▁The ▁ 1 7 th ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Squadron ▁( 1 7 ▁S OS ) ▁is ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 5 3 d ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Group ▁at ▁K ad ena ▁Air ▁Base , ▁Japan . ▁It ▁oper ates ▁MC - 1 3 0 J ▁Comm ando ▁II ▁aircraft ▁providing ▁special ▁operations ▁cap ability . ▁Air ▁cre ws ▁are ▁spe cially ▁trained ▁in ▁day ▁and ▁night , ▁low - level ▁delivery ▁of ▁troops ▁and ▁equipment ▁via ▁a ird rop ▁or ▁air land ▁operations ▁and ▁flying ▁using ▁night ▁vision ▁g og g les . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁traces ▁its ▁line age ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Observ ation ▁Squadron , ▁constit uted ▁and ▁activ ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁After ▁being ▁red es ign ated ▁as ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Re con na issance ▁Squadron ▁( B omb ard ment ), ▁the ▁squad ron ▁fle w ▁North ▁American ▁B - 2 5 ▁Mitch ells ▁in ▁the ▁New ▁Guinea ▁campaign , ▁the ▁Philippines ▁Camp aign , ▁and ▁over ▁Japan ▁on ▁armed ▁reconna issance ▁miss ions . ▁The ▁ 1 7 th ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁after ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁war . ▁It ▁was ▁react iv ated ▁and ▁in activ ated ▁un mann ed ▁as ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁L ia ison ▁Squadron ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 5 0 s . ▁The ▁ 1 7 th ▁Special ▁Oper ations ▁Squadron ▁was ▁activ ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁to