348th Reconnaissance Squadron
348th Reconnaissance Squadron | |
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm | |
Insignia | |
348th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[a][1][2] | ![]() |
348th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][3] | ![]() |
The 348th Reconnaissance Squadron is an active
The squadron was first activated as the 346th Bombardment Squadron in 1942. After training in the United States, it moved to the
In 1953, the squadron was activated as the 346th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron as part of Strategic Air Command. It returned to the bombardment mission two years later, and served in this role until inactivating in 1974. Although the squadron remained in the United States except for one deployment in the 1950s, during the Vietnam War it deployed its aircrews and Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses to Southeast Asia. For extended periods, all squadron personnel and equipment were deployed.
History
World War II
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Boeing_B-17G%2C_44-8464_-The_Old_Lady-_and_44-6385%2C_99th_BG%2C_348th_BS%2C_1944.jpg/220px-Boeing_B-17G%2C_44-8464_-The_Old_Lady-_and_44-6385%2C_99th_BG%2C_348th_BS%2C_1944.jpg)
The
The squadron's ground echelon went by ship from
The squadron helped neutralize enemy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Petlyakov_Pe-2_at_Poltava%2C_Russia.jpg/220px-Petlyakov_Pe-2_at_Poltava%2C_Russia.jpg)
In November 1943, the 348th became part of
Following
Air Force reserve
The squadron was again activated under
Strategic Air Command
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Convair_B-36_Peacemaker.jpg/220px-Convair_B-36_Peacemaker.jpg)
The squadron was reactivated in January 1953 at
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/B-52D_at_Westover_AFB_MA_1969.jpg/220px-B-52D_at_Westover_AFB_MA_1969.jpg)
The squadron was re-equipped with
Air Combat Command
The squadron was reactivated under the 69th Reconnaissance Group in September 2011 as an RQ-4 Global Hawk Squadron. The squadron became part of the 319th Operations Group with the inactivation of the 69th Reconnaissance Group in June 2019.[1][10]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 348th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 1 June 1942
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 30 September 1944
- Inactivated on 8 November 1945
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 348th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated on 1 January 1953
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955
- Inactivated on 31 March 1974
- Redesignated 348th Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 August 2011
- Activated on 19 September 2011[1]
Assignments
- 99th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1942 – 8 November 1945
- 99th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later 99th Bombardment Wing), 1 January 1953 – 30 September 1973
- 69th Reconnaissance Group, 11 September 2011 – 27 June 2019
- 319th Operations Group, 28 June 2019 – present[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
- Convair RB-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
- Convair B-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1956–1973
- Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, 2011–present
- Northrop Grumman EQ-4 Global Hawk, 2011–present[1]
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation | 5 July 1943 | Sicily, 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 23 April 1944 | Austria, 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |
1 June 2013-31 May 2014 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2016-31 May 2017 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
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Combat "V" Device |
2-21 March and 15–31 March 1970 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 1967-1 March 1968 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 March-1 April 1968 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1971-30 June 1972 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2011-31 May 2012 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2014-31 May 2015 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2015-31 May 2016 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
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Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
2 March 1969-31 March 1970 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
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Air Offensive, Europe | 16 March 1943 – 5 June 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Tunisia | 16 March 1943 – 13 May 1943 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Air Combat, EAME Theater | 16 March 1943 – 11 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Sicily | 14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Naples-Foggia | 18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Anzio | 22 January 1944 – 24 May 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Rome-Arno | 22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Southern France | 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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North Apennines | 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
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Po Valley | 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
See also
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
- List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Approved 17 November 1958. Description: On an Air Force blue disc bordered Air Force golden yellow, a light blue globe turning on its axis bendwise grid lines Air Force blue; three white stylized aircraft, shaded Air Force blue leaving Air Force golden yellow condensation trails shaded brown; issuing from the globe four red lightning flashes, to dexter base and chief respectively.
- ^ Aapproved 18 February 1944.
- Kingman Army Air Field for storage and was sold for scrap in August 1946. Baugher, Joe (24 August 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ The American is TSgt. Bernard J. McGuire, Tonawanda, New York, of the 348th Bombardment Squadron.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Ream, Margaret (8 September 2020). "Factsheet 348 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 432
- ^ Watkins, pp. 76–77
- ^ a b c d Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 170-171
- ^ Rodgers, pp. 16, 29
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 281-283
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 430 (no aircraft listed as assigned to the squadron from 1947 to 1949)
- ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ "319th Air Base Wing Redesignates as 319th Reconnaissance Wing". Grand Forks Air Force Base. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.