| 22d Tactical Drone Squadron | |
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Emblem of the 22d Tactical Drone Squadron |
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| Active | 1917-1979 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Unmanned Aerial Drone operations |
The 22d Tactical Drone Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 432d Tactical Drone Group, stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. It was inactivated on 1 Apr 1979.
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Established as the 7th Aero Squadron in June 1917; redesignated 22d Aero Squadron later that month in an Air Service reorganisation. Trained with JN-4 Jennys in Texas, later receiving instruction in British aircraft in Canada. Deployed to Europe where both the 22d and 135th Aero Squadrons fought in combat on the Western Front as fighter squadrons, flying French SPAD S.XIIIs (22d Aero) and British Airco DH.4s (135th Aero). Remained in combat, moving to numerous airfields as needed along the front frequently as the ground situation required. After the November 1918 cease fire, remained in France until the spring of 1919 when was returned to the United States. 22d Aero was demobilized and inactivated in June 1919; 135th Aero remained as part of the postwar Air Service.
The 135th Aero Squadron was attached to several Army units immediately upon return to the United States in 1919. Redesignated as 22d Squadron on 14 Mar 1921. The squadron supported ground units at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Was reassigned to Maxwell Field in 1921, however continued to support Army units at Fort Bragg, North Carolina throughout the 1920s with a detachment assigned to Pope Field.
Reformed as a unified squadron at Brooks Field, Texas in 1931; 22d and 135th squadrons consolidated history in 1937, being redesignated as the senior 22d Observation Squadron. Supported Army units at Fort Sam Houston.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor was assigned to Third Air Force in 1942, supporting Army units at Fort Polk. Deployed to the Desert Training Center in Southern California in 1942 helping to prepare Army ground forces for desert combat prior to the Operation Torch landings in French West Africa in November 1942. Later returned to North Carolina to support units at Fort Bragg; later Fort Campbell, Kentucky with flying observation missions.
Re-equipped with modern A-20, P-39 and P-40 fighters used as tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Trained under Third Air Force for battlefield tactical reconnaissance missions. Deployed to Nancy/Essey Airfield (Y-42), France in March 1945, later to Haguenau Airfield (Y-39), France in April flying tactical reconnaissance missions over Nazi Germany with P-51/F6 photoreconnaissance aircraft in the closing stage of the war, supporting Allied ground forces (Primarily US Third Army) as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany.
Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May. Conducted pilot training at DeRidder airfield Louisiana in May 1944 for missions in the Pacific theater, however never deployed due to Japanese Capitulation in September. Became part of the Continental Air Forces Third Air Force at Drew Field, Florida in August, being reassigned to Brooks Field, Texas in December. Demobilized throughout 1946, inactivated in August.
Reactivated at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, 1971, not manned or equipped. Reactivated as a Unmanned drone reconnaissance squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona under Tactical Air Command in 1971 with the establishment of the 11th Tactical Drone Squadron on 1 July 1971 under the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 22d Tactical Drone Squadron was a second drone squadron at Davis-Monthan, being activated and assigned to the 432d Tactical Drone Group on 1 July 1976; being its the operational component.
Performed photographic reconnaissance to support tactical air and surface forces with tactical drones manufactured by Ryan Aeronautical. Used AQM-34L/M/V drones, DC-130 launch vehicles, and CH-3 recovery helicopters. The group conducted follow-on testing and evaluation of the AQM-34V model drone and the initial operational testing and evaluation and developmental testing and evaluation of the DC-130H "mother ship." The 432d also supported testing and evaluation of the BQM-34C drone at Hill AFB, Utah.
Support organizations included the 432d Field Maintenance (later Drone Generation) Squadron and 432d Organizational Maintenance (later Aircraft Generation) Squadron.
Both TDS were inactivated in 1979 due to budget restrictions; drone operations moved to Eglin AFB. Florida.
As: 22d Aero Squadron:
As 135th Aero (later 22d Observation) Squadron:
After Consolidation:
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22d Aero Squadron:
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135th Aero (later 22d) Squadron:
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Consolidated squadron:
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.