324th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Emblem of the 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Active	1942-1957
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Strategic Reconnaissance

Emblem of the World War II 324th Bombardment Squadron

The 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 8 Nov 1957.

History

Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States with final training under Second Air Force in Washington. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, being one of the first heavy bomb squadrons arriving in England. The 322d was one of the most highly decorated strategic heavy bomb squadrons in the European Theater, flying combat missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945. Most personnel demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe, Squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re-equipped and remanned as a B-29 Superfortress squadron. Japanese capitulation canceled plans and was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during November 1945.

Reactivated in 1947 as a Strategic Air Command long-range strategic reconnaissance squadron; not manned or equipped until July 1948. Used B-17 and B-29 bombers refitted for reconnasissance missions. Deployed to Japan in 1950, and performed strategic reconnaissance missions over Korea, and the Northern Pacific coast of Communist China and the Soviet Union. Re-equipped with RB-45C Tornado jet reconnaissance aircraft, flying reconnaissance and mapping combat missions over Korea until being assigned to the United States in mid 1952. Re-equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, performed various reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale until inactivation in 1957.

Lineage

• Constituted 324th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942

Activated on 15 Apr 1942

Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945

• Redesignated 324th Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Jun 1947

Activated on 1 Jul 1947

• Redesignated: 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 Nov 1948

Redesignated: 324th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 6 Jul 1950

Inactivated on 8 Nov 1957

Assignments

• 91st Bombardment Group, 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945
• 91st Reconnaissance (later Strategic Reconnaissance) Group, 1 Jul 1947
• 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952-8 Nov 1957

Stations

• Harding Army Air Field, Louisiana, 15 Apr 1942
• MacDill Field, Florida, 16 May 1942
• Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 28 Jun-24 Aug 1942
• RAF Kimbolton (AAF-117), England, 13 Sep 1942 (ground echelon), early Oct 1942 (air echelon)
• RAF Bassingbourn (AAF-121), England, 14 Oct 1942-23 Jun 1945
• Drew Field, Florida, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945
• Andrews Field, Md, 1 Jul 1947
• McGuire AFB, NJ, 19 Jul 1948
• Barksdale AFB, La, 1 Oct 1949
• Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 11 Sep 1951-8 Nov 1957

Aircraft

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942-1945
• RB-17 Flying Fortress, 1948-1949
• RB-29 Superfortress, 1949-1950
• RB-45C Tornado, 1950-1953
• RB-47E Stratojet, 1953-1957

References

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

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN: 0892010975