The 352nd Special Operations Wing (SOW), based at RAF Mildenhall, England, is an essential part of Air Force Special Operations Command. The group has more than 1,000 Air Force personnel assigned, as well as nearly 50 personnel attached/associated as members of Joint Special Operations Air Component-Europe and Detachment 2, 25th Intelligence Squadron. The wing is the only Air Force special operations unit in European Command.
Mission
Under the operational control of Special Operations Command Europe, the 352d SOW plans and performs specialized operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to transport and resupply military forces. The wing also provides tilt-rotor aircraft aerial refueling and special operations weather capabilities. The unit has six squadrons and two different types of aircraft, the MC-130J Commando II and the CV-22B Osprey, the U.S. Air Force's premiere tiltrotor aircraft which arrived on station in June 2013.
The wing or its squadrons have deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Provide Promise, Deny Flight, Allied Force, Assured Response, Silver Anvil, Atlas Response, Support Hope, Joint Endeavor, Deliberate Force, Guardian Assistance, Shining Express, Autumn Return, Assured Delivery, Aster Silver and Enduring Freedom-Trans Sahara, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. The wing is regularly called upon to support special operations for OEF and OEF-TS as well as other Overseas Contingency Operations.
Units
The 752nd Special Operations Group is responsible for planning and executing specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate and resupply special operations forces.
The 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron provides in-garrison and deployed command and control and operational support for two flying squadrons, one special tactics squadron and one maintenance squadron. The support includes exercise, logistics and contingency planning; aircrew training; communications; aerial delivery; medical; intelligence; security and force protection; weather; information technologies and current operations.
The expeditionary design and flexibility of the 352nd SOSS is regularly showcased and highlighted by its ability to operate simultaneously in multiple locations. The squadron's "can-do" attitude allows the group commander to focus on mission accomplishment and project specialized air power in the EUCOM area of responsibility and elsewhere.
The 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Group provides all operational maintenance on the MC-130J Commando II and the CV-22B Osprey aircraft assigned to the two special operations flying squadrons.
The 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron provides all organizational and intermediate level maintenance on the fleet of CV-22B Osprey aircraft assigned. The 352nd SOMXS also provides management for the group's engine and equipment inventories.
The 352nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron provides all organizational and intermediate- level maintenance for the fleet of MC-130J Commando IIs.
The 7th Special Operations Squadron operates the CV-22B Osprey, executing night, adverse weather, long-range troop transport and resupply operations into potentially hazardous areas. The squadron also supports noncombatant evacuation, humanitarian relief and other operations. The Ospreys are employed using a combination of terrain-following radar, high-precision avionics and sensors, and electronic countermeasures.
The 67th Special Operations Squadron operates the MC-130J Commando II to provide precise, reliable, flexible and responsive specialized air mobility. Utilizing night vision goggles, the aircraft penetrate potentially hazardous areas to conduct single-or multi-ship infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces via airdrop or airland operations, and conduct long range refueling operations of SOF vertical lift assets. The squadron also supports information operations, humanitarian relief, medical evacuations and noncombatant evacuations.
The 321st Special Tactics Squadron provides a fast reaction, rapidly-deployable force capable of establishing and providing positive control of the air-to-ground interface during special operations or conventional missions. Unit combat controllers and pararescuemen conduct the reconnaissance, surveillance, assessment and establishment of assault zone sites and provide air traffic control and long-range secure command and control communications. Additionally, the unit provides combat trauma medical care, personnel recovery and terminal attack control of munitions delivered by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The squadron also has special operations weathermen assigned to provide weather support for other military forces.
(Current as of March 2015) *
352nd SOW Public Affairs, Main Ave. Bldg. 550, RAF Mildenhall, England, IP28 8NG, +44 (0) 1638 545