Cannon AFB 3d SOS MQ-9

“Cannon AFB 3d SOS MQ-9” vintage style military aviation travel poster art by – Squadron Posters!

The 3 SOS traces its heritage to World War I, when the squadron was first activated as Photographic Section I on April 4, 1918. As part of I Corps Observation Group, the unit processed aerial photographs taken for intelligence use. The unit was demobilized in July of 1919 after moving back to the United States. In September 1919 the unit was reactivated as the 1st Photographic Section, 1st Surveillance Group, processing aerial photography for associated observation squadrons until becoming the 3d Observation Squadron on June 1, 1937. On Oct. 28, 2005, the unit was reactivated as the 3d Special Operations Squadron, flying the MQ-1 Predator. The initial cadre of squadron members attended training in the spring and summer of 2005, and by the end of that year the 3 SOS was flying 23 percent of all Predator hours in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. The squadron became the largest Predator squadron in the Air Force within 20 months of its inception. In 2014, the squadron began transitioning to the MQ-9 Reaper. The transition was completed and the last AFSOC Predator flight was flown in February of 2016.