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Green Hornets of the 20th SOS activate at Cannon

  • Published
  • By A1C Jette Warnick
  • 27th SOW Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A reactivation ceremony was held at Hangar 208, Jan. 15, welcoming the 20th Special Operations Squadron, the Green Hornets, into its new direct action assault role in Air Force Special Operations Command within the 27th Special Operations Group.

The 20th SOS was formed in 1942 for aerial reconnaissance and has performed many traditional helicopter missions, unconventional warfare, and special operations since its conception.

With its activation at Cannon, the 20th SOS will be using CV-22 Osprey to provide support for Special Forces teams in potentially hostile and politically sensitive areas.
Colonel James Cardoso, commander of the 27th SOG, entered the 20th SOS as a Captain in 1997 and was pleased to oversee the reactivation of this unit as the presiding officer, he said.

As he spoke about the history of the 20th SOS, Col. Cardoso gestured to the CV-22 Osprey, which towered behind the podium on which he stood.

"It should be clear that the machine alone, this new "steel Horse we ride", no matter how awesome it is, does not give the squadron its identity," he said.

The essence of the Green Hornets, lies not in wonder of its machines, but in the spirit of its people and its leadership, said Col. Cardoso.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Smith, a battle-seasoned aviator who directed operations for the first-ever CV-22 combat deployment to Iraq, was chosen to carry on the tradition of the indomitable spirit of the 20th SOS as their new commander, said Col. Cardoso.

"Today is an extraordinary day for Air Force Special Operations," said Lt. Col. Smith. "We are combining a great vertical lift assault platform in the CV-22 with the rich heritage of the 20th Special Operations Squadron."

Previously the 20th SOS flew the MH-53M Pave Low IV, which was retired and the squadron was deactivated, said Major Pat Fronk, assistant director of operations, 20th SOS.

The squadron is happy to be back in AFSOC as a CV-22 squadron and joining the fight, he said.

"What's so special about this aircraft (CV-22 Osprey) is that it combines a fixed wing platform and a rotor wing platform into one airframe," said Major Fronk. "This means we can take off and land as a helicopter. Once we become airborne we can rotate the prop rotors forward and go into a fixed wing mode. It makes it possible to go a lot further a lot faster."

The 20th SOS has flown many different airplanes for the past 68 years, fighting battles that spanned the skies of World War II to modern day Afghanistan and Iraq, said Lt. Col. Smith. Though the squadron's name and the airplanes that have been flown have changed over the years, the one constant that transcended both is the unbridled Air Commando Spirit inherent in those that served.

"That same spirit is embodied in our small squadron today," he said.

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