Welcome to the 7thSOS.org Website!

TODAY

The 7th Special Operations Squadron is an active flying unit under the 352nd Special Operations Wing of the United States Air Force. It is based at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. From their base at RAF Mildenhall, the 7th SOS is able to deploy or extract troops from hostile, sensitive, or otherwise undesirable locations.The squadron flies the CV-22B Osprey. Their mission is to provide long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of nonconventional special operation forces. The CV-22 is fitted with advanced electronic warfare systems, terrain following and avoidance radars, and navigation systems allowing them to operate under almost any adverse weather or time condition, to maximum efficiency.

The 7th Special Operations Squadron was activated on 1 July 1964 as the 7th Air Commando Squadron at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. The original cadre came from Hurlburt Field, Florida, in March 1964, as Detachment 4, 1st Air Commando Wing on temporary duty with USAFE. The new squadron was equipped with 4 C-123s, 6 C-47s, 2 U-10 aircraft and 265 personnel.  On March 1, 1983, the 7th SOS was transferred from USAFE to Military Airlift Command (MAC) along with all Air Force special operations units. The 7th was assigned to the 2d Air Division (2 AD) under MAC's new 23d Air Force (23 AF). On January 31, 1987, 2 AD was deactivated, and 7th SOS was assigned to the 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Wing. The 39th was subsequently redesignated as the 39th Special Operations Wing on March l, 1988. On May 22, 1990, 23 AF was deactivated, and the command was redesignated as the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a Major Command of the United States Air Force. The 7th SOS was transferred from MAC to AFSOC on that date.

Cheers. Max

Click here for a Pictorial History of the 7th ACS (Being currently updated)