USAF Patch Spec Ops USAFE b 67 SOS Special Operations Squadron n Years 60

USAF Patch USAFE 67 SOS Special Operations Squadron 60 Years Anniversary 2012 Patch MC 130P Special Forces Support CSAR velcro Fully embroidered cut edge 95mm by 86mm three and three quarter inches by three and three eighth inches.

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History

67 Air Rescue Squadron ARS was activated on 14 November 1952 with SB 29 Superfortress C 82 Packet aircraft adapted for search and rescue at RAF Sculthorpe England assigned to the 9 Air Rescue Group Third Air Force. 67 ARS converted from the C 82s to C 47 Skytrain aircraft in 1953 and received its first helicopters SH 19 Chickasaws modified for air sea rescue in 1955 together with SC 54 Skymaster aircraft to replace the C 47s. The SB 29s were relinquished in 1956 SA 16 Albatross Flying Boats arrived in 1957 and the last C 54s left in 1958. The Squadron was reassigned to the Air Rescue Service on 24 June 1958 before inactivated on 18 March 1960 at Prestwick Scotland.

The Squadron was reactivated on 10 May 1961 at Prestwick Scotland again under the Air Rescue Service equipped with C 54 HC 54 and SC 54 Skymasters equipped for Search Air Rescue HU 16 and SA 16 Albatross Flying Boats and HH 19 and SH 19 Chickasaw helicopters modified for air sea rescue. The Albatross Flying Boats were relinquished in 1963 and the Chickasaw helicopters went in 1964. The Squadron was redesignated 67 Air Recovery Squadron ARS on 1 August 1965 reequipping with HC 130 Hercules early model combat search and rescue aircraft. The Squadron was renamed as 67 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron ARRS on 8 January 1966 under the newly renamed Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service and received HH 43 Huskie helicopters to its inventory. On 8 April 1967 67 ARRS was reassigned to Atlantic Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Centre itself later renamed 40 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing.

67 ARRS relocated to Moron Air Base Spain on 1 July 1966 and received HH 3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters in 1969. The Squadron returned to RAF Woodbridge UK on 15 January 1970 and replaced the RAF Woodbridge based HH 3s with HH 53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters in 1971 while continuing its rotational support for its Detachment of HH 3 helicopters stationed at Keflavik Iceland. The last HH 43 Huskie departed in 1972 and 67 ARRS was reassigned to the 39 ARRW on 17 May 1973. The Squadron deployed to RAF Akrotiri Cyprus from 13 to 27 June 1976 for operations under the control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and participated in the rescue efforts of the capsized Townsend Thoresen ferry Herald of Free Enterprise outside of Zeebrugge Harbour on 6 March 1987.

39 ARRW was redesignated 39 Special Operations Wing on 1 March 1988. On 1 June 1988 67 ARRS was split to form two units with the 67 Special Operations Squadron operating the HC 130 aircraft and the 21 Special Operations Squadron operating the HH 53 rotary wing aircraft. 67 SOS conducted clandestine Special Forces extraction infiltration and air drop or landed resupply missions into hostile territory air to air refueling to special operations helicopters together with combat search and rescue CSAR medical evacuations humanitarian operations and supported special operations forces.

667 CAMS Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was also activated at RAF Woodbridge on 1 June 1988 to undertake all organizational and intermediate level maintenance for the 67 SOS HC 130 aircraft and the 21 SOS HH 53 and MH 53 helicopters. 667 CAMS was redesignated 667 SOMS Special Operations Maintenance Squadron deploying elements with the flying Squadrons to forward operating locations to provide local maintenance support.

The Squadron supported NATO operations over Northern Iraq for Op Desert Storm and Provide Comfort in 1991. On 1 April 1992 21 and 67 Special Operations Squadrons moved to RAF Alconbury UK and 39 SOW activated 352 SOMS Special Operations Maintenance Squadron on 1 October 1992 to replace the inactivating 667 SOMS and continued the provision of all organizational maintenance on the MC 130H MC 130P and MH 53 Pave Low aircraft assigned to 7 21 and 67 SOS.

21 and 67 SOS were reassigned to 352 Special Operations Group on 1 December 1992 on the inactivation of 39 SOW. 67 SOS and deployed assets for Op Silver Anvil Sierra Leone May 1992 Op Provide Promise over the Former Yugoslavia 1992 to 1996 Op Support Hope Rwanda 1994 Op Deliberate Force Bosnia 1995. In 1996 21 SOS and 67 SOS relocated to RAF Mildenhall as part of 352 SOG plan to consolidate all its assigned units in one location and 67 SOS reequipped with MC 130Ps. 67 SOS conducted missions during Op Joint Endeavor Bosnia 1996 Op Assured Response Liberia 1996 Op Guardian Assistance Rwanda 1996 Op Northern Watch in 1997 Op Allied Force Kosovo in 1999 Op Atlas Response Mozambique 2000. While supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Afghanistan the Squadron took part in Op Autumn Return Cote d Ivoire evacuation 2002 Op Shining Express Liberia 2003 JTF Lebanon Task Force Alpha Air Bridge 2006. 21 SOS was deactivated on 9 October 2007 and was reactivated at RAF Mildenhall on 21 June 2013 with V 22 Ospreys. 67 SOS reequipped with MC 130J Commando II in 2014 and received the Freedom of Hunstanton Norfolk on 4 October 2014 in recognition of critical role played by 67 ARS during the 1953 floods that devastated the area and claimed the lives of more than 60 people.

7 SOS began conversion to CV 22B Osprey tilt rotor VSTOL STOL fixed wing tilt rotor transport aircraft in June 2013 to provide a vertical lift aircraft element for 352 Special Operations Group with the last MC 130H Combat Talon II departing on 8 January 2015. 352 SOG was upgraded to Wing status and redesignated 352 Special Operations Wing on 23 March 2015. 352 SOMG Special Operations Maintenance Group was activated to control 352 SOMS redesignated as 352 SOMXS which was retasked to provide all organizational and intermediate level maintenance on 7 SOSs fleet of CV 22B Osprey aircraft and newly activated 352 SOAMXS Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron which provides all organizational and intermediate level maintenance for 67 SOSs fleet of MC 130J Commando IIs.

This patch dates from 2012.