66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
Encyclopedia
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
. The group is also the host unit at Hanscom.
The 66th ABG provide services to over 3,000 active duty, Reserve and National Guard military personnel and DoD civilians who work and live at Hanscom Air Force Base. Additionally, the 66 ABG supports over 100,000 retired military personnel, annuitants and spouses living in the six-state New England area and New York.
and Tennessee
prior to the United States entry into World War II
. Performed anti-submarine missions along the Southeast Atlantic Coast in the early part of the war then functioned as a training unit. During the early years of the Cold War
, the group operated as a NATO reconnaissance unit in West Germany
, using a variety of propeller- and jet-powered aircraft. It was reactivated in October 2010 at Hanscom, when the 66th Air Base Wing was reduced in scope.
The 66th ABG consists of the following:
, Florida, the unit performed field observation duties during various Army maneuvers in North Carolina
and Tennessee
prior to the United States entry into World War II
. Performed anti-submarine missions along the Atlantic Coast in the early part of the war then functioned as a training unit, being disbanded on 20 April 1944.
, being stationed at Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey
on 27 December 1946 and equipped with RB-26 Invaders.
It was later transferred to McGuire AFB, New Jersey
in June 1949 and trained for combat readiness where it became an associate unit of the Strategic Air Command
91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group. On 10 October 1949, the 66th was redesignated as the 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group and moved to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
along with its associate 91st SRG. At Barksdale, the group was re-equipped with RF-80A Shooting Stars and trained with its active-duty counterpart.
With the outbreak of the Korean War
, the group was activated on 1 May 1951. Its personnel and aircraft were reassigned to the 91st SRG to bring the unit up to authorized strength, and many of the reservists and their aircraft were sent to Japan for combat reconnaissance missions. The 66th TRG was inactivated as a paper unit on 16 May 1951
, South Carolina
as a Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Upon activation, the group was assigned to the new 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing under the Hobson Base-Wing Plan. The 66th TRW commanded the functions of both the support groups as well as the flying combat 66th TRG. At Shaw, the 66th TRW was considered an associate unit in training status at Shaw being supported by the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the host unit of the facility, as the unit was programmed for deployment to NATO once equipped and trained.
The new group was equipped with RB-26 Invader
s and RF-80A Shooting Stars transferred from South Korea
. Some second-line RF-51D Mustangs were also sent to Shaw for training. The squadrons formed and activated were:
On 25 June 1953 the 66th departed Shaw, being reassigned to West Germany
. Just prior to the wing's deployment to NATO, the 303d TRS was reequipped with RF-80As.
The 66th arrived at Sembach Air Base, West Germany
, on 8 July 1953. On that day, at 1045 hours, the first of 18 RB-26 Invader
aircraft belonging to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (TRG) landed on the flightline of the new air base. Major General B. C. Struther, commander of Twelfth Air Force, welcomed the 66th to Sembach and to the United States Air Forces in Europe
. The 66th's Wing Commander landed at 1509 hours in a T-33 Shooting Star
trainer, bringing the remainder of the wing’s aircraft with him: 32 RF-80A Shooting Stars and 4 additional T-33s.
The 66th TRG had three operational squadrons: the 30th, 302nd and 303rd TRS. The 30th TRS flew the RB-26 Invader, equipped for night reconnaissance, while the 302nd and 303rd flew the RF-80A Shooting Star for day reconnaissance. The group commenced operations just three days after arrival at Sembach. The months of July to September 1953 were very successful in mission terms. This was due, in the main, to the relatively good weather in Northern Europe. Reconnaissance missions usually took place over the allied zones of Austria
.
The autumn and winter of 1953 brought appalling weather conditions to northern Europe and a multitude of problems to all the tactical units of USAFE. The cameras of the RF-80's had to be rotated and spend one day per week in the hot box to thoroughly dry out. Excessive condensation between the lenses, because of extremes of temperature, had the potential of causing a fungal growth which forced the lenses apart and severely impaired the camera's effectiveness. It was during the time that regular deployments to North Africa began, when, in November, several RF-80's of the 302 TRS deployed there.
By 1954, it was acknowledged that the aircraft of the 66th TRG were becoming obsolete. It was decided to replace the RF-80A with the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash and the RB-26s with new RB-57A Canberras. This conversion was due to commence in 1955 and in the latter part of 1954, pilots from the 32, 38, 302 and 303 TRS commenced training at RAF Bentwaters
and at Amarillo AFB, Texas. A mobile training detachment from the 363d TRW at Shaw AFB was sent to Sembach to provide instruction on the RB-57A.
However, during the latter part of 1954 and early 1955, more favourable weather did allow the 66th TRG to complete a relatively high number of successful missions. The 302 TRS took part in exercise Blue Danube and sent four aircraft to Vaerlose, Denmark for a 25 day joint training exercise with the Danish Air Force. The 302 TRS deployed to Giebelstadt
and photographed some 21 army required targets and 15 weather recce missions. This visit was also given the task of taking oblique photos of castles and other places in Germany for publicity purposes. Spring 1955 saw some uncharacteristically good weather in Northern Europe, and both the 38th and 302 TRS' broke all previous records in terms of missions flown. Deployments to sunnier climes continued unabated during the early months of 1955. In February, four RF-80's of the 32nd TRS detached to Morocco
for ten days, and six RF-80's went to Wheelus Air Base
in Libya.
On 30 November 1954, the 30th TRS received the first Martin RB-57A Canberra. The pilots had already checked out on the T-33s by this time. They were required to fly 20 solo hours; during which time the observers, mechanics, camera specialists and hydraulic specialists spent time with the 363d's Mobile Training Detachment. There was a considerable period of time when the RB-57s and the RB-26s worked together as the transition to the new aircraft took some time. During the latter months of 1955 the 66th TRGe built up to full strength on the RB-57A; also acquiring, in December, one example of the B-57C dual trainer.
In August 1955, the RF-84F Thunderflash began to arrive, but the RF-80s were to soldier on for a further year. During the early part of 1956, the aircraft was paradoxically called upon to stand in for the RF-84F and the RB-57, which were experiencing teething problems until the end of 1956 when they were sent back to the United States.
On 1 January 1957 a fourth squadron, the 19th TRS was transferred from the SAC 47th Bombardment Wing at RAF Sculthorpe
, England to the 66th TRW. The 47th TRS flew the RB-45C Tornado, however the squadron remained at Sculthrope and did not physically transfer it's assets to Sembach. At Sculthorpe, the 19th TRS transitioned to the RB-66 Invader aircraft.
In February 1957, the RB-57's of the 30th TFS at Sembach were also being replaced by the RB-66. The heavier RB-66's however, did not land well on Sembach's runway, and the 30th TRS was deployed to Landstuhl AB (now Ramstein AB) for their operations. The RB-66 simulator arrived at Sembach in the early part of 1957. Each pilot of the 30th TRS and the 19th TRS of the 66th TRW was required to complete a total of 15 hours on the simulator. The 30th retained a high mission profile on the RB-57 throughout the transition to the RB-66. By the end of 1957 all RB-57 aircraft had left Europe and returned to the United States where they were assigned to the Air National Guard.
As 1957 progressed USAFE HQ decided to reorganize its tactical reconnaissance assets. The 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was designated non-operational as part of the Air Force tri-deputate reorganization and all of the group's operational reconnaissance squadrons were assigned directly to the 66th TRW. The 66th TRG was inactivated on 8 December 1957 when the group was considered redundant.
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 assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
Electronic Systems Center. It is stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of Bedford, Massachusetts. The facility is a joint use civil airport/military base with Hanscom Field which provides general aviation and charter service.The host unit at Hanscom is the non-flying...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The group is also the host unit at Hanscom.
The 66th ABG provide services to over 3,000 active duty, Reserve and National Guard military personnel and DoD civilians who work and live at Hanscom Air Force Base. Additionally, the 66 ABG supports over 100,000 retired military personnel, annuitants and spouses living in the six-state New England area and New York.
Overview
Activated as an observation group in 1941, the unit performed field observation duties during various Army maneuvers in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
prior to the United States entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Performed anti-submarine missions along the Southeast Atlantic Coast in the early part of the war then functioned as a training unit. During the early years of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the group operated as a NATO reconnaissance unit in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, using a variety of propeller- and jet-powered aircraft. It was reactivated in October 2010 at Hanscom, when the 66th Air Base Wing was reduced in scope.
The 66th ABG consists of the following:
- 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
- 66th Force Support Squadron
- 66th Medical Clinic
World War II
Activated as an observation group on 1 September 1941 at Imeson FieldImeson Field
Imeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, Florida, the unit performed field observation duties during various Army maneuvers in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
prior to the United States entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Performed anti-submarine missions along the Atlantic Coast in the early part of the war then functioned as a training unit, being disbanded on 20 April 1944.
Air Force Reserve
The unit was assigned to the Air Force Reserve after the war, being designated as the 66th Reconnaissance Group. It was assigned to First Air ForceFirst Air Force
The 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....
, being stationed at Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
on 27 December 1946 and equipped with RB-26 Invaders.
It was later transferred to McGuire AFB, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in June 1949 and trained for combat readiness where it became an associate unit of the Strategic Air Command
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...
91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group. On 10 October 1949, the 66th was redesignated as the 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group and moved to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
along with its associate 91st SRG. At Barksdale, the group was re-equipped with RF-80A Shooting Stars and trained with its active-duty counterpart.
With the outbreak of 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...
, the group was activated on 1 May 1951. Its personnel and aircraft were reassigned to the 91st SRG to bring the unit up to authorized strength, and many of the reservists and their aircraft were sent to Japan for combat reconnaissance missions. The 66th TRG was inactivated as a paper unit on 16 May 1951
Tactical Air Command
On 1 January 1953 the 66th was reactivated at Shaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
as a Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Upon activation, the group was assigned to the new 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing under the Hobson Base-Wing Plan. The 66th TRW commanded the functions of both the support groups as well as the flying combat 66th TRG. At Shaw, the 66th TRW was considered an associate unit in training status at Shaw being supported by the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the host unit of the facility, as the unit was programmed for deployment to NATO once equipped and trained.
The new group was equipped with RB-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The 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...
s and RF-80A Shooting Stars transferred from 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...
. Some second-line RF-51D Mustangs were also sent to Shaw for training. The squadrons formed and activated were:
- 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron30th Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Group stationed at Key Field, Mississippi...
(Night Photo) (RB-26, Yellow Tails) - 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron302d Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 302d 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.-History:...
(Jet Photo) (RF-80A, Red Tails) - 303d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron303d Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 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.-History:...
(RF-51D, Blue Tails)
On 25 June 1953 the 66th departed Shaw, being reassigned to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Just prior to the wing's deployment to NATO, the 303d TRS was reequipped with RF-80As.
United States Air Forces in Europe
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, on 8 July 1953. On that day, at 1045 hours, the first of 18 RB-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The 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...
aircraft belonging to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (TRG) landed on the flightline of the new air base. Major General B. C. Struther, commander of Twelfth Air Force, welcomed the 66th to Sembach and 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...
. The 66th's Wing Commander landed at 1509 hours in a T-33 Shooting Star
T-33 Shooting Star
The 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...
trainer, bringing the remainder of the wing’s aircraft with him: 32 RF-80A Shooting Stars and 4 additional T-33s.
The 66th TRG had three operational squadrons: the 30th, 302nd and 303rd TRS. The 30th TRS flew the RB-26 Invader, equipped for night reconnaissance, while the 302nd and 303rd flew the RF-80A Shooting Star for day reconnaissance. The group commenced operations just three days after arrival at Sembach. The months of July to September 1953 were very successful in mission terms. This was due, in the main, to the relatively good weather in Northern Europe. Reconnaissance missions usually took place over the allied zones of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
The autumn and winter of 1953 brought appalling weather conditions to northern Europe and a multitude of problems to all the tactical units of USAFE. The cameras of the RF-80's had to be rotated and spend one day per week in the hot box to thoroughly dry out. Excessive condensation between the lenses, because of extremes of temperature, had the potential of causing a fungal growth which forced the lenses apart and severely impaired the camera's effectiveness. It was during the time that regular deployments to North Africa began, when, in November, several RF-80's of the 302 TRS deployed there.
By 1954, it was acknowledged that the aircraft of the 66th TRG were becoming obsolete. It was decided to replace the RF-80A with the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash and the RB-26s with new RB-57A Canberras. This conversion was due to commence in 1955 and in the latter part of 1954, pilots from the 32, 38, 302 and 303 TRS commenced training at RAF Bentwaters
RAF Bentwaters
RAF Bentwaters, now known as Bentwaters Parks, is a former Royal Air Force station about 80 miles NE of London, 10 miles ENE of Ipswich, near Woodbridge, Suffolk in England...
and at Amarillo AFB, Texas. A mobile training detachment from the 363d TRW at Shaw AFB was sent to Sembach to provide instruction on the RB-57A.
However, during the latter part of 1954 and early 1955, more favourable weather did allow the 66th TRG to complete a relatively high number of successful missions. The 302 TRS took part in exercise Blue Danube and sent four aircraft to Vaerlose, Denmark for a 25 day joint training exercise with the Danish Air Force. The 302 TRS deployed to Giebelstadt
Giebelstadt
Giebelstadt is a municipality in the district of Würzburg in Bavaria in Germany.History of GiebelstadtThe town is the birthplace of Florian Geyer , also known as "Florian Geier from Giebelstadt", a Franconian nobleman who led the Black Company during the Peasants War resulting from the Protestant...
and photographed some 21 army required targets and 15 weather recce missions. This visit was also given the task of taking oblique photos of castles and other places in Germany for publicity purposes. Spring 1955 saw some uncharacteristically good weather in Northern Europe, and both the 38th and 302 TRS' broke all previous records in terms of missions flown. Deployments to sunnier climes continued unabated during the early months of 1955. In February, four RF-80's of the 32nd TRS detached to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
for ten days, and six RF-80's went to Wheelus Air Base
Wheelus Air Base
-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
in Libya.
On 30 November 1954, the 30th TRS received the first Martin RB-57A Canberra. The pilots had already checked out on the T-33s by this time. They were required to fly 20 solo hours; during which time the observers, mechanics, camera specialists and hydraulic specialists spent time with the 363d's Mobile Training Detachment. There was a considerable period of time when the RB-57s and the RB-26s worked together as the transition to the new aircraft took some time. During the latter months of 1955 the 66th TRGe built up to full strength on the RB-57A; also acquiring, in December, one example of the B-57C dual trainer.
In August 1955, the RF-84F Thunderflash began to arrive, but the RF-80s were to soldier on for a further year. During the early part of 1956, the aircraft was paradoxically called upon to stand in for the RF-84F and the RB-57, which were experiencing teething problems until the end of 1956 when they were sent back to the United States.
On 1 January 1957 a fourth squadron, the 19th TRS was transferred from the SAC 47th Bombardment Wing at RAF Sculthorpe
RAF Sculthorpe
RAF Sculthorpe is a military training facility for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, situated about west of Fakenham in Norfolk, England...
, England to the 66th TRW. The 47th TRS flew the RB-45C Tornado, however the squadron remained at Sculthrope and did not physically transfer it's assets to Sembach. At Sculthorpe, the 19th TRS transitioned to the RB-66 Invader aircraft.
In February 1957, the RB-57's of the 30th TFS at Sembach were also being replaced by the RB-66. The heavier RB-66's however, did not land well on Sembach's runway, and the 30th TRS was deployed to Landstuhl AB (now Ramstein AB) for their operations. The RB-66 simulator arrived at Sembach in the early part of 1957. Each pilot of the 30th TRS and the 19th TRS of the 66th TRW was required to complete a total of 15 hours on the simulator. The 30th retained a high mission profile on the RB-57 throughout the transition to the RB-66. By the end of 1957 all RB-57 aircraft had left Europe and returned to the United States where they were assigned to the Air National Guard.
As 1957 progressed USAFE HQ decided to reorganize its tactical reconnaissance assets. The 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was designated non-operational as part of the Air Force tri-deputate reorganization and all of the group's operational reconnaissance squadrons were assigned directly to the 66th TRW. The 66th TRG was inactivated on 8 December 1957 when the group was considered redundant.
Lineage
- Constituted as 66th Observation Group on 21 August 1941
- Activated on 1 September 1941.
- Redesignated 66th Reconnaissance Group on 1 April 1943
- Redesignated 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 1 August 1943
- Disbanded on 20 April 1944.
- Reconstituted, redesignated 66th Reconnaissance Group, allotted to the reserve, and activated, on 27 December 1946
- Redesignated 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group on 1 June 1949
- Called to active duty on 1 May 1951
- Inactivated on 16 May 1951
- Redesignated 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and activated on 1 January 1953
- Inactivated on 8 December 1957
- Re-designated 66th Air Base Group and activated on 1 October 2010
Assignments
- III Air Support CommandIII Air Support CommandThe III Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 16 March 1942.-Lineage:...
, 1 September 1941 – 20 April 1944 - 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 December 1946 – 16 May 1951 - 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 January 1953 – 8 December 1957
- Electronic Systems Center, 1 October 2010-Present
Components
- 97th Observation Squadron (Medium)97th Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, stationed at Thermal Army Airfield, California...
: 1 September 1941 – 23 August 1943 - 106th Observation Squadron (Medium)106th Air Refueling SquadronThe United States Air Force's 106th Air Refueling Squadron is an Air National Guard aerial refueling unit flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama.-History:...
: 1 September 1941 – 20 June 1943 - 113th Observation Squadron (Medium): attached 12 December 1941 – 20 January 1942
- 118th Observation Squadron (Light)118th Airlift SquadronThe 118th Airlift Squadron flies the C-21A Learjet. It is a unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 103rd Airlift Wing.-History:...
: 1 September 1941 – 1 October 1943
- 19th Liaison Squadron: 29 March 1942 – 11 August 1943
- 23d Observation Squadron: 20 June-23 August 1943
- 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic): 6 November 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 19th Reconnaissance Squadron: 7 November 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 20th Reconnaissance (later Strategic Reconnaissance) Squadron20th Intelligence SquadronThe 20th Intelligence Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the National Air Intelligence Center, stationed at Offut AFB, Nebraska.-Overview:...
: 25 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 30th Reconnaissance (later Strategic Reconnaissance; Tactical Reconnaissance) Squadron30th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 30th Reconnaissance Squadron is reconnaissance test squadron assigned to the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada...
: 25 July 1947 – 16 May 1951; 1 January 1953-8 December 1957 - 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron302d Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 302d 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.-History:...
:, 1 January 1953 – 8 December 1957 - 303d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron303d Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 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.-History:...
:, 1 January 1953 – 8 December 1957
Stations
- Imeson FieldImeson FieldImeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, Florida, 1 September 1941 - Charleston Army Airfield, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, January 1942 - Imeson FieldImeson FieldImeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, Florida, 1 March 1942 - Pope Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, May 1942 - TullahomaArnold Air Force BaseArnold Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee, adjacent to the city of Tullahoma. It is named for General Henry "Hap" Arnold, the father of the U.S. Air Force....
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, September 1942; - Morris Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, November 1942 - Camp Campbell, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, April 1943 - Aiken Army Airfield, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, June 1943
- Lebanon Municipal Airport, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, October 1943-20 April 1944 - Newark Army Air Base, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 27 December 1946 - McGuire AFB, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 27 June 1949 - Barksdale AFB, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 10 October 1949 – 16 May 1951 - Shaw AFB, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 1 January – 1 July 1953; - Sembach AB, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, c. 7 July 1953 – 8 December 1957 - Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, 1 Oct 2010-Present
Aircraft
- 1941–1944, various aircraft, including: O-46, O-47, O-49, A-20, P-39, P-40, B-25, L-5, and L-6
- RB-26 Invader. 1949–1951; 1953–1955
- RF-80A Shooting Star, 1949–1951; 1953–1956
- RF-51D Mustang, 1953
- RB-57 Canberra, 1954–1955; 1955–1957
- B-57 CanberraB-57 CanberraThe Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
, 1955–1956 - RF-84 Thunderflash, 1955–1957