| 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron | |
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Emblem of the 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron |
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| Active | 1943-1959 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
The 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, being stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 1 September 1969.
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Activated as the 761st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in mid 1943; assigned to II Bomber Command for training with B-24 Liberators. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943. Moved to Georgia and Virginia where the squadron flew coastal patrol missions over the Southeast, October 1943-January 1944 while station in Italy was being constructed.
Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force 55th Bombardment Wing. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.
The squadron flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After V-E Day, was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. Was assigned to Air Transport Command at Waller Field, Trinidad and to Natal, Brazil. Moved personnel from s[Dakar]] in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinidad. Provided air transport until the end of September when the unit was inactivated.
Reactivated by the Twentieth Air Force 314th Composite Wing in April 1946 as the 9th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) assigned to Johnson Air Base, Japan. In Japan, the squadron flew various reconnaissance light and heavy bomber aircraft performing mapping missions over Occupied Japan; Korea; Okinawa; Indochina; China and other ares under Far East Air Force control after World War II. Also included classified missions over the Soviet Far East. Inactivated in October 1947.
Reactivated in July 1953 by Tactical Air Command as the 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Electronics and Weather) squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Equipped with RB-26 Invader light bombers equipped for night reconnaissance missions. Upgraded to the jet RB-66C Destroyer aircraft in 1956; added WB-66 Destroyer weather and air sampling reconnaissance aircraft in 1957. Flew reconnaissance missions as well as functioning as a B-66 Training squadron until inactivated in 1969 due to budget reductions and consolidation of the B-66 force, which was mostly deployed in Southeast Asia engaged in combat operations during the Vietnam War.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.