Maj. Ryan Mittelstet, Maj. Brett Cassidy and Tech. Sgt. Christopher Nin were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 21, 2017. While assigned to the 8th Expeditio More
Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Adams, a CV-22 Osprey crew chief with the Florida Air National Guard Detachment 2, inspects a CV-22 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 24, 2017. The FLANG Det 2 supports the 1st Special Operations W More
Veterans of Operation Eagle Claw stand as they are recognized during a memorial ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 23, 2017. Operation Eagle Claw was an attempted rescue mission on April 24, 1980, into Iran More
Junior ROTC cadets prepare for a familiarization flight on an 8th Special Operations Squadron CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2017. More than 55 JROTC cadets from nearby high s More
Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, the Adjutant General of Florida, presents the Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. William Thompson, a CV-22 pilot with the Florida Air National Guard, during a ceremony at Hurlburt Fie More
Air Commandos participated in Total Force Exercise 17-3 in south Indiana, July 7 through 9, 2017. Air Commandos with the 1st Special Operations Wing conduct exercises with joint services to strengthen the devel More
U.S. Special Operations Forces fast rope from a hovering CV-22 Osprey at Mykolaiv, Ukraine, July 14, 2017 during exercise Sea Breeze 17. Sea Breeze is a U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exerci More
A flight engineer with the 8th Special Operations Squadron watches as his CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft approaches the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) during a deck landing qualification fl More
CV-22 Osprey's from the 352d Special Operations Wing and HH-60 Pave Hawks from the 48th Fighter Wing flew together in a joint formation around southern England Aug. 31, 2017. This flight gave pilots of both uni More
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark C. Schwartz (center), commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe,receives a briefing from the U.S. Air Force’s 352d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron during Schwartz’s vi More
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob May, an avionics journeyman assigned to the 801st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, works on a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 9, 2 More
An Air Commando from the 7th Special Operations Squadron, 352d Special Operations Wing loads and targets a .50 caliber machine gun aboard a CV-22 Osprey during a flight around southern England, Sept. 11, 2017. More
Eleven CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron land at Hurlburt Field, Fla., September 12, 2017. The 1st Special Operations Wing, exercising an abundance of caution, issu More
Airmen with the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, 352 Special Operations Wing execute a military free fall jump out of an MC-130J Commando II over southern England, 29 Sept. 2017. The air commandos performed this More
Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform maintenance on an 8th Special Operations Squadron CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Oct. 23, 2017. Th More
Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform post-flight inspections on an 8th Special Operations Squadron CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Oct. More
Operators with the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, 352d Special Operations wing perform military free fall jump and maneuvers out of a MC-130J Commando II, 31 Oct. 2017. Military free fall provides the ability More
Estonian and U.S. Special Operation Forces consolidate after fast rope training from a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, near Amari, Estonia, Dec. 12, 2017. Estonian and More
Air Commandos with the 7th Special Operations Squadron, 352d Special Operations Wing perform tilt-rotor air to air refueling (TAAR) between a CV-22 Osprey and a MC-130J Commando II during an Ability to Survive More
Air Commandos attend the 8th Special Operations Squadron change of command ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Dec. 21, 2017. Lt. Col. Michael Rendos, incoming commander, took command of the 8th Special Operation More
Fleet Master Chief (SS/SW) Crispian Addington, European Command Senior Enlisted Leader tours the 352d Special Operations Wing facilities and meets with leaders and airmen during his visit to RAF Mildenhall, 10 More
Aircrew members with the 8th Special Operations Squadron conduct pre-flight inspections of a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Feb. 6, 2017. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, land More
Aircrew members with the 8th Special Operations Squadron conduct pre-flight checks on a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Feb. 13, 2018. The Osprey combines the vertical takeoff, landing More
A memorial dedication was held at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 16, 2018. The traffic circle that holds the fallen CV-22 Osprey replica was dedicated to Air Commandos killed in action U.S. Air Force Maj. Randell More
Airmen from the 352d Special Operations Wing, the 48th Fighter Wing and the 100th Air Refueling Wing practicing hitting with precision and proper technique during a combative refresher day during survival, evas More
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel Ruiz is an aircraft armament journeyman with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Ruiz, along with other Air Commandos with the More
Air Commandos assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group Detachment 1 unload five CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft deployed from the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Yokohama North Dock, Japan, April 4, 20 More
Four CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft taxi for takeoff from Yokohama North Dock, Japan, April 5, 2018. Approximately 100 Airmen and five Ospreys deployed to Yokota Air Base to participate in regional exercises. More
Aircrew members with the 353rd Special Operation Group Detachment 1 conduct pre-flight inspections on CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 15, 2018. Approximately 100 Airmen and five More
U.S. Air Force Col. Tom Palenske, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, celebrates after completing his ‘fini’ flight at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 1, 2018. Final or “fini flights” are a time honored mi More
A US Navy F-18 Super Hornet flies overhead as a USMC MV-22 Osprey prepares to taxi before their demonstration flight at the Thunder of Niagara International Air Show, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y. on More
An 8th Special Operations Squadron CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flies alongside a 15th Special Operations Squadron MC-130H Combat Talon II above Virginia, Aug. 24, 2018. Aircraft from the 1st Special Operati More
U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron load water onto a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 11 More
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Adams, right, command chief of the 1st Special Operations Wing, speaks to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 14, 2018. More
The A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team performs a flyover during an aerial demonstration at the U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. John A. Chapman Medal of Honor celebration at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 26, 20 More
An Airman assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group Detachment 1, performs maintenance on a CV-22 Osprey, January 14, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Maintainers work 24/7 to help keep this aircraft mission-ready.
Airmen assigned to the 27th Special Operations Air Operations Squadron unload luggage and equipment from a CV-22 Osprey, January 14, 2019, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. Emerald Warrior/Trident is th More
Senior Airman Daniel Williams, 727th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief conducts preflight procedures, January 15, 2019, at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. Emerald Warrior/Triden More
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ronald Wagner, 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit dynamic component repair NCO in charge, works on a CV-22 Osprey rotor at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 29, 2019. The CV-22 rotary d More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey from the 352nd Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, performs a flyover during the Mi Amigo 75th Anniversary flypast event Feb. 22, 2019, at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, United Ki More
Two Air Commandos, assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, look over the edge of the ramp of a CV-22 Osprey aircraft during low-level water training March 7, 2019, over the Southwest region of the U.S More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sean O'Brien, 60th Operations Support Squadron student flight engineer, completes pre-flight checks before a KC-10 Extender flight at Travis Air Force Base California, March 10, 201 More
Romanian Special Operation Forces exit a CV-22 Osprey assigned to a 352nd Special Operations Wing, during a combined training March 12, 2019, near Bacau, Romania. Side-by-side, US Air Force's 7th Special Operat More
U.S. Air Force Academy - - Cadet Squadron 29 marches in noon meal formation after two CV-22 Ospreys landed on the terrazzo on March 20, 2019 during a demonstration to showcase the aircraft. The Ospreys landed More
U.S. Air Force Capt. Craig Haggett, a pilot with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, simulates flying a CV-22 Opsrey tiltrotor aircraft during a film production at Hurlburt Field, Florida, April 3, 2019. Hagge More
A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, approaches the runway at RAF Mildenhall, England, April 23, 2019. The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Pherson, a flight engineer with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, performs grounded flight simulation tests on a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Flori More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing prepares to taxi prior to formation flight in support of the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day at RAF Mildenhall, England, June 5 More
190819-N-VE240-1240 PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug 19, 2019) Aerographer's Mate 3rd Class Justin Wong, right, and Boatswain's Mate Seaman Joel Haynes, left, watch a CV-22 Osprey from the U.S. Air Force 21st Special Operat More
190822-N-VE240-1042 PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug 22, 2019) A CV-22 Osprey from the U.S. Air Force 21st Special Operations Squadron in Yokota, Japan conducts flight operations from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier More
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Two HH-60 helicopters hover above the snow covered Terrazzo on the U.S. Air Force Academy Nov. 1, 2019 during an airpower demonstration. The demonstration included an assortment More
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The shadow of a CV-22 Osprey as it maneuvers over snowy terrain on Nov. 2, 2019 during an incentive flight from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Cadets on the flight won an adventure More
Airman 1st Class Rodney Keen, 20th Air Maintenance Unit CV-22 Osprey aircraft crew chief, scrolls through the checked out tools at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Nov. 5, 2019. The kit has screen functions such as More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey lands at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, during Exercise Emerald Warrior 20.1, Jan. 23, 2020. Emerald Warrior 20.1 provides annual, realistic pre-deployment trai More
GULF OF THAILAND (March 4, 2020) – A CV-22 Osprey assigned to Air Force 21st Special Operations Squadron conducts flight operations aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) More
U.S. Air Force radio frequency transmission systems technicians, assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing supporting Special Tactics operations, infills an MRZR off a CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft assi More
An aircrew member with the 7th Special Operations Squadron stationed at RAF Mildenhall guides an MRZR off a CV-22B Osprey during MOJO field deployable communications training with Air Force Special Tactics duri More
A CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft flight engineer assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, mans the aerial 50 caliber weapon enroute to a personnel recovery mission with Air Force S More
A U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operator with the 352nd Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall observes good effects on a target during close air support training as part of exercise Valiant Liberty at Muck More
U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operators infiltrate a simulated target from CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft during operability training the 14th Weapons Squadron at Eglin Range, Florida, April 22, 2020. The More
A CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft, assigned to the 14th Weapons Squadron at Hurlburt Field, lands with a team of Air Force Special Tactics operators for a training mission at Eglin Range, Florida, April 30, More
A formation of aircraft assigned to Cannon Air Force Base fly over the city of Clovis, New Mexico, to show appreciation for medical workers May, 11, 2020. The formation contained C-130 and CV-22 Osprey aircraft More
Three C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron fly over Mount Fuji, Japan, May 11, 2020, during pre-Samurai Surge training exercise. While COVID-19 has forced teams maintain aircraft and miss More
A C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, taxis across the Yokota Air Base, Japan, flightline during the elephant walk portion of the Samurai Surge training exercise, May 21, 2020. The exe More
A CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron takes off during the 374th Airlift Wing’s Samurai Surge training exercise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 21, 2020. The exercise was conducted in o More
Aircrews conduct a physically distant pre-flight briefing before stepping out to their aircraft as part of the 374th Airlift Wing’s Samurai Surge training exercise. While COVID-19 has forced teams maintain airc More
A C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, is prepared to participate in a Samurai Surge, May 21, 2020, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. the Samurai Surge allowed the 374th Airlift Wing to test i More
Aircraft from the 36th Airlift Squadron, 459th Airlift Squadron and 21st Special Operations Squadron taxi their way across the Yokota Air Base, Japan, flightline during the elephant walk portion of the Samurai More
Aircrew assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan load an aerial bulk fuels delivery system onto a C-130J Super Hercules at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 3, 2020. The ABFDS was used as part o More
Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron accept delivery of a new CV-22b Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jun. 2, 2020. The 801st SOAMXS helps keep Ospr More
U.S. Naval Special Warfare conducts a static line jump out of an MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, during an air operation, near RAF Mildenhall, June 10, 2020. The event feature More
U.S. Special Operations Forces members walk to board a CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron during Exercise Gryphon Jet at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 15, 2020. Gryphon Jet is an integ More
200628-M-KE756-1093 ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 28, 2020) A CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron, 352nd Special Operations Group, prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault s More
Airmen with the 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit replace CV-22 Osprey propeller blades at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, July 10, 2020. For the first time since December 2016, the 71st AMU met all 12 mainte More
Senior Airman Tyler Currey, left, and Senior Airman Brandon Richey, trailer maintenance specialists assigned to the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Squadron munitions flight, perform a 720-day inspection on More
A CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with the 8th Special Operations Squadron takes off at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Aug. 12, 2020. The CV-22 is a versatile, self-deployable aircraft that offers increased speed an More
Tech Sgt. Derek Spencer (left), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Shop, Staff Sgt. Alex Poteet (middle), Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman 374th Maintenanc More
A Cannon Air Force Base CV-22 Osprey sits on the flightline of Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City during Sentry Rescue III, Aug. 24, 2020. Sentry Rescue III is a training event that integrates More
A CV-22B Osprey, based out of RAF Mildenhall, U.K., sits parked on the flightline outside a Norwe-gian hangar at Rygge Air Station, during a training mission, August 25, 2020. Integration with the Norwegian Air More
Survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists with the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron conduct rescue hoist training at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 2, 2020. SERE specialists support aircrew re More
A survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist assigned to the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron prepares to conduct rescue hoist operations near Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 2, 2020. SERE specia More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey sits in a field in preparation for U.S. and Ukraine forces to practice egress training during exercise Fiction Urchin near Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Sept. 17, 2020. The egress training, More
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces members assigned to the 3rd Regiment prepare to conduct fast rope insertion and extraction system training with a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey during exercise Fiction Urchin n More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, conducts fast rope insertion and extraction system training with Ukraine Special Operations Force More
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and U.S. Army Special Forces operators prepare to conduct rapid infiltration and exfiltration of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey during exercise Fiction Urchin near Vinnytsia, More
A U.S. Army Special Forces operator prepares to conduct rapid infiltration and exfiltration of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey during exercise Fiction Urchin near Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Sept. 21, 2020. The 352d Spec More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, prepares to receive fuel from a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II during exercise Fiction Urchin More
A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, flies over Kyiv, Ukraine, Sept. 23, 2020. The 352d SOW deployed to Ukrainian to conduct bilateral More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Cameron, a special missions aviator with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, prepares his gear for a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft training mission at Hurlburt Field, Florida More
An Airman assigned to the 752nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron uses a radio to communicate to inbound aircraft during emergency landing training at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Oct. 19 More
An Air Force Special Tactics operator walks to his team to discuss a plan for assessing simulated hurricane damage during a training scenario at Eglin Range, Florida, Oct. 27, 2020. The local humanitarian assis More
A Special Tactics Airman cuts into a barrel simulating a downed light aircraft at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, during a combat search and rescue exercise during Keen Sword on Oct. 29, 2020. A More
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A CV-22 Osprey from Kirtland Air Force Base flies over the U.S. Air Force Academy on Nov. 6, 2020.– (U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley)
An MC-130J Commando II and two CV-22B Ospreys assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, along with three F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, are escorted by two Swedish JAS-39 Gripens o More
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Spencer Mikkelsen, a special missions aviator assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, inspects .50-caliber ammunition at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 16, 2020. Aircrew member More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Travis Beal, an aircraft structural maintenance journeyman with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, raises a stand at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jan. 6, 2021. Th More
Wendy Smith, left, an air traffic controller at Kirtland AFB, N.M., received a coin Jan. 8, 2021, from Lt. Col. Brett Cassidy, 71st Special Operations Squadron commander. For her actions Nov. 10, 2020, Smith is More
A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender flight engineer conducts a pre-flight inspection before a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Jan. 27, 2021. The KC-10 delivers U.S. Air Forces Central a g More
Airmen from the 9th Special Operations Squadron prepare an MC-130J Commando II for takeoff during Emerald Warrior/Trident at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., January 24, 2019. Emerald Warrior/Trident is More
Staff Sgt. Samuel Levander, a flight engineer with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, tightens down a strap on a CV-22 Osprey at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27, 2016. The 8th SOS is one of the oldest units in More