5th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic): Difference between revisions

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

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Revision as of 23:43, 13 April 2010

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 on the Western Front 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.

Returned to the United States in May 1919; remained active with the Army Air Service Second Wing and performed demonstrations of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on naval warships, Jun-Sep 1921. Reassigned to Mexican Border in 1927 as an aerial observation squadron before inactivation.

Reactivated as aerial observation and defensive patrol squadron off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii Territory, 1930. Remained in Hawaii throughout the 1930s as part of the air defenses of the islands. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor, performed search and reconnaissance missions over the Pacific, 8 Dec 1941-Jul 1942; being redesignated as a heavy bomber squadron in April 1942. Initially flew early model B-17C/D Flying Fortresses, May-Oct 1943

Engaged in combat operations in the Central Pacific Jun 1942. Returned to Hawaii and converted to Very Long Range (VLR) B-24 Liberators in May 1943. Redeployed to Central Pacific 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.

Reorganized in the Philippines and returned to being a reconnaissance squadron, being equipped largely with B-17 and B-24s converted for photographic and mapping use. Performed aerial photography and mapping over the Southwest Pacific, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Formosa, and the Pescadores, 1946-1947.

Inactivated October 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

Stations

Kelly Field, Tex, 6 Aug-28 Dec 1917
Romsey, England, 24 Jan 1918
Grantham, England, 4 Feb 1918
Winchester, England, 3-13 Jul 1918
Amanty, France, 27 Jul 1918
Behonne, France, 4 Sep 1918
Bicqueley, France, 8 Sep 1918
Remicourt, France, 24 Sep 1918
Clermont-en-Argonne, France, 28 Oct 1918
Langres, France (operated from Longeau), 6 Dec 1918

B Flight operated from Clermont-en-Argonne to 18 Dec 1918 and from Clamecy thereafter

C Flight operated from Clermonten-Argonne to 12 Dec 1918 and from La Valbonne thereafter

Clamecy, France, 9 May 1919
Scott Field, Ill, 27 May 1919
Langley Field, Va, Aug 1919

Brooks Field, Tex, 25 Jun-1 Aug 1927.
Luke Field, TH, 1 Nov 1930
Hickam Field, TH, g Oct 1939
Viti Levu, 24 Jul 1942

Air echelon operated from New Hebrides, Aug 1942

Espiritu Santo, 1 Nov 1942-28 Mar 1943

Forward echelon operated from Guadalcanal, Dec 1942

Hickam Field, TH, 8 Apr 1943
Funafuti, 11 Nov 1943
Tarawa, 16 Jan 1944
Kwajalein, 31 Mar 1944
Guam, 21 Oct 1944
Okinawa, 2 Jul 1945
Manila, Luzon, Dec 1945
Clark Field, Luzon, 15 Jun 1946-20 Oct 1947

Aircraft

DH-4, 1918-1919
In addition to DH-4, apparently included SE-5 during period 1919-1927
0-19, 1930-1936
In addition to B-12, included A-3, P-12, and others at various times during period 1936-1938
B-18, 1938-1941
B-17, 1941-1943
B-24, 1943-1945
F-13, 1946-1947
F-7, 1946-1947
C-47 1946
C-46, 1946-194
FB-17, 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.

External links

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 == 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
+Established in August 1917 at [[Kelly Field]], [[Texas]].   Deployed to [[Europe]] and engaged in combat on the [[Western Front]] 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.
-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.
+Returned to the United States in May 1919; remained active with the Army Air Service Second Wing and performed demonstrations of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on naval warships, Jun-Sep 1921.  Reassigned to Mexican Border in 1927 as an aerial observation squadron before inactivation.
+Reactivated as aerial observation and defensive patrol squadron off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii Territory, 1930.   Remained in Hawaii throughout the 1930s as part of the air defenses of the islands.  After the Attack on Pearl Harbor, performed search and reconnaissance missions over the Pacific, 8 Dec 1941-Jul 1942; being redesignated as a heavy bomber squadron in April 1942.  Initially flew early model B-17C/D Flying Fortresses, May-Oct 1943
-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.
+Engaged in combat operations in the Central Pacific  Jun 1942.  Returned to Hawaii and converted to Very Long Range (VLR) B-24 Liberators in May 1943.  Redeployed to Central Pacific 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.
+Reorganized in the Philippines and returned to being a reconnaissance squadron, being equipped largely with B-17 and B-24s converted for photographic and mapping use.   Performed aerial photography and mapping over the Southwest Pacific, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Formosa, and the Pescadores, 1946-1947.
+Inactivated October 1947.
 === Lineage===