16th Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 16th Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado
. It was inactivated on 12 April 1945.
in January 1918, becoming an aircraft maintenance organization in rear areas of the Western Front
. Remained in France until May 1919 when squadron returned to the United States and demobilized.
Was re-established in 1921 as an observation squadron, attached to Army ground units throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Carried mail and performed fire observation duties, included carrying mail to President Calvin Coolidge
vacationing in South Dakota
and Wisconsin
, Aug-Sep 1927, Jun-Sep 1928.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor
was reassigned to antisubmarine duties along the southeast coast in late 1941, early 1942. Deployed to European Theater of Operations
, being attached to the Royal Air Force
reconnaissance school at RAF Wattisham
, England
in late 1942. While in England, air echelon received modern P-38 long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft and joined ground personnel in French Morocco
shortly after the Operation Torch
invasion in November 1942.
Assigned to Twelfth Air Force, engaged in long range intelligence gathering and aerial mapping of Algeria
and Tunisia
, supporting the United States Fifth Army during the North African and Tunisian Campaigns. After the retreat of Axis forces from Tunisia in mid-1942, performed antisubmarine patrols over the Mediterranean Sea
and also functioned as in in-theater training unit for aerial reconnaissance pilots.
Beginning in September 1943, received specially-equipped B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers equipped with RADAR detection and electronic countermeasures equipment. Performed ECM overflights of enemy territory in advance of Fifteenth Air Force
heavy bomber formations, jamming enemy RADAR and generating false returns to confuse defensive forces. Also continued to fly long range reconnaissance with B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers fitted with aerial cameras. Returned to the United States in November 1944 as need for unit dissipated as enemy forces were driven out of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
; inactivated in April 1945.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It was inactivated on 12 April 1945.
History
Established as an Air Service flying training unit in May 1917, conducting flying training for air cadets in the Midwest throughout the summer. Deployed to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in January 1918, becoming an aircraft maintenance organization in rear areas of the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. Remained in France until May 1919 when squadron returned to the United States and demobilized.
Was re-established in 1921 as an observation squadron, attached to Army ground units throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Carried mail and performed fire observation duties, included carrying mail to President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
vacationing in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Aug-Sep 1927, Jun-Sep 1928.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
was reassigned to antisubmarine duties along the southeast coast in late 1941, early 1942. Deployed to European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
, being attached to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
reconnaissance school at RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in late 1942. While in England, air echelon received modern P-38 long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft and joined ground personnel in French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
shortly after the Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
invasion in November 1942.
Assigned to Twelfth Air Force, engaged in long range intelligence gathering and aerial mapping of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, supporting the United States Fifth Army during the North African and Tunisian Campaigns. After the retreat of Axis forces from Tunisia in mid-1942, performed antisubmarine patrols over the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and also functioned as in in-theater training unit for aerial reconnaissance pilots.
Beginning in September 1943, received specially-equipped B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers equipped with RADAR detection and electronic countermeasures equipment. Performed ECM overflights of enemy territory in advance of Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
heavy bomber formations, jamming enemy RADAR and generating false returns to confuse defensive forces. Also continued to fly long range reconnaissance with B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bombers fitted with aerial cameras. Returned to the United States in November 1944 as need for unit dissipated as enemy forces were driven out of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
; inactivated in April 1945.
Lineage
- Organized as 3d Aviation School Squadron on 9 May 1917
- Redesignated 16th Aero Squadron on 31 Aug 1917
- Demobilized on 22 May 1919
- Reconstituted and consolidated (1924) with 16th Squadron which was authorized on 30 Aug 1921
- Organized on 7 Dec 1921
- Redesignated 16th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923
- Inactivated on 15 Mar 1931
- Activated on a Jun 1937
- Redesignated: 16th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942
- Redesignated: 16th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
- Redesignated: 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bomber) on 31 May 1943
- Redesignated: 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy, Special) on 12 May 1944
- Disbanded on 12 Apr 1945.
Assignments
- Unknown, 9 May 1917-Jan 1918
- Second Aviation Instruction Center, Jan 1918-Feb 1919; Feb-22 May 1919
- Seventh Corps AreaCorps areaA Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
(Attached to Cavalry School), 7 Dec 1921 - 12th Observation Group12th Observation GroupThe 12th Observation Group is an inactive United States Army unit. It was last assigned to the Eighth Corps Area, United States Army, stationed at Brooks Field, Texas. It was disbanded on 30 June 1937....
(attached to Cavalry School), 1 Oct 1930-15 Mar 1931 - Fourth Corps Area, 1 Jun 1937 (flight attached, later assigned, to Infantry School until 20 Nov 1940)
- Armored Force, 3 Oct 1940
- 73d Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941
- Attached to 68th Observation Group from Feb 1942
- HQ Army Air Forces, 12 Mar 1942
- 68th Observation (later Reconnaissance; Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 29 Mar 1942
- Attached to: XII Air Force Service Command, 25 Sep 1943
- Attached to: Twelfth Air Force, 1 Jan 1944
- Attached to: Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, 18 Feb 1944 - Attached to: Army Air Forces, MTO, 27 Mar 1944
- Attached to: Northwest African Air ForcesNorthwest African Air ForcesNorthwest African Air Forces was the principal sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command created when the Allied air forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations were reorganized in February of 1943...
, 2o Sep 1943 - Attached to: Mediterranean Allied Air ForcesMediterranean Allied Air ForcesThe Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
, 10 Dec 1943 - Attached to: Army Air Forces, MTO, i Jan-26 May 1944
- Army Air Forces, MTO, 26 May 1944
- HQ Army Air Forces, 3 Nov 1944-12 Apr 1945
- Attached to 311th Photographic Wing, 21 Nov 1944-12 Apr 1945
Stations
- Memphis AirdromeMemphis International AirportMemphis International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States....
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 9 May 1917 - Chicago Air Park, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, 20 May 1917 - Chanute Field, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, c. 12 Jul 1917 - Garden CityGarden City, New YorkGarden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 4 Nov-4 Dec 1917 - St Maixent, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a Jan 1918 - Tours, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 24 Jan 1918 - St Gervais, Gironde, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, c. 12 Feb 1919 - Bordeaux, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 17-23 Apr 1919 - Mitchel Field, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, c. 7-22 May 1919 - Fort RileyFort RileyFort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 7 Dec 1921-15 Mar 1931
- Detachment operated between: North Platte Airport, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, and Rapid city Airfield, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 1 Aug-Sep 1927 - Detachment operated between: Chicago Municipal Airport, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Superior Airport, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Jun-14 Sep 1928- Pope FieldPope Air Force BasePope Field is a United States Army facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.-Units:...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
(flight at Lawson Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
), 1 Jun 1937 - Lawson Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 24 Oct 1940 - Daniel Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 9 Feb 1942 - Greensboro Airport, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 7 Jul 1942
- Pope Field
- Morris Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 15 Aug 1942 - Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 3-23 Oct 1942
- Detachment at RAF WattishamRAF WattishamRAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
(AAF-377), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, c. 5-21 Oct 1942- Fedala, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 9 Nov 1942 (Ground echelon) - Casablanca-Anfa AirportCasablanca-Anfa AirportCasablanca-Anfa Airport is an airport in Morocco , located about southwest of Casablanca. Anfa Airport is one of two airports serving the Casablanca area, the other being the newer and larger Mohammed V International Airport. Anfa Airport, restricted by the urban growth around it, primarily serves...
, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 12 Nov 1942 - Angads AirportAngads AirportAngads Airport is an airport serving Oujda, a city in the Oriental region in Morocco. Also known as Oujda Angads Airport, it is located about north of Oujda and about northeast of Casablanca, near the Algerian border.-History:...
, OujdaOujdaOujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 30 Dec 1942 - Berrechid Airfield, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 24 Mar 1943 - Berteaux AirfieldBerteaux AirfieldBerteaux Airfield is an abandoned World War II United States Army Air Forces military airfield in Algeria, which was located approximately 9 km east of Telerghma; 35 km southwest of Constantine....
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 6 Sep 1943 - Foch Field, TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, 26 Sep 1943
- Fedala, French Morocco
- Detachments operated intermittently from several points in Italy and adjacent islands during period Oct 1943-Mar 1944
- Operated primarily from Foggia Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, after 28 Mar 1944- Foggia Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 3 May-30 Oct 1944
- Foggia Airfield, Italy
- Detachment operated from Poretta Airfield, CorsicaCorsicaCorsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, until Sep 1944- Bradley FieldBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, 20 Nov 1944 - Buckley Field, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, a Dec 1944-12 Apr 1945
- Bradley Field
Aircraft
- JN-4, 1917
- In addition to DH-4, c. 1922-1926, and 0-2, 1926¬1930
- Included JNS-1, 0-1, and apparently JN-4 and JN-6 during period 1921-1930; 0-25, 1930-1931
- O-46, 1937-C. 1939, 0-47, 1938-1942, and 0-49, 1941-1942
- YG-1, and 0-43 during period 1937-1940
- 0-51 and 0-9 during period 1940-1941
- DB-7, L-4, P-40, and P-43 during 1942
- A-20 and P-39, 1942-1943
- P-38, P-39, P-40, and Spitfire, 1943
- Primarily B-17, 1943-1944
- B-25, 1945