95th Reconnaissance Squadron (United States)
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| 95th Reconnaissance Squadron | |
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 95th Recon Sqn Emblem |
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| Active | October 1, 1982 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | 55th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Offutt Air Force Base |
| Nickname | "Kickin' Ass" |
| Engagements | World War I World War II |
The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron (95 RS) is a United States Air Force reconnaissance unit based at Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Nebraska. Although it is a component of the 55th Operations Group, main flying operations are conducted from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom and Souda Bay, Crete.
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[edit] Mission
Conducts RC-135 Rivet Joint flight operations in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operations as tasked by National Command Authorities and European Command. Provides all operational management, aircraft maintenance, administration, and intelligence support to produce politically sensitive real-time intelligence data vital to national foreign policy. Supports EC-135, OC-135, and E-4B missions when theater deployed.
[edit] History
The 95th RS was activated at RAF Alconbury in the United Kingdom on 1 October 1982. It flew U-2 and TR-1 aircraft in support of NATO and US Air Forces Europe missions. After the end of the Cold War, the 95th RS was no longer needed and the unit was inactivated on 15 September 1993. This hiatus did not last long as the unit was reactivated on 1 July 1994 at RAF Mildenhall, this time flying the RC-135 Rivet Joint, OC-135 Open Skies and E-4B aircraft.
Although the 95th RS can trace its lineage back to 95th Aero Squadron (a fighter unit) of World War I, its mission today is vastly different from that of the 95th AS and its many successors. However, the 95th RS is authorized to display the honors of its ancestor units.
[edit] Aircraft Flown
- U-2/TR-1, 1983 - 1993
- RC-135U/V/W, 1994 - present
- E-4, 1994 - present
- OC-135, 1994 - present
