16th Electronic Warfare Squadron: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎History: edited and expanded
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎History: edited and expanded
Line 28: Line 28:


==History==
==History==
Established as an Air Service flying training unit in May 1917, conducting flying training for air cadets in the Midwest throughout the summer. Deployed to [[France]] in January 1918, becoming an aircraft maintenance organization in rear areas of the [[Western Front]]. Remained in France until May 1919 when squadron returned to the United States and demobilized.
Flying training unit, 1917; maintained and repaired aircraft 1917-1919. Flew mail to President vacationing in South Dakota and Wisconsin, Aug-Sep 1927, Jun-Sep 1928. Antisubmarine patrols in western Mediterraean, c. 20 Dec 1942-7 Mar 1943; operated school for fighter pilots, Mar-23 Sep 1943; combat in MTO and ETO as radar detection and countermeasures unit, 27 Sep 1943-26 Sep 1944.

Was re-established in 1921 as an observation squadron, attached to Army ground units throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Carried mail and performed fire observation duties, included carrying mail to [[President Coolidge]] vacationing in [[South Dakota]] and [[Wisconsin]], Aug-Sep 1927, Jun-Sep 1928.

After the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] was reassigned to antisubmarine duties along the southeast coast in late 1941, early 1942. Deployed to [[European Theater of Operations]], being attached to the [[Royal Air Force]] reconnaissance school at [[RAF Wattisham]], [[England]] in late 1942. While in England, air echelon received modern [[P-38]] long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft and joined ground personnel in [[French Morocco]] shortly after the [[Operation Torch]] invasion in November 1942.

Assigned to [[Twelfth Air Force]], engaged in long range intelligence gathering and aerial mapping of [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]], supporting the [[United States Fifth Army]] during the North African and Tunisian Campaigns. After the retreat of Axis forces from Tunisia in mid-1942, performed antisubmarine patrols over the [[Mediterranean]] and also functioned as in in-theater training unit for aerial reconnaissance pilots.

Beginning in September 1943, received specially-equipped [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] heavy bombers equipped with RADAR detection and electronic countermeasures equipment. Performed ECM overflights of enemy territory in advance of [[Fifteenth Air Force]] heavy bomber formations, jamming enemy RADAR and generating false returns to confuse defensive forces. Also continued to fly long range reconnaissance with [[B-25 Mitchell]] medium bombers fitted with aerial cameras. Returned to the United States in November 1944 as need for unit dissipated as enemy forces were driven out of the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]]; inactivated in April 1945.


===Lineage===
===Lineage===

Revision as of 01:44, 30 August 2010

16th Reconnaissance Squadron
Emblem of the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron
Active1917-1945
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeReconnaissance

The 16th Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado. It was inactivated on 12 April 1945.

History

Established as an Air Service flying training unit in May 1917, conducting flying training for air cadets in the Midwest throughout the summer. Deployed to France in January 1918, becoming an aircraft maintenance organization in rear areas of the Western Front. Remained in France until May 1919 when squadron returned to the United States and demobilized.

Was re-established in 1921 as an observation squadron, attached to Army ground units throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Carried mail and performed fire observation duties, included carrying mail to President Coolidge vacationing in South Dakota and Wisconsin, Aug-Sep 1927, Jun-Sep 1928.

After the Attack on Pearl Harbor was reassigned to antisubmarine duties along the southeast coast in late 1941, early 1942. Deployed to European Theater of Operations, being attached to the Royal Air Force reconnaissance school at RAF Wattisham, England in late 1942. While in England, air echelon received modern P-38 long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft and joined ground personnel in French Morocco shortly after the Operation Torch invasion in November 1942.

Assigned to Twelfth Air Force, engaged in long range intelligence gathering and aerial mapping of Algeria and Tunisia, supporting the United States Fifth Army during the North African and Tunisian Campaigns. After the retreat of Axis forces from Tunisia in mid-1942, performed antisubmarine patrols over the Mediterranean and also functioned as in in-theater training unit for aerial reconnaissance pilots.

Beginning in September 1943, received specially-equipped B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers equipped with RADAR detection and electronic countermeasures equipment. Performed ECM overflights of enemy territory in advance of Fifteenth Air Force heavy bomber formations, jamming enemy RADAR and generating false returns to confuse defensive forces. Also continued to fly long range reconnaissance with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers fitted with aerial cameras. Returned to the United States in November 1944 as need for unit dissipated as enemy forces were driven out of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations; inactivated in April 1945.

Lineage

  • Organized as 3d Aviation School Squadron on 9 May 1917
Redesignated 16th Aero Squadron on 31 Aug 1917
Demobilized on 22 May 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1924) with 16th Squadron which was authorized on 30 Aug 1921
Organized on 7 Dec 1921
Redesignated 16th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923
Inactivated on 15 Mar 1931
  • Activated on a Jun 1937
Redesignated: 16th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942
Redesignated: 16th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Redesignated: 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bomber) on 31 May 1943
Redesignated: 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy, Special) on 12 May 1944
Disbanded on 12 Apr 1945.

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

  • JN-4, 1917
  • In addition to DH-4, c. 1922-1926, and 0-2, 1926¬1930
  • Included JNS-1, 0-1, and apparently JN-4 and JN-6 during period 1921-1930; 0-25, 1930-1931
  • O-46, 1937-C. 1939, 0-47, 1938-1942, and 0-49, 1941-1942
  • YG-1, and 0-43 during period 1937-1940
  • 0-51 and 0-9 during period 1940-1941
  • DB-7, L-4, P-40, and P-43 during 1942
  • A-20 and P-39, 1942-1943
  • P-38, P-39, P-40, and Spitfire, 1943
  • Primarily B-17, 1943-1944
  • B-25, 1945

References

Public Domain 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
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=16th_Electronic_Warfare_Squadron&oldid=381802543"