The 27th Special Operations Group, located at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, is one of four groups assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing. The group accomplishes global special operations taskings as an Air Force component member of the United States Special Operations Command.
The 27 SOG conducts infiltration/exfiltration, combat support, tilt-rotor operations, helicopter aerial refueling, close air support, unmanned aerial vehicle operations, non-standard aviation, and other special missions. The group directs the deployment, employment, training, and planning for Cannon's operational and operational support squadrons.
The 27 SOG has a long and distinguished history since its inception as the 27th Bombardment Group at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, Feb. 1, 1940. Elements of the 27 BG were in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded the island in December 1941, and aided in the fight against the invading force. The Japanese eventually overran the country, and as a result, many members of the 27 BG were taken prisoners of war and forced to participate in the Bataan Death March in 1942.
Throughout the last 68 years, the 27th designation has been assigned to several groups and wings at a myriad of locations. The 27th was organized as a fighter wing in August 1947, at Kearney Airfield, Nebraska. Later, in February 1958, in a move to preserve the heritage of the 27th, Air Force leadership transferred the designation to Cannon, replacing the 312th Wing.
Since 1958, the wing had supported F-100s, T/AT-33s, F-111s and F-16s. The 27th Operations Group was re-designated as the 27 SOG and assumed it's current special operations mission on October 1, 2007.