.[4]
The unit was constituted as the67th Air Rescue Squadron (67th ARS) on 17 October 1952. It was activated on 14 November 1952 atRAF Sculthorpe, England and discontinued, followed by inactivation, on 18 March 1960 atPrestwick Airport, Scotland. It was activated again on 10 May 1961 and organized on 18 June 1961 at Prestwick Airport, Scotland. The unit was redesignated67th Air Recovery Squadron (67th ARS) on 1 August 1965, and then as the67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (67th ARRS) on 8 January 1966.[5]
It was transferred toMorón Air Base, Spain on 1 July 1966. On 15 January 1970, the 67th ARRS transferred toRAF Woodbridge,Suffolk, England. The unit operated theLockheed HC-130N/P fixed wing (also used as rotational support for their detachment ofHH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopters stationed atNAS Keflavik, Iceland) andSikorsky MH-53 rotary wing aircraft.[5]
On 1 June 1988, the unit was split into two units redesignated the67th Special Operations Squadron (67th SOS) for the HC-130 aircraft and the21st Special Operations Squadron for the HH-53 rotary wing. On 1 April 1992, they moved toRAF Alconbury,Cambridgeshire, UK.
On 7 May 1993, it was announced that the352nd Special Operations Group, including the 67th SOS, would relocate toRAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.[6] However, this move was not completed until 30 April 1995, with the 67th SOS arriving on 17 February 1995.[1]
In February 1996, the squadron's HC-130N/Ps were redesignated the MC-130P Combat Shadow byAir Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).[7]
On 7 June 2013,the Night Owls began to replace their MC-130P Combat Shadows when their firstLockheed MC-130J Commando II (10-5714) arrived.[8] The last MC-130P sortie was flown on 24 January 2014, which saw a tour of the country over locations including Prestwick, Alconbury andthe Dumfries. The squadron completed the transition from the MC-130P to the MC-130J on 3 February 2014, when66-0215 departed forHurlburt Field, Florida.[9]
On 8 January 2015, theUnited States Department of Defense announced that RAF Mildenhall would be closing, with the 67th SOS relocating toSpangdahlem Air Base in Germany.[10] After a prolonged assessment on the future of Mildenhall, the Department of Defense revealed on 29 July 2020 that the decision on Mildenhall would be reversed,[11] while Spangdahlem Air Base would lose its flying mission with the relocation of the480th Fighter Squadron toAviano Air Base, Italy.[12]
On 31 October 2020,the Night Owls participated in the successful rescue of27 year-old hostage Philip Warton in Nigeria.[13]
In August 2024, the 67th SOS participated in Exercise Pristine Flank 24, organised by theFinnish Air Force, in which the squadron was tasked with refuelling FinnishMcDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornets.[14][15]
In March 2024, the decision was made by AFSOC to base theFairchild Dornier C-146A Wolfhound at RAF Mildenhall.[16] The first C-146A (10-3077) was delivered to RAF Mildenhall on 4 December 2024 and was assigned to the 67th SOS.[17]
Aircraft operated include:[1]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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