18th Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
-
- Note: For the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron that existed (1917-1942), see: 408th Bombardment Squadron408th Bombardment SquadronThe 408th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Strategic Air Command 22d Bombardment Wing stationed at March AFB, California...
- Note: For the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron that existed (1917-1942), see: 408th Bombardment Squadron
The 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (18 RS) is a squadron of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. It is assigned to the 432d Operations Group
432d Operations Group
The 432d Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 432d Wing, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.-Overview:...
, and 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...
Nevada.
Mission
The 18th RS conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operating the flies MQ-1 Predator UAVUnmanned 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...
.
History
Activated as part of IV Fighter CommandIV Fighter Command
The IV Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at Oakland Airport, California...
in early 1943, engaged in Air Defense of the San Fransisco area as well as a RTU until the end of 1943. Trained as a P-51 operational squadron, deployed to the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
(ETO), being assigned to IX Fighter Command
IX Fighter Command
The IX Fighter Command is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany. It was inactivated on 16 November 1945....
in England. Operated both as a tactical fighter squadron, providing air support to Allied ground forces in France as well as an air defense squadron, attacking enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat over Europe.
In August 1944, the squadron was redesignated as the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron operating photo-reconnaissance missions. The unit was inactivated in November 1945.
Reactivated in 1945 at Brooks Field
Brooks Field
Brooks 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....
, Texas under the 363d Reconnaissance Group. Trained with the RF-80A Shooting Star. Moved to Langley Field in 1947 when Brooks was transferred to SAC. Reassigned directly to Fourteenth Air Force
Fourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
in 1949 when the 363d was inactivated and moved to Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
Re-assigned to the 363d when the group was re-activated at Shaw in 2 Apr 1951. Became a training squadron with a mission to provide photographic intelligence training. to support both air and ground operations by American or Allied ground forces. Upgraded to the RF-84F Thunderstreak in 1954, continued training operations until 1957 when re-quipped with the RF-101C Voodoo.
Reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
The 66th Air Base Group is a non-flying United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Electronic Systems Center. It is stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
and deployed to NATO in 1957. Operated from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
until 1966, moving to RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training...
, England. Remained in the UK until 1970, when it returned to Shaw AFB and was assigned to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. Re-equipped with the RF-4C Phantom II at Shaw and performed training for new photo-reconnaissance pilots until 1979 when inactivated due to budget reductions.
Reactivated at Beale AFB, California as an RQ-4 Global Hawk
RQ-4 Global Hawk
The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is an unmanned aerial vehicle used by the United States Air Force and Navy as a surveillance aircraft....
strategic reconnaissance UAV squadron, 2006-2007 Moved to Creech AFB, Nevada in 2009 where it was reactivated as an MQ-1 Predator UAVsquadron.
Lineage
- Constituted as 381st Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 11 Feb 1943
- Activated on 1 Mar 1943
- Re-designated as: 381st Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 Aug 1943
- Re-designated as: 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 Aug 1944
- Inactivated on 9 Nov 1945
- Re-designated as 161st Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo (Jet Propelled) on 9 Jul 1946
- Activated on 31 Aug 1946
- Re-designated as: 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 28 Aug 1948
- Re-designated as: 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 10 Oct 1950
- Re-designated as: 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966
- Inactivated on 30 Sept 1979
- Re-designated as 18th Reconnaissance Squadron on 14 Mar 2006
- Activated on 3 Apr 2006
- Inactivated on 24 Aug 2007
- Activated on 11 Dec 2009.
Assignments
- 363d Fighter (later, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 1 Mar 1943
- Attached to 10th Photographic Group, 23 Dec 1944-3 Jan 1945
- 67th Reconnaissance Group, 3 Ju1-9 Nov 1945
- 363d Reconnaissance (later, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 31 Aug 1946
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 23 Sept 1949
- Attached to 20th Fighter Wing20th Fighter WingThe 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Ninth Air Force.-Mission:...
, 20 Sept 1949-2 Apr 1951- 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 2 Apr 1951
- 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 8 Feb 1958
- 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jun 1959
- 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 30 Jan 1970-30 Sept 1979
- 9th Operations Group9th Operations GroupThe 9th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California....
, 3 Apr 2006-24 Aug 2007 - 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:...
, 11 Dec 2009-Present
Stations
- Hamilton Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, March 1943 - Santa Rosa Army Airfield, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 23 August 1943 - Oakland International AirportOakland International AirportOakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 8 October-2 December 1943 - RAF KeevilRAF KeevilRAF Keevil is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 4 miles east of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.The airfield was built on a site previously ear-marked for the purpose in the mid 1930s...
(AAF-471), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 23 December 1943 - RAF RivenhallRAF RivenhallRAF Station Rivenhall is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Braintree; about northeast of London...
(AAF-168), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, c. 3 February 1944 - RAF StaplehurstRAF StaplehurstRAF Staplehurst is a former World War II airfield in Kent, England. The airfield is located approximately northeast of Staplehurst; about southeast of London...
(AAF-413), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 14 April 1944 - Maupertu Airfield (A-15), FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, c. 5 July 1944 - Azeville AirfieldAzeville AirfieldAzeville Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the commune of Azeville in the Basse-Normandie region of northern France....
(A-7), FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, c. 22 August 1944 - Montreuil AirfieldMontreuil AirfieldMontreuil Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the commune of Montreuil in the Centre region of northern France....
(A-38), FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 9 September 1944 - Sandweiler Airfield (A-97), LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, 11 October 1944 - Le Culot Airfield (A-89), BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, 29 October 1944
- Operated from Conflans Airfield (A-94), FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 24 December 1944-6 February 1945- Venlo Airfield (Y-55), NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, 11 March 1945 - Gutersloh Airfield (R-85), GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 16 April 1945 - Brunswick/Waggum Airfield (R-37), GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 26 April 1945 - AAF Station Wiesbaden, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 20 May 1945 - Reims/Champagne Airfield, France, c, 3 Jul-c. 4 Sept 1945
- Drew Field, FL 16 Sep-9 Nov 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, 31 Aug 1946 - Langley Field, VA, 1 Nov 1946
- Shaw AFB, SC, 23 Sept 1949-25 May 1959
- Laon-Couvron Air BaseLaon-Couvron Air BaseLaon-Couvron Air Base is a former French and United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Aisne département of France, less than one mile southeast of the village of Couvron and 6 miles northwest of Laon; on the southwest side of the Autoroute des Anglais 1 Mile east of the...
, France, 1 Jun 1959 - RAF Upper HeyfordRAF Upper HeyfordRAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training...
, England, 1 Sept 1966 - Shaw AFB, SC, 30 Jan 1970-30 Sept 1979
- Beale AFB, CA, 3 Apr 2006-24 Aug 2007
- Creech AFB, NV, 11 Dec 2009-.
- Venlo Airfield (Y-55), Netherlands
Aircraft
- P-39 Airacobra (1943)
- P-51 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...
(1944–1945) - F-6 Mustang (1944–1945, 1946–1947)
- FP-80P-80 Shooting StarThe Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
(1946–1955) - T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
(1950–1954)
- RF-84 Thunderflash (1954–1957)
- RF-101 Voodoo (1957–1970)
- RF-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
(1970–1979) - RQ-4 (2006-2007)
- MQ-1 (2009-Present)