348th Reconnaissance Squadron
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 348th Reconnaissance Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 319th Operations Group. It was activated at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota on 19 September 2011. It currently operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk, High Altitude Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
- 1942–1945
- 1947–1949
- 1953–1974
- 2011–present
United States
United States Air Force| 348th Reconnaissance Squadron
| |
|---|---|
 A deployed squadron RQ-4 Global Hawk undergoes preflight checks before a mission in Southwest Asia | |
| Active |
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| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Reconnaissance |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Grand Forks Air Force Base |
| Motto | Northern Hawks (from 2012)[1] |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 348th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[a][1][2] |  |
| 348th Bombardment Squadron emblem World War II[b][3] | .png) |
The squadron was first activated as the 346th Bombardment Squadron in 1942. After training in the United States, it moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations in operations against the Axis powers. After V-E Day, the squadron remained in Italy until November 1945, when it was inactivated. The squadron was activated in the reserves from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped.
In 1953, the squadron was activated as the 346th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron as part of Strategic Air Command. It returned to the bombardment mission two years later, and served in this role until inactivating in 1974. Although the squadron remained in the United States except for one deployment in the 1950s, during the Vietnam War it deployed its aircrews and Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses to Southeast Asia. For extended periods, all squadron personnel and equipment were deployed.
Mission
The squadron operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high altitude Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance remotely piloted Aircraft. It provides long-endurance support for global combatant forces in peacetime, contingency, and wartime operations.
History
World War II
The squadron was activated in June 1942 as the 348th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 99th Bombardment Group, at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, moving on paper the same day to MacDill Field, Florida. However, the Army Air Forces had decided to concentrate all heavy bomber training under Second Air Force, and before the end of the month, the squadron moved to Pendleton Field, Oregon to begin its training in Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. It continued training with the B-17 until January 1943, when it began deploying to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.[1]
The squadron's ground echelon went by ship from New York City to Marrakesh, Morocco; the air echelon flew to Morrison Field, Florida, then along the South Atlantic Route.[citation needed] The ground and air echelons of the squadron were reunited at Navarin Airfield, Algeria in March 1943. It moved forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia after the Allies drove Axis forces from North Africa in May 1943. The squadron concentrated on targets such as airfields, harbor facilities, shipping, viaducts and bridges in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.[4] In early June 1943, the squadron participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.[5]
The squadron helped neutralize enemy fighter aircraft opposition to Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, penetrating enemy air defenses by bombing airplanes, hangars and fuel and ammunition storage sites at Gerbini Airfield. For these actions, it was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4]
In November 1943, the 348th became part of Fifteenth Air Force, which focused on the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The following month it moved to Tortorella Airfield, Italy. From this base, it engaged in the bombardment of enemy targets in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Yugoslavia; attacking oil refineries, marshaling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. On 23 April 1944, the squadron participated in an attack on aircraft factories in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, despite heavy enemy interceptor opposition. For this action, it was awarded a second DUC.[4]
Following V-E Day, the squadron became part of the occupation forces in Italy, until inactivating in November 1945.[1][4]
Air Force reserve
The squadron was activated under Air Defense Command (ADC) in the reserve at Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, on 19 May 1947 and was again assigned to the 99th Group.[1] Its training was supervised by ADC's 477th AAF Base Unit (later the 2587th Air Force Reserve Training Center).[6] As the post war Air Force took shape, the National Guard was considered the first line of reserve. Reserve units like the 348th got what was left over after National Guard units received facilities, equipment and aircraft.[7] Aircraft were allotted to reserve units as a means of maintaining flying proficiency, not combat readiness.[8] Aircraft assigned to the reserves were overwhelmingly trainers, and no heavy bombers were ever assigned.[9] The allotment of units to the reserves was made only for planning purposes and mobilization plans called for personnel assigned to the 348th to be called to active duty during mobilization as individuals, not as a unit.[10]
In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing both Air Force Reserve and National Guard units from ADC.[11] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, however, required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[12] ConAC also reorganized its reserve units under the Wing Base Organization, and the 19th Air Division and other reserve units at Birmingham Municipal Airport, including the squadron, were inactivated and replaced by the 514th Troop Carrier Wing in June 1949.[1][13]
Strategic Air Command
The squadron was reactivated in January 1953 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington,[1] when the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, an Air National Guard unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War, was returned to state control.[14] The squadron assumed the mission, personnel, and Convair RB-36 Peacemaker strategic reconnaissance aircraft[e] of the 111th Wing's 130th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, a regular unit assigned to the 111th Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated.[15][16] On 16 June 1954 the squadron, along with SAC's other B-36 reconnaissance units was assigned bombing as its primary mission,[17] although it continued to fly reconnaissance missions until September 1956.[16] However, it retained its designation until October 1955, when it again became the 348th Bombardment Squadron.[1]
In 1956, the squadron moved to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it began upgrading to Boeing B-52 Stratofortress jet bombers.[1] General Thomas S. Power set an initial goal of maintaining one third of SAC's planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[18] Eleven per cent of SAC’s bombers were on alert by the end of 1957. That number grew to 12 percent in 1958 and 20 percent by 1959. The command’s goal of one third was finally reached in 1960.[19] In 1962, the number of the squadron's planes on alert was increased to one half. SAC planners were looking into methods to protect their forces in addition to the ground alert program as early as 1957. Tests under the name Operation Head Start were precursors to Operation Chrome Dome. In January 1961, SAC disclosed it was maintaining an airborne force for "airborne alert training."[20][21]
Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, SAC brought all degraded and adjusted alert sorties to full capability.[22] On 20 October the squadron was directed to put two additional planes on alert. On 22 October. 1/8 of SAC's B-52s were placed on airborne alert. On 24 October SAC went to DEFCON 2, placing all aircraft on alert.[23] On 21 November SAC returned to normal airborne alert posture.[24] On 21 November SAC went to DEFCON 3. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture and began coordinating the return of its Florida planes to their home bases.[25]
The squadron deployed personnel and aircraft to the Pacific during Vietnam War, beginning in 1967. As SAC participation in the Vietnam War increased, so did the demand for its aircraft, aircrew, and support personnel. From about 1 October 1967 to about 1 April 1968, about 22 September 1968 to about 21 March 1969, March to June 1972 and after 30 April 1972 all, or almost all, of the squadron's personnel and aircraft were detached to units engaging in Operation Arc Light combat missions over North Vietnam or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.[16] The number of squadron aircraft on alert decreased[f] Even when planes were available for alert, crews had rotated to the combat zone and they could not be manned.[26][27]
The squadron was inactivated in 1973,[1] as SACpepared to transfer Westover to the Air Force Reserve.[28]
Air Combat Command
The squadron was reactivated under the 69th Reconnaissance Group in September 2011 as an RQ-4 Global Hawk squadron. The squadron became part of the 319th Operations Group with the inactivation of the 69th Reconnaissance Group in June 2019.[1][29]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 348th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 1 June 1942
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 30 September 1944
- Inactivated on 8 November 1945
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 348th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated on 1 January 1953
- Redesignated 348th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 October 1955
- Inactivated on 30 September 1973
- Redesignated 348th Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 August 2011
- Activated on 19 September 2011[1]
Assignments
- 99th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1942 – 8 November 1945
- 99th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later 99th Bombardment Wing), 1 January 1953 – 30 September 1973
- 69th Reconnaissance Group, 11 September 2011 – 27 June 2019
- 319th Operations Group, 28 June 2019 – present[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
- Convair RB-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
- Convair B-36 Peacemaker, 1953–1956
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1956–1973
- Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, 2011–present
- Northrop Grumman EQ-4 Global Hawk, 2011–present[1]
Awards and campaigns
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Distinguished Unit Citation | 5 July 1943 | Sicily, 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Distinguished Unit Citation | 23 April 1944 | Austria, 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
 | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2013-31 May 2014 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2016-31 May 2017 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2020-31 May 2021 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[30] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device | 2-21 March and 15–31 March 1970 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 1967-1 March 1968 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 March-1 April 1968 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1971-30 June 1972 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2011-31 May 2012 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2014-31 May 2015 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2015-31 May 2016 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2017-31 May 2018 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[30] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2019-31 May 2020 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[30] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2021-31 May 2022 | 348th Reconnaissance Squadron[30] |
 | Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | 2 March 1969-31 March 1970 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Offensive, Europe | 16 March 1943 – 5 June 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Tunisia | 16 March 1943 – 13 May 1943 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Air Combat, EAME Theater | 16 March 1943 – 11 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Sicily | 14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Naples-Foggia | 18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Anzio | 22 January 1944 – 24 May 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Rome-Arno | 22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Southern France | 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| North Apennines | 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
| Po Valley | 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | 348th Bombardment Squadron[1] |
