12th Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 12th Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 12th Recon Sqn Emblem
dates= June 2, 1917–March 31, 1946
July 29, 1946-March 28 1949
February 25, 1951-March 8, 1960
November 3, 1965-September 30, 1992
November 8, 2001-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= 9th Reconnaissance Wing
Air Combat Command
current_commander=
garrison= Beale Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Know Your Enemy
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders= Robert Merrill Lee
anniversaries=

The 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (12 RS) is a United States Air Force reconnaissance unit based at Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, California. It is a component of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. The squadron was deactivated shortly after the Cold War but was reactivated a decade later after the September 11th attacks.

Mission

The 12th Reconnaissance Squadron's mission is to provide theatre commanders with near-real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and target acquisition data, operate and maintain deployable, long-endurance RQ-4A aircraft and ground control elements to fulfill training and operational requirements generated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in support of unified command and the Secretary of Defense.

History

The 12th Aero Squadron was organized on 2 June 1917. Redesignated the 12th Squadron on 14 March 1921 ; 12th Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921 ; 12th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923 ; 12th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942 ; 12th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942 ; 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 31 May 1943 ; 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943 . Inactivated on 31 March 1946 . Redesignated 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (Jet Propelled) on 9 July 1946 ; Activated on 29 July 1946 . Redesignated 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadronon, Photographic-Jet, on 14 June 1948 . Inactivated on 28 March 1949 . Redesignated 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic, on 5 February 1951 . Activated on 25 February 1951 . Redesignated 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic-Jet on 23 February 1959 . Discontinued on 8 March 1960 . Redesignated 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic-Jet, and activated, on 3 November 1965 . Organized on 1 July 1966 . Redesignated: 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 October 1966 ; 12th Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 November 1991 . Inactivated on 30 September 1992 .

Aircraft Flown

The squadron flew the following aircraft:
* AR-2 — 1918
* Salmson 2 — 1918-1919
* DH-4 — 1919-c. 1926
* 0-2 — 1926 - 1930
* P-51 — 1942 - 1946
* Spitfire — 1942-1944
* F-6 — 1943-1946.
* FP-80 — 1946-1949
* RB-26 — 1951-1955
* RB-66 — 1956-1960
* RF-4 — 1966-1992.
* RQ-4 Global Hawk — 2001 - present

Unit awards

External links

* [http://www.beale.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3973 Official factsheet]
* [http://www.johnson7170.freeserve.co.uk/12th%20RS.htm Short history and patches]
* [http://www.koreanwar.org/html/units/usaf/12trs.htm 12th TRS Korean War page]
* [http://www.usaww1.com July 14, 2008 - 90th anniversary Commemoration of 1st aero squadron and 12th aero squadron in France during World War I]