99th Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 99th Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 99th Reconnaissance Squadron Patch
dates= 21 August 1917 - 9 June 1919
2 July 1919 - 31 July 1927
9 November 1928 - 20 October 1948
1 May 1949 - 1 April 1971
1 November 1972 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Reconnaissance and Surveillance
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
8th Air Force
9th Reconnaissance Wing
9th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Beale Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
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The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (99 RS) is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft flying reconnaissance missions around the world.

Mission

The 99 RS is responsible for providing critical intelligence for use by the National Command Authority. [http://www.beale.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3972 99 RS Fact Sheet] ]

History

Following activation in 1917, the 99th rapidly moved to France to perform corps observation duties with the French 8th Army and the American V Army Corps. The 99th served as a school squadron with V Army Corps Infantry Liaison School from, July-September 1918, during which time one flight of unit, operating in Vosges region of Alsace and Lorraine where it participated in combat with French XXXIII Corps and American 5th Division from, July-August 1918. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0099recos.html AFHRA 99 RS Page] ]

Following the war, the squadron returned to the United States and demobilized. Shortly thereafter, the 99th was reconstituted as a corps observation squadron performing duties in the Northeastern United States. In 1928, the 99th moved to Mitchell Field, New York, to perform observation duties and participate in aerial demonstrations and maneuvers. In 1940, the squadron moved to the Panama Canal Zone, then on to Trinidad to fly antisubmarine patrols and reconnaissance of Vichy French fleet at Martinique. The squadron moved to Florida in 1942 and started training cadres for bombardment units. In 1944, the 99th flew combat missions in the Western Pacific and carried food and medicine to POW camps.

Redesignated a reconnaissance squadron in 1949, and based in California, the 99th flew B/RB-17s and, later, B/RB-29s. The 99th was redesignated a bombardment squadron in 1950, moved to Idaho in 1953, and received B-47s in 1954 making several deployments to England and Guam. In 1966, the 99th again became a reconnaissance squadron and moved to California conducting testing of SR-71 aircraft through 1967. The 99th flew global strategic reconnaissance until 1971 when the squadron inactivated.

In November 1972, the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron activated at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand where it flew reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia. The squadron relocated at Beale Air Force Base in 1976 and began flying U-2 missions. Operational missions include extensive reconnaissance efforts during Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm as well as humanitarian efforts covering wildfire and earthquake damage in California and Midwestern United States floods. 99 RS personnel are currently temporarily assigned to four overseas detachments.

=Operations=

*World War I
*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Urgent Fury
*Operation Just Cause
*Operation Desert Shield
*Operation Desert Storm

=Lineage=

*99th Aero Squadron (1917 - 1919)
*99th Corps Observation Squadron (1919 - 1921)
*99th Squadron (Observation) (1921 - 1923)
*99th Observation Squadron (1923 - 1935)
*99th Bombardment Squadron (1935 - 1939)
*99th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) (1939 - 1940)
*99th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1940 - 1944)
*99th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944 - 1949)
*99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (1949 - 1950)
*99th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1950)
*99th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1950 - 1966)
*99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (1966 - 1991)
*99th Reconnaissance Squadron (1991 - Present)

=Assignments=

*Second Aviation Instruction Center (1917 - 1918)
*V Corps Observation Group (1918)
**Attached: 3rd Artillery Observation School (c. 1 April - 31 May 1918)
*Eastern Department (1919 - 1920)
*III Corps Area (1920 - 1922)
*District of Washington (1922 - 1923)
*8th Division, Air Service (1923 - 1927)
*Air Corps Training Center (1927)
*9th Bombardment Group (1928 - 1948)
*9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1949 - 1971)
*100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1972 - 1976)
**Attached: Air Division Provisional, 17 (1 November 1972 - 1 January 1975)
*9th Reconnaissance Wing (1976 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Kelly Field, Texas (1917)
*Garden City, New York (1917)
*Tours, France (1917 - 1918)
*Haussimont, France (1918)
*Amanty, France (1918)
*Luxeuil-les-Bains, France (1918)
**Flight Operated From: Corcieux, France (19 - 24 July 1918)
**Flight Operated From: Dogneville, France (24 July - 26 August 1918)
*Souilly, France (1918)
*Foucaucourt, France (1918)
*Parois, France (1918)
*Belrain, France (1918)
*Chaumont-sur-Aire, France (1918)
*Chaumont, France (1918 - 1919)
**Flight Operated From: Prauthoy, France (c. 25 December 1918 - c. 1 February 1919)
**Flight Operated From: Bourbonne-les-Bains, France (c. 25 December 1918 - c. 1 February 1919)
**Flight Operated From: Montigney-le-Roi, France (c. 25 December 1918 - c. 1 February 1919)
*Colombey-les-Belles, France (1919)
*Sadirac, France (1919)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1919)
*Hazelhurst Field, New York (1919)
*Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey (1919)
*Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. (1919 - 1927)
*Kelly Field, Texas (1927)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1928 - 1940)
*Río Hato, Panama (1940 - 1941)
*Piarco Field, Trinidad (1941)
*Zandery Field, Surinam (1941 - 1942)
*Orlando Air Base, Florida (1942 - 1943)
*Montbrook Army Air Field, Florida (1943)
*Kissimmee Army Air Base, Florida (1943 - 1944)
*Brooksville Army Air Field, Florida (1944)
*Orlando Air Base, Florida (1944)
*Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
*McCook Army Airfield, Nebraska (1944)
*North Field, Tinian (1944 - 1946)
*Clark Field, Luzon (1946 - 1947)
*Harmon Air Force Base, Guam (1947 - 1948)
*Travis Air Force Base, California (1949 - 1953)
**Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (c. 7 August - 17 September 1950)
**Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (9 April - 19 June 1951)
**Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (17 June - 22 September 1952)
*Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho (1953 - 1966)
**Deployed: RAF Fairford, England (23 May - 9 July 1955)
**Deployed: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (c. 4 October 1957 - c. 12 January 1958)
*Beale Air Force Base, California (1966 - 1971)
*U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand (1972 - 1976)
*Beale Air Force Base, California (1976 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*Sopwith 1 (1918)
*Salmson 2 (1918 - 1919)
*DH-4 (1919 - 1927)
*SE-5 (1919 - 1927)
*O-1 (1928 - 1936)
*O-11 (1928 - 1936)
*O-25 (1928 - 1936)
*OA-2 (1928 - 1936)
*O-31 (1928 - 1936)
*Y1O-35 (1928 - 1936)
*O-38 (1928 - 1936)
*O-39 (1928 - 1936)
*Y1O-40 (1928 - 1936)
*O-40 (1928 - 1936)
*O-43 (1928 - 2936)
*B-10 (1936 - 1938)
*OA-4 (1937)
*B-18 Bolo (1938 - 1942)
*OA-8 (1939)
*P-12 (1939)
*P-40 Warhawk (1941 - 1942)
*B-25 Mitchell (1943)
*B-26 Marauder (1943)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1943 - 1944)
*B-29 Superfortress (1944 - 1946, 1946 - 1947, 1949 - 1954)
*B/RB-17 (1949 - 1950)
*RB-29 (1949 - 1950)
*B-47 Stratojet (1954 - 1966)
*SR-71 Blackbird (1966 - 1971)
*DC-130 (1972 - 1975)
*CH-3 Sea King (1972 - 1975)
*U-2 Dragon Lady (1972 - Present)
*T-38 Talon (1976 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0099recos.html 99th Reconnaissance Squadron History]
* [http://www.beale.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3972 99th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also