4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was a component of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command
, that operated Lockheed U-2
spy planes out of Laughlin AFB, Texas, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The unit is also sometimes referred to as the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron. It was from this unit that the pilots involved in overflights of Cuba
during the Cuban Missile Crisis
were drawn. Detachments of the 4028th were deployed to Japan
and South Vietnam
.
under Project Dragon Lady, and the 4028th was created for this purpose. Prior to receiving the U-2s, the 4080th wing moved to Laughlin AFB, TX during February-April 1957.
"A second U-2 squadron, the 4029th SRS, was assigned in expectation that the CIA Project Aquatone would end, and the aircraft be turned over to SAC. This never happened, and the 4029th SRS was never equipped. The wing moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in 1963.
"The 100th SRW was created at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in June 1966 by a renumbering of the 4080th SRW. The U-2 squadron was renumbered from 4028th SRS to the 349th SRS. The 100th wing also controlled the 350th SRS which operated the Ryan RPV
s and the associated DC-130 launch and CH-3 recovery aircraft."
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, that operated Lockheed U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
spy planes out of Laughlin AFB, Texas, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The unit is also sometimes referred to as the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron. It was from this unit that the pilots involved in overflights of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
were drawn. Detachments of the 4028th were deployed to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
History
"The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Turner AFB, Georgia, on 1 April 1956. The first mission was to operate RB-57Ds of Project Black Knight, for which purpose the 4025th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to the wing in May 1956. The second mission was to operate the U-2s ordered by SACStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
under Project Dragon Lady, and the 4028th was created for this purpose. Prior to receiving the U-2s, the 4080th wing moved to Laughlin AFB, TX during February-April 1957.
"A second U-2 squadron, the 4029th SRS, was assigned in expectation that the CIA Project Aquatone would end, and the aircraft be turned over to SAC. This never happened, and the 4029th SRS was never equipped. The wing moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in 1963.
"The 100th SRW was created at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in June 1966 by a renumbering of the 4080th SRW. The U-2 squadron was renumbered from 4028th SRS to the 349th SRS. The 100th wing also controlled the 350th SRS which operated the Ryan RPV
Ryan Firebee
The 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....
s and the associated DC-130 launch and CH-3 recovery aircraft."