15th Reconnaissance Squadron

For other uses, see 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (disambiguation).

15th Reconnaissance Squadron
MQ-1B Predator of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron
Active	9 May 1917
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Size	over 140 combat-ready personnel
Part of	Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force 432d Wing 432d Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Creech Air Force Base
Motto	"Bellator Spectarendum" Watching Warrior
Mascot	carrier pigeon
Equipment	MQ-1 Predator
Battle honours	World War II Korean War
Commanders
Current Commander	Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Kiebler
Current Operations Officer	Lieutenant Colonel Ken Moss
First Sergeant	SMSgt Steve Flatt
Current Squadron Superintendent	SMSgt Tim Nelson
Notable commanders	General Arthur J. Lichte Lieutenant General Paul Selva Brigadier General Michelle D. Johnson
Insignia
15th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem

15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron McDonnell RF-4C-19-MC Phantom 63-7751 Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1975

RF-101 Voodoo 56-0042, Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1960

Republic RF-84F-30-RE Thunderflash 52-7412, Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1956

15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron- North American RF-86A-5-NA Sabre – 48–195 at K-14 Airfield, South Korea, 1952

A USAAF North American F-6C Mustang (code 5M-Q) from the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group in 1944. The F-6 was the reconnaissance version of the P-51C fighter.

15th Reconnaissance Squadron (15 RS) flies MQ-1 Predator UAV's and is stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) squadrons. The squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR, full-motion video, and precision weapons employment. Global operations architecture supports continuous MQ-1B Predator employment providing real-time actionable intelligence, strike, interdiction, close air support, and special missions to deployed war fighters.

Mission

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is currently in operation at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nev., and is the second of only two of the Air Force’s RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, squadrons.

The mission of the 15 RS is to provide theater commander with deployable, long endurance, near real-time reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition to close the sensor-to-shooter time line. The squadron operates medium altitude multi-sensor platforms to locate, identify and report battlefield conditions to warfighters. It also collects, exploits and distributes imagery and intelligence products to theater CINCs and national-level leadership.

History

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron's origins go back to 8 May 1917, when it was stood up as the 2d Aviation School Squadron at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island, New York. The original mission of the squadron was part of the defense force for the New York City area, flying coastal patrols and as a flying training unit. At the end of World War I, the squadron was demobilized on 18 September 1919.

The squadron was constituted in the Army Air Service as the 15th Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921 at Chanute Field, Illinois, equipped with Dayton-Wright DH-4s. the main focus of the squadron was flying training, including gunnery, observation, reconnaissance, photography, radio familiarization and similar missions.

On 20 March 1938, the 15th Observation Squadron deployed from Scott Field, Illinois, to Eglin Field, Florida, for two weeks of gunnery training. Thirty-five officers and 108 enlisted men were involved.^[1]

During the early stages of World War II, the 15th supported the Field Artillery School in Oklahoma. On March 26, 1944, the unit deployed to England and began combat operations over France. Its first combat mission was photographic reconnaissance on an F-6. On June 6, 1944, the 15th received credit for the first aerial victory by a tactical reconnaissance pilot as well as the first victory of D-Day. The unit continued armed reconnaissance operations in the European theater until July 1945. After returning to the United States, the squadron provided visual and photographic reconnaissance and artillery adjustments for Army, Navy and Air Forces until it was inactivated in April 1949.

The 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-jet, was reactivated on Feb 5, 1951, in Japan and immediately deployed to Korea to provide visual and photographic reconnaissance. The unit flew F/RF-80s and F/RF-85s during this period. In March 1954 the unit moved back to Japan and in August 1956, moved to Okinawa. The unit transitioned to RF-84s from 1956-1958 and then to the RF-101s, continuing its long history of photographic reconnaissance. During the Vietnam era the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, flying the RF-101. The unit had many deployments to Southeast Asia, flying reconnaissance missions in support of US combat operations in that theatre. During the summer and fall of 1966, the squadron transitioned to the RF-4C, the aircraft that it was to operate for the next 25 years.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the squadron maintained aerial surveillance capabilities in support of American ground, naval and air forces in the Far East. The 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated Oct. 1, 1990. The unit was reactivated as the 15th Tactical Intelligence Squadron on Feb. 20, 1991. On April 13, 1992, the unit was redesignated as the 15th Air Intelligence Squadron. On June 1, 1994, it was once more inactivated.

The unit was reactivated on 1 August 1997, at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field under command of the 57th Operations Group, 57th Wing. It was assigned to fly the Predator UAV out of Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada.

From July 2005 to June 2006, the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron participated in more than 242 separate raids; engaged 132 troops in contact-force protection actions; fired 59 Hellfire missiles; surveyed 18,490 targets; escorted four convoys; and flew 2,073 sorties for more than 33,833 flying hours.^[2]

Starting in 2005, the unit trained California Air National Guard's 163d Reconnaissance Wing members to operate the MQ-1.The 163d is being retasked as an MQ-1 unit.

Lineage

Organized as 2d Aviation School Squadron on 9 May 1917

Redesignated 15th Aero Squadron on 22 Aug 1917

Demobilized on 18 Sep 1919

Reconstituted, and consolidated (1924) with 15th Squadron (Observation)

Authorized on 30 Aug 1921

Organized on 21 Sep 1921

Redesignated 15th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923

Inactivated on 1 Aug 1927

Activated on 15 May 1928

Redesignated: 15th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942

Redesignated: 15th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942

Redesignated: 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943

Redesignated: 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943

Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946

Activated on 3 Dec 1947

Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949

Redesignated 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 5 Feb 1951

Activated on 25 Feb 1951

Redesignated 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 8 Oct 1966

Inactivated on 1 Oct 1990

Redesignated 15th Tactical Intelligence Squadron on 20 Feb 1991

Activated on 15 Mar 1991

Redesignated 15th Air Intelligence Squadron on 13 Apr 1992

Inactivated on 1 Jun 1994

Redesignated 15th Reconnaissance Squadron on 31 Jul 1997

Activated on 1 Aug 1997.

Assignments

Unknown, 1917–1919 (but possibly Aeronautical [later, Air] Division, Signal Corps, 9 May 1917
Training Section, Department of Military Aeronautics, Signal Corps, 24 Apr 1918
Operations Section, Department of Military Aeronautics, Signal Corps, 9 Jul 1918
Training and Operations Group, Air Service, 29 Jan-18 Sep 1919
Sixth Corps Area, 21 Sep 1921
6th Division, Air Service, 24 Mar 1923

Attached to Sixth Corps Area, 24 Mar 1923 – Jun 1927

Sixth Corps Area, Jun-1 Aug 1927
6th Division, Air Service (later, 6 Division, Aviation), 15 May 1928

Attached to Sixth Corps Area, 15 May 1928–

14th Observation Group, 8 May 1929

Remained attached to Sixth Corps Area

12th Observation Group, 1937 – Jul 1938

Remained attached to Sixth Corps Area

Unknown, Jul 1938

Remained attached to Sixth Corps area to c. 9 Jan 1941

Detachment operated at Field Artillery School, 1 Dec 1940-c. 9 Jan 1941

Field Artillery School, c. 9 Jan 1941
III Air Support Command, 1 Sep 1941

Attached to Field Artillery School, 1 Sep 1941–

Further attached to 68th Observation Group, 12 Dec 1941 – 2 Feb 1942

73d Observation (later, 73 Reconnaissance; 73 Tactical Reconnaissance; 10 Photographic) Group, 12 Mar 1942

Remained attached to Field Artillery School to 1 Apr 1942

Ninth Air Force, 22 Dec 1943

Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 22 Dec 1943–

IX Fighter Command, 30 Dec 1943

Remained attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 4 Jan 1944

Attached to IX [later, XIX] Air Support Command, 4 Jan 1944 – c.16 Mar 1944

10th Photographic Group, Reconnaissance (later, 10 Reconnaissance Group), 13 Jun 1944

Attached to IX Tactical Air Command, 13–27 Jun 1944

Flight attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 3–12 Aug 1944

United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 24 Jun 1945
Third Air Force, 3 Aug 1945
First Air Force, 3 Feb 1946
Tactical Air Command, 21–31 Mar 1946
10th Reconnaissance (later, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 3 Dec 1947 – 1 Apr 1949

Attached to 363d Reconnaissance Group, 22 Aug – 3 Nov 1948

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 25 Feb 1951

Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jun – c. 25 Nov 1954 and 1 Jul – 1 Oct 1957

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Oct 1957

Attached to 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Mar 1960–

13th Air Division, 25 Apr 1960

Remained attached to 18th Tactical Fighter Wing to 20 Apr 1970

18th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 May 1978
18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 11 Feb 1981
460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 1 Oct 1989 – 1 Oct 1990
548th Reconnaissance Technical Group, 15 Mar 1991
Pacific Air Forces, 3 Jul 1991
15th Operations Group, 13 Apr 1992 – 1 Jun 1994
57th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1997 – present

Stations

Hazelhurst Field, New York, 9 May 1917 – 18 September 1919. (Unit demobilized)
Chanute Field, Illinois, 21 September 1921.
Kelly Field, Texas, (day unknown) – 1 June August 1927. (Unit inactivated)
Selfridge Field, Michigan, 15 May 1928. (Deployed to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, 24 September – 28 October 1928
Camp Skeel, Michigan, 28–31 October 1928
Fort Sheridan, Illinois, 8–11 June 1930
Bowman Field, Kentucky, 14–27 June 1930.)
Scott Field, Illinois, circa 28 June 1930. (Detachment at Post Field, Oklahoma, circa 1 December 1940 – 9 January 1941.)
Post Field, Oklahoma 9 January 1941.
Ellington Field, Texas, 16 December 1941. (Flight at Post Field, Oklahoma, December 1941 – April 1942)
Godman Field, Kentucky, 23 April 1942.
Camp Campbell Army Airfield. Kentucky, 26 June 1942.
Key Field, Mississippi, 6 November – 4 December 1943.
RAF Aldermaston (AAF-467), England, 22 December 1943.
RAF Chilbolton (AAF-404), England, 1 March 1944.
RAF Middle Wallop (AAF-449), England, 16 March 1944.
RAF Chalgrove (AAF-465), England, 27 June 1944.
Rennes Airfield (A-27), France, 10 August 1944.
Châteaudun Airfield (A-39), France, 26 August 1944.
Saint-Dizier Airfield (A-64), France, 9 September 1944.
Conflans Airfield (Y-94), France, 1 December 1944.
Trier Airfield (Y-57), Germany, 14 March 1945

Ober Olm Airfield (Y-64), Germany, 3 April 1945.
Erfurt/Bindersleben Airfield (R-9), Germany, 16 April 1945.
Fürth Airfield (R-28), Germany, 24 April 1945.
Reims, France, 23 June – 13 July 1945.
Drew Field, Florida, 3 August 1945.
MacDill Field, Florida, 21 December 1945.
Shaw Field, South Carolina, 3 February – 31 March 1946. (Unit inactivated)
Pope Field (later, Pope AFB), North Carolina, 3 December 1947 – 1 April 1949. (Unit activated) (Deployed to Lawson AFB, Georgia, 22 August – (day unknown) September 1948; Turner AFB, Georgia, September 1948; and Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 3, Florida, (day unknown) – 3 October November 1948.)
Komaki, Japan, 25 February 1951. (operated from Taegu AB, Republic of Korea)
Taegu AB, Republic of Korea, 16 March 1951.
Kimpo AB, Republic of Korea, 23 August 1951.
Komaki AB, Japan, 2 March 1954.
Yokota AB, Japan, 25 August 1955.
Kadena AB, Okinawa (later, Japan), 18 August 1956. (deployed to Osan AB, Republic of Korea, 26 January – 12 February 1968; and Itazuki AB, Japan, 13 February – circa 25 July 1968.)
Taegu AB, Republic of Korea, 1 October 1989 – 1 October 1990. (Unit inactivated)
Hickam AFB, Hawaii, 15 March 1991 – 1 June 1994. (Unit inactivated)
Indian Springs Aux Field (now Creech AFB), Nevada, 1 Aug 1997 – present

Aircraft

JN-4
JN-6
DH-4 during period 1917–1919.
In addition to DH-4 and O-2, included JN-4, JN-6, JNS-1, and apparently M-1 during 1921–1927.
O-2, 1928–1930
O-19, 1930-c. 1938; O-46, 1936-c. 1939
O-47, 1939–1942, included O-43, O-49, and O-52 during part of this period; included A-20, P-39, P-40, and P-51, 1942–1943;
included Spitfire, L-4, and L-5 during 1943–1944; P-51/F-6, 1944–1945.
P-51/F-6, 1947–1948
RF-51, 1947–1949
RF-80, 1951–1956
RF-86, 1951–1956
F-80, 1952–1953
F-86, 1953;
RF-84, 1956–1958
RF-101, 1958–1966
RF-4, 1967–1990.
None, 1991–1994.
MQ-1 Predator to present

Emblem

A carrier pigeon in natural colors with wings extended perched on a telescope white outlined in black upon a shield of blue and yellow parted diagonally from "northwest" to "southeast", the blue above, the yellow below. Approved 2 April 1924

Honors

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Europe-Africa-middle Eastern (EAME) Theater: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland Ardenees-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat.
Korean War: First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations: Korea, 25 February – 21 April 1951; Korea, 9 July – 27 November 1951; Korea, 1 May – 27 July 1953.
Cite in Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 June- [25 June] 1944.
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [25] February 1951 – 31 March 1953.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 April – 30 November 1966.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 December 1952 – 3 April 1953; 10 May −27 August 1962; 1 September 1962 – 31 August 1963; 1 August 1964 – 5 June 1965; 6 June 1965 – 31 December 1966; 1 January 1968 – 31 December 1969; 1 January 1974 – 31 December 1975; 1 June 1977 – 31 May 1979; 1 October 1979 – 31 May 1980; 1 July 1981 – 31 May 1983; 1 June 1983 – 31 May 1984; 1 June 1984 – 31 May 1986; 1 June 1987 – 31 May 1989; 1 October 1989 – 30 October 1990; 13 April 1992 – 30 June 1993.

References

↑ Crestview, Florida, "Plenty of Activity at Val-P Gun Base", Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, Friday 18 March 1938, Volume 24, Number 12, page 1.
↑ Staff Sgt. D. Clare, "California Air National Guard embraces new mission", August 16, 2006

External links

Factsheets : 15 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC)

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