13th Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 13th Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 13th Reconnaissance Squadron Patch
dates= 20 June 1942 - 1 December 1945
6 July 1947 - 27 June 1949
14 June 1952 - 1 April 1953
1 October 1987 - 31 March 2000
12 March 2005 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Reconnaissance and Surveillance
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
10th Air Force
610th Regional Support Group
current_commander=
garrison= Beale Air Force Base
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nickname=
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The 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (13 RS) is part of the 610th Regional Support Group at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron is geographically seporated and conducts operations from Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Mission

The 13 RS provides theater commanders with near-real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition data. [http://www.940arw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12341 13 RS Fact Sheet] ]

History

The 13th flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from, 28 March 1943-26 April 1945. It provided Intra-theater airlift for high-ranking Pacific Air Forces military and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment from, 1987-1993. The squadron moved without personnel and equipment to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, on 1 October 1993 and absorbed personnel and equipment of the 30th Airlift Squadron. Equipped with C-141, the squadron took on a new world-wide airlift mission until its deactivation in 2000. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0013rs.asp AFHRA 13 RS Page] ]

Since 2005 the 13th has operated and maintained deployable, long-endurance RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft and ground control elements to fulfill training and operational requirements generated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in support of unified commanders and the Secretary of Defense. It currently trains all RQ-4A pilots and sensor operators.

=Operations=

*World War II

=Lineage=

*13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (1942 - 1943)
*13th Photographic Squadron (Light) (1943)
*13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (1943 - 1947)
*13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (1947 - 1952)
*13th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1952 - 1987)
*13th Military Airlift Squadron (1987 - 1992)
*13th Airlift Squadron (1992 - 2005)
*13th Reconnaissance Squadron (2005 - Present)

=Assignments=

*3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group (1942 - 1943)
**Attached: 1st Bombardment Wing (2 December 1942 - 16 February 1943)
**Attached: 8th Air Force (16 February - 7 July 1943)
*7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group (1943 - 1945)
*65th Reconnaissance Group (1947 - 1949)
*65th Troop Carrier Group (1952 - 1953)
*374th Tactical Airlift Wing (1987 - 1992)
*316 Airlift Support Group (1992)
*18th Wing (1992 - 1993)
*438th Airlift Wing (1993 - 1994)
*305th Air Mobility Wing (1994 - 2000)
*610th Regional Support Group (2005 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Colorado Springs, Colorado (1942)
*RAF Podington, England (1942 - 1943)
*RAF Mount Farm, England (1943 - 1945)
*RAF Chalgrove, England (1945)
*RAF Shepherds Grove, England (1945)
*Camp Kilmer, New Jersey (1945)
*Rome Army Air Field, New York (1947 - 1948)
*Chemung County Airport, New York (1948 - 1949)
*Mitchel Air Force Base, New York (1952 - 1953)
*Kadena Air Base, Japan (1987 - 1993)
*McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey (1993 - 2000)
*Beale Air Force Base, California (2005 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*P-38 Lightning (1942 - 1945)
*L-4 Grasshopper (1942 - 1943)
*Supermarine Spitfire (1943)
*P-51 Mustang (1945)
*C-46 Commando (1952 - 1953)
*C-12 Huron (1987 - 1993)
*C-141 Starlifter (1993 - 2000)
*RQ-4 Global Hawk (2005 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0013rs.asp 13th Reconnaissance Squadron History]
* [http://www.940arw.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12341 13th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also