16th Special Operations Squadron The 16th Special Operations Squadron ( 16 SOS ) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB , New Mexico . It operates AC - 130H Spectre aircraft in support of special operations . Mission . Train and maintain its combat - ready force to provide highly accurate firepower in support of both conventional and unconventional forces . History . The 16th ferried aircraft from factories to units in US and Canada and conducted pilot training from April 1942 – April 1944 . It flew combat aerial transportation missions from India into Burma and China from December 1944 – October 1945 . The 16th flew combat missions in Southeast Asia where it was charged with attacking convoys on the Ho Chi Minh Trail , the defense of hamlets and fire bases , providing close air support to troops in contact with the enemy , providing convoy escort , and battlefield illumination , November 1968 – July 1974 . As the war drew to a close the squadron supported Operation Eagle Pull , the evacuation of Phnom Penh , Operation Frequent Wind , the evacuation of Saigon and figured prominently in the rescue of the Mayagüez . In all 53 members of the 16 SOS were killed in action during the Vietnam War . In November 1979 the 16th set a flight endurance record of 29 . 7 hours , flying non - stop from Hurlburt Field , Florida to Andersen Air Force Base , Guam . The 16th supported the multi - national assault on Grenada on 25 October 1983 . It provided last - second surveillance and intelligence to the air assault forces , silencing anti - aircraft artillery emplacements , knocking out enemy armored personnel carriers , defending political dignitaries surrounded by enemy troops , and relieving troops in combat . From late December 1989 to 14 January 1990 , the squadron participated in the invasion of Panama during Operation Just Cause . 16 SOS aircrews received the MacKay Trophy and the 1989 Military Airlift Command Aircrew of the Year , for their actions destroying the headquarters for the Panamanian Defense Force , and providing fire support for the Army Ranger assault on Rio Hato Air Base . On 12 September 1990 The 16th arrived in Saudi Arabia to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , the protection of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait . The squadron flew 50 combat missions in Desert Storm and lost one aircraft and 14 airmen on 31 January 1991 , while supporting coalition forces engaged in the Battle of Khafji . During 1993 and 1994 , the 16th deployed to Africa in support of Operation Continue Hope , the United Nations relief effort in Somalia . Squadron crews based out of Djibouti struck targets in Mogadishu , and later deployed to Kenya to ensure security for UN forces . During this deployment , a gunship was destroyed due to an in - borne detonation of the 105mm gun while airborne . Eight of the 14 aircrew members lost their lives in this accident . The 16 SOS deployed to Italy in support of Operation Deny Flight periodically from July 1993 until its termination on 28 August 1995 . 16 SOS aircraft actively patrolled the skies over Bosnia and Herzegovina , providing protective air cover and close air support to UN protection forces . While maintaining the Operation Deny Flight mission , the 16 SOS also deployed to other parts of the world for 184 days . From 18 September - 19 October 1994 , it deployed to Cuba in support of Operation Uphold Democracy and provided air support to coalition forces during the ouster of General Raoul Cédras and restoration of Jean - Bertrand Aristide in Haiti . Additionally , from 30 January −2 March 1995 , the 16th SOS returned to Africa in support of Operation United Shield , the withdrawal of UN forces from Mogadishu , Somalia . On the final night of this operation , the gunships provided real time intelligence to ground commanders via armed reconnaissance and surveillance during the U . S . Marine amphibious withdrawal from Mogadishu . Operation Deliberate Force began on 19 August 1995 . It was the largest NATO air operation in history . The 16 SOS flew multiple combat search and rescue sorties from 6 – 8 September in support of the rescue attempt of a French Mirage aircrew downed by a surface - to - air missile near Pale . During the operation , which lasted until 15 September , the 16th expended 268 rounds of 105MM and 125 rounds of 40MM against early warning radar sites and command and control facilities . The 16th also participated in Operations Decisive Endeavor , Joint Endeavor , Assured Response , Deliberate Guard , Joint Guard , Goal Keeper , and Wintering Over . Following the 11 September terrorist attacks the 16th deployed on 11 November 2001 to an undisclosed location near Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom . The day after arriving in Afghanistan , the 16th attacked Taliban and Al - Qaeda forces near the city of Konduz in support of Northern Alliance forces , and was directly responsible for the city ' s surrender the next day . On 26 November the squadron supported the suppression of a rebellion at the prison fort of Qual - a - Jinga . While supporting the beleaguered U . S . and allied forces throughout the night with withering 40mm and 105mm fire , Spectre succeeded in ending the rebellion of Taliban and Al - Qaeda POW s . The 16th also flew missions over Mazār - e Sharīf , Kunduz , Kandahar , Shkin , Asadabad , Bagram , Baghran , Tora Bora , and nearly every other part of Afghanistan . the squadron has participated in a number of operations within Afghanistan including Operations Full Throttle , Roll Tide , and Eagle Fury . It also performed on - call close air support and armed reconnaissance over Kandahar after an assassination attempt against Afghanistan ' s President , Hamid Karzai . In March 2002 , the 16th flew 39 combat missions in support of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan . With only 3 aircraft and 3 crews , the squadron amassed 322 combat hours over 12 days , resulting in 45 enemy killed in action , nine vehicles destroyed , 11 damaged vehicles , and 12 destroyed and 25 damaged buildings . During the intense fighting , the squadron expended more than 1 , 300 40MM and 1 , 200 105MM rounds . Their actions earned them the 2002 Mackay Trophy , and 2002 Air Force aviator valor awards . In addition , in 2002 the 16th SOS was the third most deployed unit in the Air Force .