46th Reconnaissance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 46th Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive Strategic Air Command
unit. Its last assignment was with the 5001st Composite Wing
, based at Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska Territory
.
It was redesignated on 25 October 1947 as the 72d Reconnaissance Squadron, but operated as the 46th/72d Reconnaissance Squadron until 30 September 1955 when the squadron was redesignated as the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy and performed a mission change from reconnaissance to a B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber squadron.
The 46th Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned the Strategic Air Command
's first operational mission, "Project Nanook," - to assess the Soviet threat in the Arctic
at the beginning of the Cold War
. The unit developed the Grid System of Navigation which opened up the Arctic skies to world aviation and enabled SAC to become a global deterrent force.
The squadron's B-29 44-87767 - "The Northern Star" - was the first aircraft to fly over the Geographic North Pole
on 16 October 1946.
heavy bomber replacement training unit. Converted in September 1943 for operational training; assigned to Second Air Force
for training. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO) in December 1943, squadron taking the South Atlantic Transport Route though the Caribbean
and South America
; transiting the Atlantic Ocean
via Brazil
and Dakar
, French West Africa
, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force
in January 1944 at Grottaglie Airfield in Southern Italy
.
Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy; France
; Southern Germany
; Austria
and the Balkans
. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945. Most of the squadron was demobilized in Europe; small cadre reformed at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota in late May, being redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress
Very Heavy bomber squadron. Equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and new personnel, began training for deployment to Central Pacific Area (CPA) to engaged in strategic bombardment missions over Japan. Japanese capitulation in August canceled plans for re-deployment, after training was reassigned to Grand Island Army Airfield
, Nebraska
as part of Continental Air Command
.
Redesignated as 46th Reconnaissance Squadron in November 1945. New mission was to provide very long range reconnaissance as part of the newly-established Strategic Air Command
. Equipped with nineteen B-29 Superfortress
es obtained at Grand Island Army Airfield
, Nebraska
. Eight of the aircraft were modified into the F-13A reconnaissance configuration, being fitted with special camera installations for photographic mapping and recon work. The F-13As carried three K-17B, two K-22 and one K-18 cameras with provisions for others. However, the standard B-29 bombing equipment and defensive armament were retained.
The squadron was almost reassigned to Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska Territory
on 1 June 1946 with a mission to fly reconnaissance and photo-mappping missions over the Arctic
and perform reconnaissance along the northern border of Soviet territory in the Arctic. All of its missions were classified as Top Secret, the classification wasn't dropped until 1999.
The squadron flew its first operational mission on 21 July 1946 from its base at Ladd, eventually flying more than 5,000 hours in the Arctic and over 1,000,000 miles in its first year of operations, testing material and the limits of flying personnel in the Arctic. It made the first aircraft flight over the Geographic North Pole
in August, with eventually over 100 flights to the pole and its immediate vicinity. It performed photo mapping of the Alaska
n area for the strategic location of defense components, including the future locations of radar sites along the northern Canadian region. Exploratory flights were made to obtain information necessary to establish commercial airline service over the Arctic.
When the squadron arrived in Alaska, large areas of the territory and northern Canada were largely unexplored. The squadron developed means of polar navigation necessary due to the unreliability of magnetic compasses, and many existing maps of the region were unreliable. A grid system was developed which enabled navigators to enable locations within one mile of accuracy.
The squadron was redesignated as the 72d Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 October 1947; its personnel and equipment being absorbed by the senior unit in a name-only change. It operated as the 46th/72d Reconnaissance Squadron until 30 September 1955.
Note: The 46th Reconnaissance Squadron (25 June-15 August 1943), assigned to the 426th Reconnaissance Group
has no lineage to this organization. It was never manned or equipped.
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
unit. Its last assignment was with the 5001st Composite Wing
5001st Composite Wing
The 5001st Composite Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Throughout its existence, it was assigned to the Alaskan Air Command and stationed at Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska....
, based at Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
.
It was redesignated on 25 October 1947 as the 72d Reconnaissance Squadron, but operated as the 46th/72d Reconnaissance Squadron until 30 September 1955 when the squadron was redesignated as the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy and performed a mission change from reconnaissance to a B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber squadron.
The 46th Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
's first operational mission, "Project Nanook," - to assess the Soviet threat in the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
at the beginning of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The unit developed the Grid System of Navigation which opened up the Arctic skies to world aviation and enabled SAC to become a global deterrent force.
The squadron's B-29 44-87767 - "The Northern Star" - was the first aircraft to fly over the Geographic North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
on 16 October 1946.
History
Established as at B-24 LiberatorB-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bomber replacement training unit. Converted in September 1943 for operational training; assigned to Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
for training. Deployed to 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...
(MTO) in December 1943, squadron taking the South Atlantic Transport Route though the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; transiting the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
via Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
, being assigned to 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....
in January 1944 at Grottaglie Airfield in Southern Italy
Italy
Italy , 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...
.
Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy; France
France
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...
; Southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945. Most of the squadron was demobilized in Europe; small cadre reformed at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota in late May, being redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
Very Heavy bomber squadron. Equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and new personnel, began training for deployment to Central Pacific Area (CPA) to engaged in strategic bombardment missions over Japan. Japanese capitulation in August canceled plans for re-deployment, after training was reassigned to Grand Island Army Airfield
Grand Island Army Airfield
Grand Island Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces airfield which operated from 1942 to 1946. After its closure, the base was reopened as Central Nebraska Regional Airport.-History:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska 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....
as part of Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
.
Redesignated as 46th Reconnaissance Squadron in November 1945. New mission was to provide very long range reconnaissance as part of the newly-established Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
. Equipped with nineteen B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
es obtained at Grand Island Army Airfield
Grand Island Army Airfield
Grand Island Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces airfield which operated from 1942 to 1946. After its closure, the base was reopened as Central Nebraska Regional Airport.-History:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska 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....
. Eight of the aircraft were modified into the F-13A reconnaissance configuration, being fitted with special camera installations for photographic mapping and recon work. The F-13As carried three K-17B, two K-22 and one K-18 cameras with provisions for others. However, the standard B-29 bombing equipment and defensive armament were retained.
The squadron was almost reassigned to Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
on 1 June 1946 with a mission to fly reconnaissance and photo-mappping missions over the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and perform reconnaissance along the northern border of Soviet territory in the Arctic. All of its missions were classified as Top Secret, the classification wasn't dropped until 1999.
The squadron flew its first operational mission on 21 July 1946 from its base at Ladd, eventually flying more than 5,000 hours in the Arctic and over 1,000,000 miles in its first year of operations, testing material and the limits of flying personnel in the Arctic. It made the first aircraft flight over the Geographic North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
in August, with eventually over 100 flights to the pole and its immediate vicinity. It performed photo mapping of the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n area for the strategic location of defense components, including the future locations of radar sites along the northern Canadian region. Exploratory flights were made to obtain information necessary to establish commercial airline service over the Arctic.
When the squadron arrived in Alaska, large areas of the territory and northern Canada were largely unexplored. The squadron developed means of polar navigation necessary due to the unreliability of magnetic compasses, and many existing maps of the region were unreliable. A grid system was developed which enabled navigators to enable locations within one mile of accuracy.
The squadron was redesignated as the 72d Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 October 1947; its personnel and equipment being absorbed by the senior unit in a name-only change. It operated as the 46th/72d Reconnaissance Squadron until 30 September 1955.
Lineage
- Constituted as: 719th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 April 1943.
- Activated on 1 May 1943
- Inactivated on 11 June 1945
- Redesignated: 719th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 7 September 1945
- Activated on 17 September 1945
- Redesignated: 46th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic-Weather) on 15 November 1945
- Redesignated: 46th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) on 23 October 1946
- Inactivated on 13 October 1947. Equipment and personnel absorbed into 72d Reconnaissance Squadron, organized on 13 October 1947
- Operated as 46th/72d Reconnaissance Squadron until 30 September 1955
Note: The 46th Reconnaissance Squadron (25 June-15 August 1943), assigned to the 426th Reconnaissance Group
426th Reconnaissance Group
The 426th Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at Gainesville Army Airfield, Texas. It was inactivated on 15 August 1943....
has no lineage to this organization. It was never manned or equipped.
Assignments
- 449th Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943-11 June 1945; 17 September 1945
- 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....
(SAC), 4 August 1946 - Alaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
, 19 August 1946 - Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
, 1 October 1946 - 426th Reconnaissance Group426th Reconnaissance GroupThe 426th Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at Gainesville Army Airfield, Texas. It was inactivated on 15 August 1943....
, 1 July-15 August 1943 - Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 1 May 1946
- Attached to: Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
until inactivation on 13 October 1947
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 1 May 1943 - Alamogordo Army Air Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 5 July 1943 - Bruning Army AirfieldBruning Army AirfieldBruning Army Airfield was a flight training installation of the United States Army Air Forces used during World War II and located in northeast Thayer County, Nebraska, at coordinates 40°20'25" North, 97°25'42" West, approximately six miles east of Bruning....
, 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....
, 12 September 1943-26 November 1943 - Grottaglie 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 January 1944-15 May 1945 - Sioux Falls Army Air Field, 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...
, 29 May-11 June 1945 - Grand Island Army AirfieldGrand Island Army AirfieldGrand Island Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces airfield which operated from 1942 to 1946. After its closure, the base was reopened as Central Nebraska Regional Airport.-History:...
, 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....
, 17 September 1945 - Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska TerritoryAlaska TerritoryThe Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
, 1 June 1946-25 October 1947
Aircraft
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1943–1945 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1945
- F-13A/RB-29 Superfortess, 1946–1947
- 44-86338 - Unnamed (Damaged Nose/Wingtip - Hangar/Parts Aircraft)
- 44-86339 - "Carmencito Joe"
- 44-87767 - "The Northern Star"
- 44-87742 - The Barrow Sparrow" (F-13A)
- 45-21761 - "Boeings Boner"
- 45-21762 - Unnamed (F-13A)
- 45-21763 - Unnamed (F-13A)
- 45-21766 - "Bucket of Bolts"
- 45-21768 - "Kee BirdKee BirdThe Kee Bird was a United States Army Air Forces B-29-95-BW Superfortress, 45-21768, of the 46th Reconnaissance Squadron, that became marooned after making an emergency landing in northwest Greenland during a secret Cold War spying mission on 21 February 1947...
" (F-13A)- Abandoned February 21,1947 on frozen lake in Greenland. Remained abandoned on lake for many years. During attempt to recover, caught fire and burned May 21/22, 1995.
- 45-21773 - "Leaking Lena" (F-13A)
- 45-21775 - "Forlorn/Clobbered Turkey" (F-13A)
- "The Forlorn Turkey" aka "The Clobbered Turkey", crashed into hillside December 23, 1947 95 mi N of Nome, AK (east slope of Hot Spring mountain). 2 killed while attempting to walk out, 6 rescued. 3 rescue men killed.
- 45-21777 - Unnamed (F-13A)
- 45-21819 - Unnamed
- 45-21846 - "Over Exposed" Converted to B-29F
- 45-21848 - Unnamed Converted to B-29F Crashed 1947
- 45-21853 - Unnamed Converted to B-29F Crashed December 12, 1946 on takeoff at Ladd Field.
- 45-21856 - Unnamed Converted to B-29F
- 45-21859 - "Ladies Delight" Converted to B-29F
- 45-21871 - Unnamed
See also
- Kee BirdKee BirdThe Kee Bird was a United States Army Air Forces B-29-95-BW Superfortress, 45-21768, of the 46th Reconnaissance Squadron, that became marooned after making an emergency landing in northwest Greenland during a secret Cold War spying mission on 21 February 1947...