27th Special Operations Group
The 27th Special Operations Group is the flying component of the 27th Special Operations Wing, providing aviation forces for global special operations missions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 27th Special Operations Group is a United States Air Force operational organization assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing and aligned under Air Force Special Operations Command. Based at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, it provides the flying element of the wing and organizes, trains, plans, and deploys aviation forces for special operations conducted by the United States and its partners. The group’s mission portfolio covers a broad range of specialized aviation activities. These include infiltration and exfiltration of personnel, combat support, close air support, aerial refueling for helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, non-standard aviation, psychological operations support, and remotely piloted aircraft operations. Its subordinate flying units have operated or supported aircraft such as the AC-130W gunship, MC-130J special operations tanker and transport aircraft, CV-22B tilt-rotor, C-146A Wolfhound, U-28A utility aircraft, and MQ-series unmanned aircraft. The group’s role is not limited to aircraft employment: it also provides operational support and coordinates the training, readiness, planning, and deployment of its squadrons. The organization carries the lineage of the 27th Bombardment Group, a highly decorated World War II unit. That predecessor was activated in 1940 and initially equipped with Douglas B-18 bombers. After the United States entered World War II, elements of the group were sent toward the Philippines. The unit’s ground personnel became part of an improvised infantry formation during the defense of Bataan, while its air echelon fought in the Southwest Pacific. Many members were captured after the fall of the Philippines and endured the Bataan Death March and prisoner-of-war captivity. Other personnel escaped by submarine or withdrew through the region and continued fighting. The group later rebuilt in Australia and participated in operations in the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea before returning to the United States for reorganization. In the Mediterranean and European theaters, it flew successively different types of light bomber, fighter-bomber, and fighter aircraft, supporting the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, southern France, and the advance into Germany. Its World War II record included five Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, making the predecessor organization one of the most decorated United States Army Air Forces units of the war. After World War II, the lineage continued through several reorganizations and aircraft transitions. The group performed occupation duties in Germany, then returned to the United States and became associated with Strategic Air Command. During the late 1940s it operated long-range escort and air-defense missions, first with P-51 Mustangs and later with F-82 Twin Mustangs. In 1950 it transitioned to Republic F-84E Thunderjets and served in the Korean War era. Later lineage changes connected the historic organization to the modern special operations group. Today, the 27th Special Operations Group functions as an operational headquarters for specialized aviation units rather than as a commercial brand. Its public identity is tied to military lineage, mission readiness, expeditionary operations, and the delivery of airpower in support of United States Special Operations Command objectives.
History
The lineage associated with the 27th Special Operations Group begins with the 27th Bombardment Group, which the United States Army Air Corps activated on 1 February 1940 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. The original organization included the 15th, 16th, and 17th Bombardment Squadrons and initially flew Douglas B-18 Bolo aircraft. In 1941, as the Pacific crisis intensified, the group moved personnel toward the Philippines and prepared to receive Douglas A-24 Banshee aircraft. The Japanese attack on the Philippines disrupted the group’s planned deployment. The air echelon moved through Australia, while ground personnel remaining in the Philippines withdrew to Bataan. There they were organized as an infantry formation and fought alongside other American forces. Following the surrender, many members were subjected to the Bataan Death March and imprisonment. A smaller number escaped from the Philippines by submarine. The surviving airmen and aircraft regrouped in Australia and participated in operations around the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea. The group received several unit citations for its early wartime service. The organization was subsequently rebuilt in the United States and sent to North Africa. It entered combat in the Mediterranean theater in 1943, initially operating A-20 aircraft before converting to A-36 dive bombers and later to P-40 Warhawks and P-47 Thunderbolts. It supported the Allied campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, southern France, and the advance toward Germany. Notable operations included support for the Salerno landings, the Allied advance toward Rome, Operation Dragoon, and attacks against German communications and retreat routes. By the end of World War II, the lineage had accumulated five Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The postwar organization was inactivated in November 1945 but reactivated in Germany in August 1946 for occupation duty. It returned to the United States in 1947 and became part of Strategic Air Command. During the late 1940s, it flew P-51D Mustangs and then F-82 Twin Mustangs in long-range escort and air-defense roles. The group carried out long-distance flights and participated in major formation demonstrations, including a 1949 presidential inauguration flyover. It moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, in 1949 and transitioned to F-84E Thunderjets in 1950. The group’s Cold War lineage included overseas deployments and participation in the Korean War period. Its aircraft and personnel supported long-range fighter operations and deployments between the United States, Europe, and the Pacific. Subsequent Air Force reorganizations changed the group’s designations and relationships as the service developed new operational structures. The modern 27th Special Operations Group is assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base and operates within Air Force Special Operations Command. Its current function is to direct the deployment, employment, training, and operational planning of special operations aviation squadrons. The group supports infiltration and exfiltration, combat support, close air support, aerial refueling, non-standard aviation, psychological operations, and remotely piloted aircraft missions. Its aircraft portfolio has included AC-130W, MC-130J, CV-22B, C-146A, U-28A, MQ-1, and MQ-9 platforms, although specific assignments can change as the Air Force reorganizes its forces.
- 1950
Transition to F-84 Thunderjets
[1]The group moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base and transitioned to jet-powered F-84E aircraft before supporting Korean War-era operations.
- 1948
Transition to F-82 Twin Mustang operations
[1]The group received F-82 aircraft for long-range escort and air-defense duties during the early Cold War.
- 1946
Postwar reactivation in Germany
[1]The lineage was reactivated at Fritzlar for occupation duty after its postwar inactivation.
- 1944
Operation Dragoon and southern France
[1]The group supported the invasion of southern France and the Allied advance through the Rhône Valley.
- 1943
Mediterranean combat operations
[1]The rebuilt group entered combat in North Africa and then supported Allied operations in Sicily and Italy.
- 1942
Bataan service and evacuation
[1]Ground personnel fought as infantry on Bataan, while surviving air personnel and aircraft regrouped in Australia after the fall of the Philippines.
- 1941
Deployment toward the Philippines
[1]The group was ordered toward the Philippines as tensions in the Pacific escalated before the Japanese attack.
- 1940
27th Bombardment Group activated
[1]The predecessor organization was activated on 1 February at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, with three bombardment squadrons.
Modern special operations aviation role
[1]The lineage now serves through the 27th Special Operations Group, the flying component of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force aviation organization positioned around global special operations support, expeditionary readiness, precision airpower, and the employment of manned and unmanned aircraft.
Military capability
Special operations aviation
The group provides aviation forces for special operations missions, including infiltration and exfiltration, combat support, close air support, aerial refueling, non-standard aviation, and remotely piloted aircraft operations. It coordinates the readiness and deployment of subordinate squadrons rather than selling a commercial product.
Sources1 sources
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