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CV-22 commencement of operations ceremony held

  • Published
  • By 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affiars
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The CV-22 Osprey made its official arrival here June 18, flown in by Air Force Special Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, and Lt. Col. Matt Smith, 20th Special Operations Squadron commander, to an audience of more than 200 invited guest from the base and surrounding community.

Cannon received its first CV-22 from the manufacturer Bell Boeing on May 19 and spent the next 30 days completing a standard acceptance inspection. The aircraft is one of four expected to arrive to the 20th Special Operations Squadron this year. A second Osprey arrived May 26 and by 2015, 15 Ospreys are planned for Cannon.

The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces

"There are new aircraft on this ramp and the skies around Cannon have new sounds representing the new mission sets that we are developing here," said General Wurster, speaking to the audience.

Addressing 20 SOS Airmen, the general continued, "The CV-22 represents both the reestablishing of its vital special operations mission and the merging of new technology for the future. Your challenge will be to develop and deliver the capability to the battlefield. As long as there are forces whose sole purpose it is to tear down our nation and destroy our way of life, there will be a robust need for special operators to respond. "

"The mighty Green Hornets are back," Colonel Smith announced to the audience. "The CV-22 provides our nations' special operations ground forces with an unprecedented and much needed capability.

The Green Hornet the colonel referred to represents the 20 SOS and is worn by Airmen assigned to the squadron. He added that during its 68 years, the squadron has flown many different aircraft, fighting unconventional battles in World War II to present day Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The culture of professionalism, humility and relentless mission focus will drive the Green Hornet team to grow from a small, but might group of warfighters here today, to a combat unit posed to employ CV-22s worldwide," said Colonel Smith. 

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