99th Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (99 RS) is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing
at Beale Air Force Base
, California. It operates U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft flying reconnaissance
missions around the world.
for use by the National Command Authority
.
and the American V Army Corps. The 99th served as a school squadron with V Army Corps Infantry Liaison School from, July–September 1918, during which time one flight of unit, operating in Vosges
region of Alsace
and Lorraine
where it participated in combat with French XXXIII Corps and American 5th Division from, July–August 1918.
Activated as the 99th Observation Squadron on November 9, 1928 at Mitchel Field, New York. In 1940, the squadron moved to the Panama Canal Zone
to fly antisubmarine
patrols. From December 3, 1941 the squadron operated from Zandrey Field, Surinam. The squadron, less its personnel and equipment, moved to Florida in 1942. It then trained cadres for bombardment units. In 1944, the 99th flew combat missions in the Western Pacific and carried food and medicine to POW camps.
Redesignated a reconnaissance squadron in 1949, and based in California, the 99th flew B/RB-17s and, later, B/RB-29
s. The 99th was redesignated a bombardment squadron in 1950, moved to Idaho
in 1953, and received B-47
s in 1954 making several deployments to England and Guam
. In 1966, the 99th again became a reconnaissance squadron and moved to California conducting testing of SR-71 aircraft through 1967. The 99th flew global strategic
reconnaissance until 1971 when the squadron inactivated.
In November 1972, the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron activated at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield
, Thailand
where it flew reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia. The squadron relocated at Beale Air Force Base
in 1976 and began flying U-2
missions. Operational missions include extensive reconnaissance efforts during Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm as well as humanitarian
efforts covering wildfire
and earthquake
damage in California and Midwestern United States
flood
s. 99 RS personnel are currently temporarily assigned to four overseas detachments.
9th Reconnaissance Wing
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California...
at Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
, California. It operates U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft flying reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
missions around the world.
Mission
The 99 RS is responsible for providing critical intelligenceMilitary intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
for use by the National Command Authority
National Command Authority
National Command Authority is a term used by the Department of Defense of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e...
.
History
Following activation in 1917, the 99th rapidly moved to France to perform corps observation duties with the French 8th ArmyEighth Army (France)
The Eighth Army was a Field army of the French Army during the World War I and World War II.After the armistice it was part of the occupation of the Rhineland...
and the American V Army Corps. The 99th served as a school squadron with V Army Corps Infantry Liaison School from, July–September 1918, during which time one flight of unit, operating in Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
region of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
where it participated in combat with French XXXIII Corps and American 5th Division from, July–August 1918.
Activated as the 99th Observation Squadron on November 9, 1928 at Mitchel Field, New York. In 1940, the squadron moved to the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
to fly antisubmarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
patrols. From December 3, 1941 the squadron operated from Zandrey Field, Surinam. The squadron, less its personnel and equipment, moved to Florida in 1942. It then trained cadres for bombardment units. In 1944, the 99th flew combat missions in the Western Pacific and carried food and medicine to POW camps.
Redesignated a reconnaissance squadron in 1949, and based in California, the 99th flew B/RB-17s and, later, B/RB-29
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
s. The 99th was redesignated a bombardment squadron in 1950, moved to Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in 1953, and received B-47
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
s in 1954 making several deployments to England and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. In 1966, the 99th again became a reconnaissance squadron and moved to California conducting testing of SR-71 aircraft through 1967. The 99th flew global strategic
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
reconnaissance until 1971 when the squadron inactivated.
In November 1972, the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron activated at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield
U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield
U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield is a military airfield of the Royal Thai Navy located approximately southeast of Bangkok, near Sattahip on the Gulf of Siam...
, 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...
where it flew reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia. The squadron relocated at Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
in 1976 and began flying 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...
missions. Operational missions include extensive reconnaissance efforts during Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm as well as humanitarian
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
efforts covering wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
and earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
damage in California and Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s. 99 RS personnel are currently temporarily assigned to four overseas detachments.
Operations
- World War I
- World War II
- Vietnam War
- Operation Urgent Fury
- Operation Just Cause
- Operation Desert Shield
- Operation Desert Storm
Lineage
- 99th Aero Squadron (1917–1919)
- 99th Corps Observation Squadron (1919–1921)
- 99th Squadron (Observation) (1921–1923)
- 99th Observation Squadron (1923–1935)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron (1935–1939)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939–1940)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1940–1944)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944–1949)
- 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (1949–1950)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1950)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1950–1966)
- 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (1966–1991)
- 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (1991–Present)
Assignments
- Second Aviation Instruction Center (1917–1918)
- V Corps Observation Group (1918)
- Attached: 3rd Artillery Observation School (c. April 1, – May 31, 1918)
- Eastern Department (1919–1920)
- III Corps Area (1920–1922)
- District of Washington (1922–1923)
- 8th Division, Air Service (1923–1927)
- Air Corps Training Center (1927)
- 9th Bombardment Group (1928–1948)
- 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1949–1971)
- 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1972–1976)
- Attached: Air Division Provisional, 17 (November 1, 1972 – January 1, 1975)
- 9th Reconnaissance Wing9th Reconnaissance WingThe 9th Reconnaissance Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California...
(1976–Present)
Bases stationed
- Kelly Field, Texas (1917)
- Garden CityGarden City, New YorkGarden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, New York (1917) - ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, France (1917–1918) - HaussimontHaussimontHaussimont is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France....
, France (1918) - AmantyAmantyAmanty is a commune in the Meuse department in the Lorraine region in north-eastern France....
, France (1918) - Luxeuil-les-BainsLuxeuil-les-BainsLuxeuil-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.-History:Luxeuil was the Roman Luxovium and contained many fine buildings at the time of its destruction by the Huns under Attila in 451...
, France (1918)- Flight Operated From: CorcieuxCorcieuxCorcieux is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
, France (July 19–24, 1918) - Flight Operated From: DognevilleDognevilleDogneville is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
, France (July 24, – August 26, 1918)
- Flight Operated From: Corcieux
- SouillySouillySouilly is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The Town Hall at Souilly, fronting on the Voie Sacree, served as headquarters for general Petain and, later, general Nivelle during the Battle of Verdun in 1916....
, France (1918) - Foucaucourt, France (1918)
- Parois, France (1918)
- BelrainBelrainBelrain is a commune in the Meuse department in the Lorraine region in north-eastern France....
, France (1918) - Chaumont-sur-AireChaumont-sur-AireChaumont-sur-Aire is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meuse department...
, France (1918) - ChaumontChaumont, Haute-MarneChaumont is a commune of France, and the capital of the Haute-Marne department. , it has a of 24,039.The city stands on the Marne River and is situated on the railway linking Paris and Basel, which runs over a 52 m tall and 600 m long viaduct built in 1856.- History :Historically the...
, France (1918–1919)- Flight Operated From: PrauthoyPrauthoyPrauthoy is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France....
, France (c. December 25, 1918 – c. February 1, 1919) - Flight Operated From: Bourbonne-les-BainsBourbonne-les-BainsBourbonne-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.-Spa:Bourbonne is a health resort due to hot springs. These thermal springs were known to the Gauls and to the Romans who built baths...
, France (c. December 25, 1918 – c. February 1, 1919) - Flight Operated From: Montigney-le-Roi, France (c. December 25, 1918 – c. February 1, 1919)
- Flight Operated From: Prauthoy
- Colombey-les-BellesColombey-les-BellesColombey-les-Belles is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-Heraldry:-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
, France (1919) - SadiracSadiracSadirac is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France (1919) - Mitchel Field, New York (1919)
- Hazelhurst Field, New York (1919)
- Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey (1919)
- Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. (1919–1927)
- Kelly Field, Texas (1927)
- Mitchel Field, New York (1928–1940)
- Río HatoRío HatoRío Hato is a town in the Coclé province of Panama.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
, Panama (1940–1941) - Piarco Field, Trinidad (1941)
- Zandery Field, Surinam (1941–1942)
- OrlandoOrlando, FloridaOrlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
Air Base, Florida (1942–1943) - Montbrook Army Air Field, Florida (1943)
- KissimmeeKissimmeeKissimmee is the name of several things in the U.S. state of Florida:*Kissimmee, Florida *Kissimmee City Street Railway*Kissimmee Kreatures *Kissimmee Utility Authority...
Army Air Base, Florida (1943–1944) - BrooksvilleBrooksvilleBrooksville is the name of several places in the United States:* Brooksville, Florida* Brooksville, Kentucky* Brooksville, Maine...
Army Air Field, Florida (1944) - Orlando Air Base, Florida (1944)
- Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
- McCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army Airfield was activated on 1 April 1943. It is located nine miles northwest of McCook, a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States and is southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was constructed in 1943...
, Nebraska (1944) - North Field, TinianTinianTinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
(1944–1946) - Clark Field, Luzon (1946–1947)
- Harmon Air Force BaseHarmon Air Force BaseHarmon Air Force Base is a former World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield, and postwar United States Air Force Base on Guam in the Mariana Islands. Originally named "Depot Field", it was renamed in honor of Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, who was killed on a routine flight from...
, Guam (1947–1948) - Travis Air Force BaseTravis Air Force BaseTravis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California (1949–1953)- Detachment at: Andersen Air Force BaseAndersen Air Force BaseAndersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam....
, Guam (c. August 7, – September 17, 1950) - Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (April 9, – June 19, 1951)
- Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (June 17, – September 22, 1952)
- Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base
- Mountain Home Air Force BaseMountain Home Air Force BaseMountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in southwestern Idaho, United States. The base is in Elmore County, 12 miles southwest of the city of Mountain Home, which is 40 miles southeast of Boise, via Interstate 84.The host unit at Mountain Home since 1972...
, Idaho (1953–1966)- Deployed: RAF FairfordRAF FairfordRAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
, England (May 23, – July 9, 1955) - Deployed: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (c. October 4, 1957 – c. January 12, 1958)
- Deployed: RAF Fairford
- Beale Air Force BaseBeale Air Force BaseBeale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
, California (1966–1971) - U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy AirfieldU-Tapao Royal Thai Navy AirfieldU-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield is a military airfield of the Royal Thai Navy located approximately southeast of Bangkok, near Sattahip on the Gulf of Siam...
, Thailand (1972–1976) - Beale Air Force Base, California (1976–present)
Aircraft Operated
- Sopwith 1Sopwith 1½ StrutterThe Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British one or two-seat biplane multi-role aircraft of the First World War. It is significant as the first British-designed two seater tractor fighter, and the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronised machine gun...
(1918) - Salmson 2Salmson 2|-References:* Davilla, James J., & Soltan, Arthur M., French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, Connecticut: Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0...
(1918–1919) - DH-4 (1919–1927)
- SE-5 (1919–1927)
- O-1Curtiss FalconThe Curtiss Falcon is a family of military biplane aircraft built by the United States aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the...
(1928–1936) - O-11Curtiss FalconThe Curtiss Falcon is a family of military biplane aircraft built by the United States aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the...
(1928–1936) - O-25Douglas O-2The Douglas O-2 is a 1920s American observation aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company.-Development:The important family of Douglas observation aircraft sprang from two XO-2 prototypes, the first of which was powered by the 420 hp Liberty V-1650-1 V-engine and test-flown in the autumn...
(1928–1936) - OA-2Loening OL|-See also:-References:* John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9...
(1928–1936) - O-31Douglas O-31-External links:**...
(1928–1936) - Y1O-35 (1928–1936)
- O-38Douglas O-38-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
(1928–1936) - O-39Curtiss FalconThe Curtiss Falcon is a family of military biplane aircraft built by the United States aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the...
(1928–1936) - Y1O-40Thomas-Morse O-19|-See also:-References:* John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9...
(1928–1936) - O-40 (1928–1936)
- O-43Douglas O-43-External links:***...
(1928–2936) - B-10Martin B-10The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...
(1936–1938) - OA-4 (1937)
- B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
(1938–1942) - OA-8Sikorsky S-43-External links:* - Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43...
(1939) - P-12Boeing P-12The Boeing P-12 or F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps and United States Navy.-Design and development:...
(1939) - P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942)
- B-25 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...
(1943) - B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
(1943) - B-17 Flying Fortress (1943–1944)
- B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
(1944–1946, 1946–1947, 1949–1954) - B/RB-17 (1949–1950)
- RB-29 (1949–1950)
- B-47 StratojetB-47 StratojetThe Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
(1954–1966) - SR-71 BlackbirdSR-71 BlackbirdThe Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...
(1966–1971) - DC-130 (1972–1975)
- CH-3 Sea KingSikorsky S-61RThe Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R...
(1972–1975) - U-2 Dragon Lady (1972–present)
- T-38 TalonT-38 TalonThe Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
(1976–present)