303d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 303d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base
, France.
at Shaw AFB. Initially equipped with second-line RF-51D Mustangs and trained as in tactical air reconnaissance, its parent organization being programmed for deployment to NATO. Equipped with RF-80A Shooting Star Jet aircraft returned from use in the Korean War
in mid-1953.
Deployed to Sembach Air Base, West Germany in mid-1953, being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
Seventeenth Air Force
, during the summer of 1953. Performed reconnaissance training at Sembach, being upgraded to the new RF-84F Thundersteak in 1955. Trained with NATO forces in Europe during the summer months, however, due to poor weather conditions in central Europe during the winter months, deployed frequently to Wheelus AB, Libya and Nouasseur AB, Morocco for training.
Moved to Laon AB, France in mid-1958 due to severe problems with the Sembach AB runway, operated from Phalsbourg AB while improvements were made to the Laon runway until September.
In early 1959 it was announced that the RF-84 equipped squadrons assigned to the 66th TRW were to be deactivated and their places in the 66th taken by the RF-101C Voodoo-equipped squadrons being deployed from Shaw AFB, South Carolina. These new squadrons arrived at Laon in May 1959 and the 303d was inactivated in late June.
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...
unit. It was last assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base
Laon-Couvron Air Base
Laon-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.
History
Activated on 1 January 1953 as part of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group66th 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...
at Shaw AFB. Initially equipped with second-line RF-51D Mustangs and trained as in tactical air reconnaissance, its parent organization being programmed for deployment to NATO. Equipped with RF-80A Shooting Star Jet aircraft returned from use in 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...
in mid-1953.
Deployed to Sembach Air Base, West Germany in mid-1953, being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
, during the summer of 1953. Performed reconnaissance training at Sembach, being upgraded to the new RF-84F Thundersteak in 1955. Trained with NATO forces in Europe during the summer months, however, due to poor weather conditions in central Europe during the winter months, deployed frequently to Wheelus AB, Libya and Nouasseur AB, Morocco for training.
Moved to Laon AB, France in mid-1958 due to severe problems with the Sembach AB runway, operated from Phalsbourg AB while improvements were made to the Laon runway until September.
In early 1959 it was announced that the RF-84 equipped squadrons assigned to the 66th TRW were to be deactivated and their places in the 66th taken by the RF-101C Voodoo-equipped squadrons being deployed from Shaw AFB, South Carolina. These new squadrons arrived at Laon in May 1959 and the 303d was inactivated in late June.
Lineage
- Established as 303d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, and activated on 1 January 1953
- Inactivated on 20 June 1959
Assignments
- 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group66th Tactical Reconnaissance GroupThe 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...
, 1 January 1953 - 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 8 December 1957-20 June 1959
Stations
- Shaw AFB, South Carolina, 1 January–1 July 1953
- Sembach AB, West Germany, 7 July 1953-10 July 1958
- 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, 10 July 1958-20 June 1959
- Operated from: Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air BasePhalsbourg-Bourscheid Air BasePhalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Moselle département, about 2 miles west of the town of Phalsbourg, on the north side of the Route nationale 4 Highway adjacent to the village Saint-Jean-Kourtzerode; 29 miles northwest of...
, France, 10 July-30 September 1958
Aircraft
- RF-51D Mustang 1953
- RF-80A Shooting Star, 1953–1955
- RF-84F Thunderstreak, 1955–1959