20th Special Operations Squadron The 20th Special Operations Squadron ( 20 SOS ) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB , New Mexico . It operates CV - 22 Osprey aircraft in support of special operations . Mission . Conduct day or night low - level penetration into hostile enemy territory , to accomplish clandestine infiltration and exfiltration , aerial gunnery support and resupply of special operations forces throughout the world . History . The 20th trained for aerial reconnaissance from , March 1942 – December 1943 , then went on to fly combat missions in the China - Burma - India Theater from , 31 January 1944 – 5 May 1945 . The squadron was reactivated as the 20th Helicopter Squadron ( HS ) in 1956 to perform traditional helicopter missions with H - 21 s for the Tactical Air Command . Vietnam War In 1965 , the unit ' s CH - 3C helicopters were transferred to Southeast Asia and the squadron began participating in unconventional warfare and special operations in Laos and North Vietnam as the Pony Express . In 1967 , the 20th was joined by the UH - 1F / P helicopters formerly assigned to Project Lucky Tiger and the Hueys became known as the " Green Hornets . " The " Green Hornets " supported Special Operations in South Vietnam and Cambodia . In August 1969 the Pony Express CH - 3E ' s were transferred to the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base and the Pony Express ceased to exist . The heritage of the 20th was carried on by the 20th UH - 1 ' s Green Hornets . Aircraft and crew losses : The Green Hornets continued to perform unconventional warfare missions for seven years , until inactivation in 1972 . 1976 Reactivation Upon reactivation in 1976 at Hurlburt Field , the unit mission remained unconventional warfare and special operations using UH - 1N gunships and CH - 3Es . The HH - 53H Pave Low replaced the CH - 3E in 1980 , providing a long range , heavier lift helicopter capability . The crews used the Pave Low avionics to arrive over target on time and undetected , where they performed terminal operations wearing night vision goggles . In 1983 , the UH - 1Ns began two years of support as part of then Vice President George Bush ' s South Florida Drug Enforcement Task Force , participating in Operation Bahamas , Antilles and Turks ( BAT ) . The Op BAT Hueys flew hundreds of over - water missions from the Bahamas before transferring to Homestead Air Force Base , Florida in 1985 . In 1986 , the 20th flew the specially equipped and highly capable MH - 53H Pave Low and started flying the upgraded MH - 53J Pave Low III in 1988 . In December 1989 , members of the 20 SOS were mobilized as part of a joint task force for Operation Just Cause , in Panama . The 20th was among the first units to deploy to Operation Desert Shield in August 1990 , squadron crew members and aircraft led U . S . Army AH - 64 Apache s in the air strike , opening the air war in Operation Desert Storm . A 20 SOS crew rescued U . S . Navy Lieutenant Devon Jones , logging the first successful combat rescue of a downed Airman since the Vietnam War . The crew earned the MacKay Trophy for their accomplishments . Squadron personnel deployed in support of Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti , providing support to a National Command Authority resolution . Members of the 20th , participating in operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina , went into harms way in attempting a rescue of two downed French crewmen , receiving two Purple Heart Medal s and the Cheney Award . 20 SOS crews were also involved in the search and rescue operations resulting from the CT - 43 crash in which Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and his party lost their lives . These same crews deployed shortly thereafter to support the American Embassy evacuations in Monrovia , Liberia – airlifting more than 2 , 000 evacuees to safety . The squadron deployed crews and aircraft to Southwest Asia in support of United States Central Command and Operation Desert Thunder in February 1998 . The Pave Low gave the theater commander a night , all - weather personnel recovery capability , unparalleled in the U . S . inventory . In 1999 , the Pave Low III ' s were upgraded to the MH - 53M Pave Low IV . The M model brought more technology and superior avionics to the mission , furthering the capabilities and resources available to the crews flying the helicopter . These new technologies were battle tested during Operation Allied Force when the 20 SOS rescued downed pilots from an F - 117 and an F - 16 , earning two Silver Star s and numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses . In 2001 , the 20th was quick to respond in the initial recovery efforts at The Pentagon and Ground Zero in New York City supporting Operation Noble Eagle . Additionally , the 20th rapidly deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom , engaging in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan with continuing endeavors into Iraq as the Global War on Terror continues . To date , the Green Hornets have flown direct assaults on numerous high profile targets and effected the rescue and exfiltration of hundreds of US and allied soldiers . Included among these actions are the daylight medevac of 32 injured soldiers in the midst of a battle and the rescue of a downed aircrew deep in hostile territory , which earned the squadron its second MacKay Trophy .