5th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic)

5th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic)
Unit emblem
Active	1917-1947
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Reconnaissance

The 5th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 5th Reconnaissance Group, based at Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines. It was deactivated on 20 October 1947

History

Established in August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. Deployed to Europe and engaged in combat as corps observation unit with I Army Corps, 12 Sep-6 Nov 1918; working principally with 111 Corps School, instructed personnel of ground services in mission and functions of military aviation, Dec 1918-Apr 1919.

Demonstrations of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships, Jun-Sep 1921.

Search missions from Hawaii, 8 Dec ig4i-Jul 1942; May-Oct 1943. Combat in Central Pacific, Jun 1942; May, Jun, Jul, Sep 1943; in South and Southwest Pacific, 2 Aug 1942-c. 16 Feb 1943; and in Central and Western Pacific, 13 Nov 1943-12 Aug 1945.

Photomapping in Philippines, Formosa, and the Pescadores, 1946-1947.

Lineage

• Organized as 50th Aero Squadron on 6 Aug 1917

Redesignated: 50th Squadron on 14 Mar 1921

Redesignated: 50th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923.

Inactivated on 1 Aug 1927

• Activated on 1 Nov 1930

Redesignated: 50th Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 Jan 1938

Redesignated: 50th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium Range) on 6 Dec 1939

Redesignated: 50th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940

Redesignated: 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942

Redesignated: 5th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) on 29 Apr 1946.

• Inactivated on 20 Oct 1947.

Assignments

• Unknown, 6 Aug 1917-Sep 1918
• I Corps Observation Group, Sep-Nov 1918
• Unknown, Nov 1918-Sep 1919
• Second Wing, Sep 1919

Attached to 1st Army Observation Group, c. Oct 1919

• 1st Army Observation Group, 24 May 1920
• Air Service Field Officers’ School, 10 Feb 1921

Attached to 1st Provisional Air Brigade for operations, 6 May-3 Oct 1921

• 2d Wing

Attached to Air Service Field Officers’ [later Air Service Tactical; Air Corps Tactical] School), 8 Aug 1922

• Air Corps Training Center, Jun-1 Aug 1927
• 5th Composite (later Bombardment) Group, assigned on 1 Nov 1930, and attached on 12 Oct 1938
• 11th Bombardment Group, attached on 1 Feb 1940, and assigned on 25 Feb 1942
• US Army Forces, Pacific, 29 Apr 1946
• 313th Bombardment Wing, 15 Jun 1946
• 5th Reconnaissance Group, 3 Feb-20 Oct 1947

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air Force Historical Studies Office, 1969. ISBN 0-89201-097-5.