5th Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 5th Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 5th Reconnaissance Squadron Patch
dates= 5 May 1917 - 11 November 1918
24 October 1919 - 20 October 1948
1 May 1949 - 25 June 1966
1 July 1986 - 30 June 1990
1 October 1994 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Reconnaissance and Surveillance
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
8th Air Force
9th Reconnaissance Wing
9th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Osan Air Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Blackcats
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
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The 5th Reconnaissance Squadron (5 RS) is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. The squadron is geographically seporated and conducts operations from Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Mission

History

The 5th was a flying training unit in 1917 and 1918. The squadron participated in Billy Mitchell's , June-September 1921. It flew antisubmarine patrols, and reconnaissance of the Vichy French fleet at Martinique from, December 1941-October 1942. The 5th went on to train cadres for bombardment units from, November 1942-February 1944 and flew combat missions in the Western Pacific from, 25 January-15 August 1945. It maintained alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct 1962 and conducted reconnaissance pilot training from, 1986-1990. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0005recos.html AFHRA 5 RS Page] ]

On 1 October 1994, the 5 RS was reactivated as a subordinate unit to the 9th Operations Group, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, at Beale Air Force Base, California. It is tasked with a real-world reconnaissance mission reportable to the U.S. Forces Korea, United States Pacific Command, Air Combat Command, along with other national authorities through the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There are approximately 200 personnel assigned to the 5 RS. [http://www.osan.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6910 5 RS Fact Sheet] ]

Since 1976, the unit has flown more than 7,000 operational sorties, utilizing an integrated suite of all-weather multi-spectral sensors. The unit has maintained a 98 percent mission effectiveness rating, despite challenging weather and a long logistics trail. Significant past events include the 1976 DMZ "tree cutting" incident in which two U.S. officers lost there lives. The unit provided continuous coverage of the area during the tense period that followed. Since 1976, surge operations have been conducted many times due to heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. In 1987, President Chun Doo-hwan visited the detachment to honor the unit for its outstanding contribution to the security of the country. In addition to its real world mission, the unit has flown humanitarian sorties to assess ROK environmental concerns, such as flood damage, and assist the Philippines in surveying the devastation caused by the Mount Pinatubo eruption.

In 1995 the 5th RS was the first unit to have the new U-2S model aircraft fully operational and on 20 October 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Charles P. Wilson II flew the first ever U-2S operational mission. Additionally, in 1995 the U-2 flew the 2000th Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System mission. The squadron was the recipient of the 1995 Lockheed Advanced Development Corporation Hughes Trophy, distinguishing the unit as Best Reconnaissance Squadron in the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and was also nominated for the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

=Operations=

*World War II

=Lineage=

*5th Aero Squadron (1917 - 1918)
*Squadron A, Souther Field, Georgia (1918 - 1919)
*5th Aero Squadron (1919 - 1921)
*5th Squadron (Observation) (1921 - 1923)
*5th Observation Squadron (1923 - 1935)
*5th Bombardment Squadron (1935 - 1939)
*5th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939 - 1940)
*5th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1940 - 1944)
*5th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944 - 1949)
*5th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (1949 - 1950)
*5th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1950)
*5th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1950 - 1986)
*5th Strategic Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1986 - 1994)
*5th Reconnaissance Squadron (1994 - Present)

=Assignments=

*3d Observation Group (1919 - 1920)
*Eastern Department (1920)
*II Corps Area (1920 - 1922)
**Attached: 1st Provisional Air Brigade (6 May - 3 October 1921)
*9th Observation Group (1922 - 1923)
*1st Division, Aviation (1923 - 1929)
**Attached: 9th Observation Group (30 June 1923 - 15 February 1929)
*9th Bombardment Group (1929 - 1948)
*9th Strategic Aerospace Wing (1949 - 1966)
*9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1986 - 1990)
*9th Reconnaissance Wing (1994 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*San Antonio, Texas (1917 - 1918)
*Souther Field, Georgia (1918)
*Hazelhurst Field, New York (1919)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1919 - 1940)
**Operated From: Langley Field, Virginia (6 May - 26 October 1921)
*Río Hato, Panama (1940 - 1941)
*Beane Field, Saint Lucia (1941 - 1942)
*Orlando Air Base, Florida (1942 - 1943)
*Pinecastle Army Airfield, Florida (1943 - 1944)
*Brooksville Army Airfield, Florida (1944)
*Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
*McCook Army Airfield, Kansas (1944)
*North Field, Tinian (1944 - 1946)
*Clark Field, Luzon (1946 - 1947)
*Harmon Field, Guam (1947 - 1948)
*Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California (1949 - 1953)
*Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho (1953 - 1966)
**Deployed: RAF Fairford, England (23 May - 8 July 1955)
*Beale Air Force Base, California (1986 - 1990)
*Osan Air Base, South Korea (1994 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*JN-4 (1917 - 1918)
*DH-4 (1919 - 1928)
*O-2 (1919 - 1928)
*O-1 (1928 - 1936)
*O-11 (1928 - 1936)
*O-25 (1928 - 1936)
*O-31 (1928 - 1936)
*Y1O-35 (1928 - 1936)
*O-39 (1928 - 1936)
*A-3 (1928 - 1936)
*B-6 (1928 - 1936)
*C-8 (1928 - 1936)
*B-10 (1936 - 1938)
*B-18 Bolo (1938 - 1942)
*B-24 Liberator (1942 - 1943)
*B-25 Mitchell (1943)
*B-26 Marauder (1943 - 1944)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1944, 1949 - 1950)
*B-29 Superfortress (1944 - 1947, 1949 - 1954)
*RB-29 (1949 - 1950)
*B-47 Stratojet (1954 - 1966)
*U-2 Dragon Lady (1986 - 1990, 1994 - Present)
*SR-71 Blackbird (1986 - 1990)
*T-38 Talon (1986 - 1990)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0005recos.html 5th Reconnaissance Squadron History]
* [http://www.osan.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6910 5th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also