415th Special Operations Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 MC-130J Commando II taking off from the Melrose Range, NM | |
| Active | 1943–1947; 1970–1975; 1989–1993; 2011–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Special Operations Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Kirtland AFB, New Mexico |
| Engagements |  Mediterranean Theater of Operations[1]  1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait)[2] |
| Decorations |  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2x)[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 415th Special Operations Squadron emblem[3] (approved 19 April 1990)[2] |  |
| 415th Night Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 4 December 1943)[1] |  |
The 415th Special Operations Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 58th Operations Group at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The 415th Night Fighter Squadron was formed in February 1943, and it carried out missions in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, and then in northwestern Europe during World War II. It was inactivated in 1947, with its personnel and aircraft being transferred to another squadron.
Reactivated in 2011, the squadron replaced the 58th Special Operations Wing, Detachment 1. Its mission is to train special operations personnel operating both the HC-130J Combat King II and the MC-130J Commando II.
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 508–509
- ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (23 February 2012). "Air Education and Training Command Library: Factsheet 415th Special Operations Squadron". Air Education and Training Command (reproducing Air Force Historical Research Agency document). Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Approved insignia for: 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron". National Archives Catalog. Retrieved 14 May 2018.