11th Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The US Air Force 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (11 RS) flies MQ-1 Predator UAV
's and is currently stationed at Creech Air Force Base
in Indian Springs
, Nevada
. The 11th oversees the training of pilot
s and sensor operators assigned to the MQ-1.
flying antisubmarine patrols along the Gulf Coast after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
Reassigned to Fourth Air Force
in Southern California during early 1942, flying reconnaissance, mapping, artillery adjustment, bombing, dive-bombing, and strafing missions to support Army ground units in training at the Desert Training Center
or on maneuvers; trained personnel in aerial reconnaissance, medium bombardment, and fighter techniques.
With the closure of the DTC in late 1943, returned to Third Air Force becoming a reconnaissance training unit for Army forces at Fort Campbell
, Kentucky, Fort Polk
, Louisiana, Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After the war assigned to Shaw Field, South Carolina, but was not equipped or manned – unit inactivated March 1946
Operated as part of Far East Air Forces after the Korean War
, engaging in photographic and weather reconnaissance missions over South Korea
as well as the Japanese Home Islands and the adjacent waters along the Korea
n peninsula and Chinese/Soviet Pacific coasts, 1953-1960.
. Deployed to Thailand
shortly after formation flying tactical reconnaissance missions over Vietnam
and selected locations in Laos
and Cambodia
. The squadron provided much of the aerial photographic intelligence obtained during the Vietnam War
. In the fall of 1970 the wing was phased down as part of the overall American withdrawal from the Vietnam War, returned to Shaw AFB, SC where the unit was inactivated in early 1971.
Reactivated at Davis-Monthan AFB later in 1971 as an AQM-34 Firebee unmanned tactical reconnaissance drone squadron. Performed photographic reconnaissance to support tactical air and surface forces with tactical drones manufactured by Ryan Aeronautical. Used AQM-34L/M/V drones, DC-130 launch vehicles, and CH-3 recovery helicopters. The group conducted follow-on testing and evaluation of the AQM-34V model drone and the initial operational testing and evaluation and developmental testing and evaluation of the DC-130H "mother ship."
Inactivated in 1979 due to budget restrictions; drone operations moved to Eglin AFB. Florida
.
Reactivated on July 29, 1995, at Nellis Air Force Base
under command of the 57th Operations Group
, 57th Wing
.
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
's and is currently stationed at Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...
in Indian Springs
Indian Springs, Nevada
Indian Springs is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,302 at the 2000 census.-History:Indian Springs is named for the artesian spring that provides the area with water...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The 11th oversees the training of pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s and sensor operators assigned to the MQ-1.
Overview
The 11th Reconnaissance Squadron is the U.S. Air Force's first and premiere MQ-1B Predator formal training unit that conducts 5 basic and advanced training courses: Initial Qualification (IQT), Instructor Upgrade Training (IUT), Foreign Officer Course (FOC), Senior Officer Course (SOC), and Launch & Recovery Course (LR).World War II
Activated in early 1942, initially operated in the southeastern United States under Third Air ForceThird Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
flying antisubmarine patrols along the Gulf Coast after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
Reassigned to Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
in Southern California during early 1942, flying reconnaissance, mapping, artillery adjustment, bombing, dive-bombing, and strafing missions to support Army ground units in training at the Desert Training Center
Desert Training Center
The Desert Training Center was a World War II training facility established in the Mojave Desert; largely in Southern California and Western Arizona in 1942....
or on maneuvers; trained personnel in aerial reconnaissance, medium bombardment, and fighter techniques.
With the closure of the DTC in late 1943, returned to Third Air Force becoming a reconnaissance training unit for Army forces at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, Kentucky, Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana, Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After the war assigned to Shaw Field, South Carolina, but was not equipped or manned – unit inactivated March 1946
Cold War
Reactivated at Langley Field, Virginia in 1947 and equipped with RB-26's and RF-80's as a photo-reconnaissance squadron. Reassigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to March AFB, California. Budget constraints, though, resulted in the unit's inactivation in March 1949.Operated as part of Far East Air Forces after the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, engaging in photographic and weather reconnaissance missions over South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as well as the Japanese Home Islands and the adjacent waters along the Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n peninsula and Chinese/Soviet Pacific coasts, 1953-1960.
Vietnam war
Activated as an RF-4C Phantom II reconnaissance squadron in 1966 under Tactical Air CommandTactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
. Deployed to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
shortly after formation flying tactical reconnaissance missions over Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and selected locations in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. The squadron provided much of the aerial photographic intelligence obtained during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In the fall of 1970 the wing was phased down as part of the overall American withdrawal from the Vietnam War, returned to Shaw AFB, SC where the unit was inactivated in early 1971.
Reactivated at Davis-Monthan AFB later in 1971 as an AQM-34 Firebee unmanned tactical reconnaissance drone squadron. Performed photographic reconnaissance to support tactical air and surface forces with tactical drones manufactured by Ryan Aeronautical. Used AQM-34L/M/V drones, DC-130 launch vehicles, and CH-3 recovery helicopters. The group conducted follow-on testing and evaluation of the AQM-34V model drone and the initial operational testing and evaluation and developmental testing and evaluation of the DC-130H "mother ship."
Inactivated in 1979 due to budget restrictions; drone operations moved to Eglin AFB. Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Modern era
Provided real-time intelligence support to 11 Support Wing, 1992-1994. In 1996, became the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron in the USAF. Provided deployable, long-endurance, aerial reconnaissance and surveillance while flying the Predator UAV, 1996-2002. Conducted flying training, 2003-.Reactivated on July 29, 1995, at Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
under command of the 57th Operations Group
57th Operations Group
The 57th Operations Group is a non-flying component of the 57th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.-Overview:...
, 57th Wing
57th Wing
The 57th Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy into a combat arena to conduct integrated combat operations.-Mission:The 57...
.
Lineage
- Constituted as 11th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 5 Feb 1942
- Activated on 2 Mar 1942
- Re-designated as: 11th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
- Re-designated as: 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943
- Re-designated as: 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943
- Re-designated as: 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic, on 25 Jan 1946
- Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946
- Activated on 19 May 1947
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic, on 14 Jun 1948
- Inactivated on 28 Mar 1949
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 12 Aug 1953
- Activated on 18 Sep 1953
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Electronics and Weather, on 25 Nov 1953
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Mar 1960
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet, and activated, on 3 Nov 1965
- Organized on 1 Apr 1966
- Re-designated as: 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966
- Inactivated on 24 Jan 1971
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Drone Squadron on 18 May 1971
- Activated on 1 Jul 1971
- Inactivated on 1 Apr 1979
- Re-designated as 11th Tactical Intelligence Squadron on 26 Jun 1991
- Activated on 15 Jul 1991
- Re-designated as 11th Air Intelligence Squadron on 27 Jan 1992
- Inactivated on 1 Jul 1994
- Re-designated as 11th Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Jul 1995
- Activated on 29 Jul 1995.
Assignments
- Air Force Combat CommandUnited States Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, 2 Mar 1942 - Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942
- 74th Observation (later, 74th Reconnaissance; 74th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group74th Reconnaissance GroupThe 74th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Continental Air Forces, based at Stewart AFB, New York.-History:...
, 21 Mar 1942 - XIX Tactical Air CommandXIX Tactical Air CommandThe XIX Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The unit's last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, 7 Nov 1945
- Attached to 69th Reconnaissance Group69th Reconnaissance GroupThe 69th Reconnaissance Group is an active United States Air Force unit. Its a unit which is part of Air Combat Command stationed at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota...
, Nov 1945-26 Feb 1946- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 27 Feb 1946 - Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 21 Mar 1946 - 67th Reconnaissance Group, 28-31 Mar 1946
- 67th Reconnaissance (later, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 19 May 1947-28 Mar 1949
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 18 Sep 1953
- First Air Force
- Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jun-30 Nov 1954 and 1 Jul-30 Sep 1957
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Oct 1957-8 Mar 1960
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 3 Nov 1965 - 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Apr 1966
- 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 25 Oct 1966
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 10 Nov 1970-24 Jan 1971 - 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Jul 1971
- 432d Tactical Drone Group, 1 Jul 1976-1 Apr 1979
- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
, 15 Jul 1991 - 11th Operations Group11th WingThe 11th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. It is stationed at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland. It is the host unit at Joint Base Andrews....
, 27 Jan 1992-1 Jul 1994 - 57th Operations Group57th Operations GroupThe 57th Operations Group is a non-flying component of the 57th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.-Overview:...
, 29 Jul 1995 - 432d Operations Group432d Operations GroupThe 432d Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 432d Wing, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.-Overview:...
, 1 May 2007-Present
Stations
- Wheeler-Sack Army AirfieldWheeler-Sack Army AirfieldWheeler-Sack Army Airfield is a military use airport located at Fort Drum, in Jefferson County, New York, United States. It is owned by U.S. Army.Although most U.S...
, NY, 2 Mar 1942 - DeRidder Army Airbase, LA, 6 May 1942
- Esler Field, LA, 15 Dec 1942
- Desert Center Army Airfield, CA, 29 Dec 1942
- Deployed to Camp Laguna, AZ, 27 Jun-Jul 1943
- Morris Field, NC, 24 Sep 1943
- Camp Campbell Army Airfield, KY, 6 Nov 1943
- Deployed to Bowling Green Airport, KY, 9 Dec 1943-24 Mar 1944
- Pounds Army Airfield, TX, 17 Apr 1944
- Lafayette Airport, LA, 12 Jul 1944
- Stuttgart Army Airfield, AR, 7 Feb 1945
- Brooks FieldBrooks FieldBrooks Field may refer to:* Brooks City-Base, formerly Brooks Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, USA.* Brooks Field , a football stadium in Golden, Colorado, USA....
, TX, 8 Dec 1945
- Shaw Field, SC, 27 Feb-31 Mar 1946
- Langley Field, VA, 19 May 1947
- March Field, CA, 1 Sep 1947-28 Mar 1949
- Kimpo AB, South Korea, 18 Sep 1953
- Itami AB, Japan, 7 Dec 1954
- Yokota AB, Japan, 15 Jul 1957-8 Mar 1960
- Mountain Home AFB, ID, 1 Apr-25 Oct 1966
- Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 25 Oct 1966-5 Nov 1970
- Shaw AFB, SC, 10 Nov 1970-24 Jan 1971
- Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Jul 1971-1 Apr 1979
- Elmendorf AFB, AK, 15 Jul 1991-1 Jul 1994
- Indian Springs AFAF (later, Creech AFB), NV, 29 Jul 1995-Present
Aircraft
- Included O-52, L-4 Grasshopper and P-43 LancerP-43 LancerThe Republic P-43 Lancer was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft built by Republic, first delivered to the United States Army Air Corps in 1940. A proposed development was the P-44 Rocket. While no world-beater as a fighter, the P-43A had a very good high-altitude...
during period 1942-1943 - P-39 Airacobra, 1943
- P-40 Warhawk, 1943-1944
- B-25/F-10 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1944-1945 - L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
, 1944-1945 - P-51/F-6 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, 1945-1946 - A-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
, 1945-1946 - FA-(later, RB-)26 Invader, 1947-1949
- RB/WB-26 Invader, 1953-1957
- SC-47 Skytrain, 1957
- RB/WB-66 DestroyerB-66 Destroyer|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Baugher, Joe. USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bomber Aircraft: Third Series of USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bombers, 2001. Retrieved: 27 July 2006....
, 1957-1960 - RF-4C Phantom II, 1967-1970
- DC/RC-130 Hercules, 1971-1979
- AQM-34 FirebeeRyan FirebeeThe Ryan Firebee was a series of target drones or unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company beginning in 1951. It was one of the first jet-propelled drones, and one of the most widely-used target drones ever built....
, 1971-1979 - CH-3 (Helicopter), 1972-1979
- BGM-34 Firebee, 1974-1975
- Q/MQ-1 Predator, 1996-Present