302d Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron

302d Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron

302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-84F Thunderflash 52-7347
Active 1943; 1944–1946; 1953–1959
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Engagements China Burma India Theater Pacific Ocean Theater
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch showing the 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem

The 302d Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron was formed in September 1985 by the consolidation of three units which had served in the Army Air Forces or United States Air Force during World War II and the Cold War.

The 302d Transport Squadron was assigned to the 30th Transport Group and flew missions over the Hump in 1943, until Air Transport Command reorganized its foreign units on a station basis in late 1943.

The 320th Troop Carrier Squadron was assigned to the 509th Composite Group and was tasked with supporting the group's strike squadron, the 393d Bombardment Squadron through the transport of materials, including weapons components, in preparation for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was inactivated in 1946 after supporting Operation Crossroads.

The 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, After equipping at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina it served with United States Air Forces Europe at Sembach Air Base, Germany and at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France. It was inactivated in 1959 and replaced by a unit flying more advanced aircraft.

History

Flying the Hump

C-46 Commando flying over the Hump

The first squadron that was to form the 302d was the 302d Transport Squadron, which was activated in the summer of 1943 at Mohanbari Airport, India as one of the three squadrons of the 30th Transport Group when the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command expanded by adding three groups.[a 1] The squadron drew its cadre from the 6th Transport Squadron,[a 2] which had been stationed at Mohanbari since March 1942.[1] For the next five months the squadron flew personnel, equipment and supplies from its base in India over the Hump to advanced bases in China.

On 1 December 1943, the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command reorganized, disbanding its table of organization groups and squadrons and replacing them with "Stations" manned under exact manning tables. The squadron, along with the remainder of the 30th group, was replaced by Station 9, India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.[1]

Nuclear weapons transport

See: 320th Troop Carrier Squadron for an expanded history of the squadron
C-54 Skymaster of the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron showing squadron emblem[2]

The second squadron consolidated to form the 302 Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron was the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was activated in late 1944 at Wendover Field, Utah as part of the 509th Composite Group, the first unit to be organized, equipped and trained for atomic warfare.[3][4] The squadron was initially equipped with both Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft, but the C-47s were only used in operations in the United States, and when the squadron moved overseas, it was an all C-54 unit.[5] For several months prior to the formal activation of the squadron, its planes had been transporting personnel and equipment for the nuclear weapons project. Squadron aircrew made several flights to Tinian prior to deployment to familiarize themselves with the route prior to supporting the group's move there.[6]

In May 1945 the squadron moved to North Field, Tinian,[3] transporting men and materiel of the 509th group as the group moved to its operational base.[7] Squadron ground personnel deployed by ship, departing from the Seattle Port of Embarkation.[6] In the Pacific, the unit continued to support the 509th as it prepared for the atomic strikes on Japan.

The squadron moved to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico in the fall of 1945. Although it remained active, demobilization resulted in the loss of almost all squadron personnel. The unit was, however, manned and equipped to enable it to participate in atomic testing until it was inactivated in August 1946 and replaced by the 1st Air Transport Unit (later the 1st Strategic Support Squadron).[8][9] During Operation Crossroads the squadron operated as Air Transport Unit 1.54 (Provisional).[10] Prior to the weapons drop, it transported personnel and material (including radiological test samples) to support the testing. When special observation aircraft failed to arrive in the Kwajalein Atoll test area seven days before the test, the squadron substituted for them. On the first and second day after testing, the 320th flew scientists and high ranking personnel on low level observation flights over the test area.[11]

Cold War reconnaissance

302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-80C Shooting Star 45-8435

The third squadron was the 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which was activated on 1 January 1953, taking over the mission, personnel and North American RF-51 Mustangs of the 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, a Tennessee Air National Guard squadron that was returned to state control after having been called to active duty for the Korean War. This reorganization was part of the replacement of the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing by the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.[12][13] The squadron was re-equipped with Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star Jet aircraft returned from use in the Korean War in mid-1953.[14] The first RF-80s received[a 3] had small underwing wing fuel tanks. These planes were replaced by planes[a 4] with 230 gallon capacity tip tanks for longer range.[15]

The squadron deployed to Sembach Air Base, West Germany in mid-1953.[16] The air echelon flew the squadron's aircraft to Europe via the Northern Route, and except for a weather delay at Keflavik Air Base, the movement was successful. The ground echelon sailed on the USS General LeRoy Eltinge (AP-154).[15] In Germany the 302d became part of Twelfth Air Force of United States Air Forces in Europe.[13]

Just three days after arriving at Sembach the 302d was operationally ready and performed photographic mapping missions of the Rhine valley and of Munich. The 302d trained with North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe during the summer months, however, due to poor weather conditions in central Europe during the winter months, it deployed frequently to Wheelus Air Base, Libya and Nouasseur Air Base (after 1958), Morocco for training. In 1954 the squadron formed an aerobatic team, named the "Bald Iggles" that performed on Armed Forces Day, 21 May 1954. Throughout 1954, however, exercises flown by the 302d indicated that the RF-80 had shortcomings that limited its ability to perform the reconnaissance mission in Europe.[15] Fortunately, the squadron upgraded to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash in the second half of 1955.[17]

In the summer of 1957, the runway at Sembach began to buckle because of the record heat. This forced the squadron to deploy to Cazeaux in France.[15] At the end of 1957, the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was inactivated in the "Combat Wing" reorganization and the squadron was assigned directly to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.[18]

The squadron moved to Laon-Couvron Air Base, France in mid-1958 due to the problems with the Sembach AB runway, which would not be capable of handling the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoos that were expected to replace the RF-84Fs, but operated from Phalsbourg Air Base, where two other squadrons of the 66th wing were located,[a 5] while improvements were made to the Laon runway. In early 1959 it was announced that the two RF-84F equipped squadrons assigned to the 66th wing were to be inactivated and their places taken by the 17th and 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, which flew Voodoos[15] and were deployed from Shaw Air Force Base.[19][20] These new squadrons arrived at Laon in May 1959 and the 302d was inactivated in late June.

Lineage

302d Transport Squadron

Activated on 21 June 1943

320th Troop Carrier Squadron

Activated on 17 December 1944

302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

Activated on 1 January 1953
Inactivated on 20 June 1959[15]
Formed by consolidation of the 302d Transport Squadron, 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, and 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, not active[21]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" device1 July 1945 – 14 August 1945320th Troop Carrier Squadron[23]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1958 – 31 December 1958302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron[24]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
India-Burma21 June 1943 – 1 December 1943302d Transport Squadron[24]
Asiatic Pacific Theater Streamer without inscription30 May 1945 – 2 September 1945 320th Troop Carrier Squadron[3]

References

Notes

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Abstract, History 30 Transport Group Jun–Nov 1943 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  2. ↑ Approved 27 June 1945. Maurer Combat Squadrons, p. 393
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 393
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 371
  5. ↑ Abstract, History 509 Composite Group Dec 1944 – Aug 1945 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  6. 1 2 Ossip,
  7. ↑ Abstract, History 1 Strategic Support Squadron Jan–Jun 1950 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  8. ↑ Abstract, History 509 Composite Group Dec 1944 – Jun 1947 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  9. ↑ Abstract, History 1 Strategic Support Squadron Aug 1946 – Jun 1947 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  10. ↑ Abstract, History Air Transport Unit (1.54) Provisional Jan–May 1946 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  11. ↑ Abstract, History 320 Troop Carrier Squadron May–Jul 1946 Retrieved 28 December 2013
  12. 1 2 Mueller, p. 532
  13. 1 2 3 Ravenstein, p. 104
  14. ↑ Abstract, History 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Jan–Jul 1953 Retrieved 27 December 2013
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gordon, Doug. "The 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Europe" (PDF). sembachveterans.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 Fletcher, p. 160
  17. ↑ Abstract, History 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Jul–Dec 1955 Retrieved 27 December 2013
  18. ↑ Abstract, History 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Jul–Dec 1956 Retrieved 27 December 2013
  19. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 94
  20. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 361
  21. 1 2 3 4 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  22. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 132
  23. ↑ Air Force Awards Program (searched 28 December 2013) (509th Composite Group cited)
  24. 1 2 AF Pamphlet 900-2, 15 Jun 1971, p. 392

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ The 28th, 29th, and 30th Transport Groups
  2. ↑ This squadron was formerly the 6th Air Corps Ferry Squadron and is not related to the 6th Transport Squadron that is now the 6th Airlift Squadron
  3. ↑ RF-80A-10
  4. ↑ RF-80A-15. This model also had an improved engine and emergency canopy removal system
  5. ↑ The 32d and 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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