13th Reconnaissance Squadron

13th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron of World War II 913th Air Refueling Squadron June 2017 October 2019 March 2021 13th Reconnaissance Squadron center|60px 13th Reconnaissance Squadron RQ-9 Global Hawk.jpg 300 13th Reconnaissance Squadron RQ-4 Global Hawk 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1952–1953; 1987–2000; 2005–present USA Reconnaissance and Surveillance Air Force Reserve Command Beale Air Force Base Lucky Thirteen European Theater of Operations https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432066/13-reconnaissance-squadron-afrc/ Robertson Patsy Factsheet 13 Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC) 18 October 2016 Air Force Historical Research Agency 17 January 2017 Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm 150px 13th Reconnaissance Squadron emblemRendition approved 21 December 2011. 150px 13th Airlift Squadron emblemApproved 5 June 1995.Endicott, p. 433 150px 13th Military Airlift Squadron emblemApproved 13 October 1988. 150px 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem Approved 6 March 1944.Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 73-74 The 13th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 926th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Mission The squadron provides theater commanders with near-real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition data.http://www.940arw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12341 No byline Inside 940WG Library: Factsheet 13th Reconnaissance Squadron 1 September 2009 940th Wing Public Affairs dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100309161625/http://www.940arw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12341 9 March 2010 30 May 2018 History World War II The 13th flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from 28 March 1943 – 26 April 1945. Airlift In 1952, it converted to a troop carrier mission and provided intra-theater airlift for high-ranking USAFE military and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment from, 1987–1993. In 1987, it was renamed the 13th Military Airlift Squadron. The squadron moved without personnel and equipment to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, on 1 October 1993 and absorbed personnel and equipment of the 30th Airlift Squadron and was renamed the 13th Airlift Squadron. Equipped with C-141, the squadron took on a new worldwide airlift mission until its inactivation in 2000. Unmanned reconnaissance Since 2005 the 13th has operated and maintained deployable, long-endurance RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft and ground control elements to fulfill training and operational requirements generated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in support of unified commanders and the Secretary of Defense. It currently trains all RQ-4B pilots and sensor operators. Lineage Constituted as the 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 June 1943 Activated on 20 June 1942 Redesignated 13th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943 Redesignated 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943 Inactivated on 1 December 1945 Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic on 11 March 1947 Activated in the reserve on 6 July 1947 Inactivated on 27 June 1949 Redesignated 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 26 May 1952 Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952 Inactivated on 1 April 1953 Redesignated 13th Military Airlift Squadron on 14 July 1987 Activated on 1 October 1987 Redesignated 13 Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1992 Inactivated on 31 March 2000 Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 February 2005 Activated in the reserve on 12 March 2005 Assignments 30em 3d Photographic Group (later 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group), 20 June 1942 (attached to 1st Bombardment Wing from 2 December 1942, 8th Air Force from 16 February 1943) 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7 July 1943 Unknown 21 November 1945 – 1 December 1945Probably New York Port of Embarkation on arrival at Camp Kilmer. 65th Reconnaissance Group, 6 July 1947 – 27 June 1949 65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 October 1987 316th Airlift Support Group, 1 April 1992 18th Operations Group, 1 June 1992 438th Operations Group, 1 October 1993 305th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – 31 March 2000 610th Regional Support Group, 12 March 2005 940th Operations Group, 1 July 2009 726th Operations Group, 10 February 2016 – present Stations Army Air Base Colorado Springs, Colorado, 20 June – 17 October 1942 RAF Podington, England, 2 December 1942 RAF Mount Farm, England, 16 February 1943 RAF Chalgrove, England, 8 April 1945 RAF Grove, England, c. 13 October – 23 November 1945 Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 30 November – 1 December 1945 Rome Army Air Field, New York, 6 July 1947 Chemung County Airport, New York, 26 January 1948 – 27 June 1949 Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953 Kadena Air Base, Japan, 1 October 1987 McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 1 October 1993 – 31 March 2000 Beale Air Force Base, California, 12 March 2005 – present Aircraft 22em Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1945) Piper L-4 Grasshopper (1942–1943) Supermarine Spitfire (1943) North American P-51 Mustang (1945) Curtiss C-46 Commando (1952–1953) Beechcraft C-12 Huron (1987–1993) Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (1993–2000) Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk (2005–present) References Notes Explanatory notes note Citations 40em Bibliography Endicott Judy G. Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4908883/FID1533/wings_cd.pdf 2 July 2014 1998 Air Force History and Museums Program Office of Air Force History Washington, DC B000113MB2 Maurer, Maurer Air Force Combat Units of World War II 1961 http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf dead 20 December 2016 17 December 2016 reprint 1983 Office of Air Force History Washington, DC 0-912799-02-1 61060979 Maurer, Maurer Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II 1969 http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf dead 20 December 2016 reprint 17 December 2016 1982 Office of Air Force History Washington, DC 0-405-12194-6 72556 70605402 Ravenstein Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977 https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave 17 December 2016 1984 Office of Air Force History Washington, DC 0-912799-12-9 registration External links 13th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet https://web.archive.org/web/20100309161625/http://www.940arw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12341 9 March 2010 Category:Military units and formations in California 013 Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Category:American organizations established in 1942