12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (ROCAF)

Taiwanese military unit American military unit 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (ROCAF) 12SQ.png 150px 12th TRS emblem 1932 – presenthttps://www.10wtac.be/TAIWAN.htm Taiwan TIGER PATCH COLLECTION 10 August 2020 24px Republic of China Air Force Reconnaissance 401st Tactical Composite Wing Hualien Air Force Basehttps://www.scramble.nl/orbats/taiwan/airforce Hualien (RCYU) Scramble 10 August 2020 General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Northrop RF-5E Tigergazer Northrop F-5F Tiger II The 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (12th TRS) is an active unit of the Republic of China Air Force. It is part of the 401st Tactical Composite Wing and operates the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, Northrop RF-5E Tigergazer and Northrop F-5F Tiger II from Hualien Air Force Base, Hualien County. History 1997 to present thumb|left|General Dynamics RF-16A Fighting Falcon 6718 of the 12th TRS at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, 2014. Up until 1998, the 12th TRS were operating the Lockheed TF/RF-104G Stargazer and Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II from Taoyuan Air Base, Taoyuan.Wei-Bin Chang http://www.taiwanairpower.org/af/f5.html Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II Taiwan Air Power 13 April 2008 10 August 2020 With the forthcoming retirement of the Starfighter, the 12th TRS began to convert to the Northrop RF-5E Tigergazer, with deliveries first arriving in August 1997.Wei-Bin Chang http://www.taiwanairpower.org/af/rf5e.html Northrop / STAe RF-5E Tigergazer Taiwan Air Power 6 December 2004 10 August 2020 On 22 May 1998, the last two TF-104Gs (4186 and 4196) were retired in a ceremony at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taichung.Joe Baugher http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f104_26.html Starfighters with Taiwan joebaugher.com 9 April 2004 10 August 2020Wei-Bin Chang http://taiwanairpower.org/history/f104ret.html ROCAF F-104 Retirement Taiwan Air Power 24 August 2005 10 August 2020 4 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201004020607/http://taiwanairpower.org/history/f104ret.html dead On 1 July 1998, the 12th TRS relocated to Hualien Air Force Base, Hualien County, and converted to the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, which replaced the F-5Es. The squadron's RF-5Es were also transferred to the 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron during this time. The 12th TRS' F-16As are equipped with Phoenix Eye reconnaissance pods, leading to an unofficial designation of RF-16A.Peter van den Berg https://aviationphotodigest.com/rocaf-2016/ Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force (ROCAF) – 2016 Aviation Photography Digest 2016 10 August 2020 In May 2011, the 12th TRS began to receive the RF-5E back from the 4th TRS, starting with 5503 and 5506.https://www.the-northrop-f-5-enthusiast-page.info/Serials/ChinaRF-5E.html China RF-5E The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast Page 10 August 2020 On 13 September 2011, 5506 and F-5F 5401 of the 4th TRS both crashed into a mountain during a night-time sortie, killing all crew.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14913785 Taiwan 'grounds F-5 fighter jets' after crash BBC News 14 September 2011 10 August 2020https://www.the-northrop-f-5-enthusiast-page.info/Serials/ChinaF-5F.html China F-5F The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast Page 10 August 2020 The squadron completed its conversion to the RF-5E on 12 June 2013, operating them alongside the F-16. thumb|right|Northrop RF-5E Tigergazer 5503 of the 12th TRS at Hualien Air Force Base, 2017. In October 2019, it was announced by the Minister of National Defence Yen Teh-fa that Taiwan is looking to replace the Phoenix Eye recon pod with the UTC Aerospace Systems MS-110 pod which would be carried by the RF-16 fleet, allowing for the retirement of the RF-5Es.Mike Yeo https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2019/10/18/taiwan-says-f-16-upgrade-back-on-track-as-it-seeks-recon-pods-that-can-watch-chinas-coastline/ Taiwan says F-16 upgrade back on track, as it seeks recon pods that can watch China’s coastline DefenseNews 18 October 2019 10 August 2020 Aircraft operated 22em RF-101A Voodoo (1973-1973) Lockheed RF-104G Stargazer (–1997) Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter (–1998) Northrop F-5E Tiger II (–1998) Northrop F-5F Tiger II (–1998; 2011–present) Northrop RF-5E Tigergazer (1997–1998; 2011–present) General Dynamics RF-16A Fighting Falcon (1998–present) General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon (1998–present) See also Black Bat Squadron Black Cat Squadron References Citations 2 External links http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/aircraft-assignments/unit/RoCAF%2012%20TRS/ Past and current F-16 airframes assigned to RoCAF 12 TRS f-16.net 10 August 2020 Category:Squadrons of the Republic of China Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1932