12th Reconnaissance Squadron - History

History

The 12th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the oldest United States Air Force squadrons, having been involved in every armed conflict the United States has deployed forces into combat since World War I.

The 12th Aero Squadron was established in June 1917, shortly after the United States' entry into World War I. Formed at what would become Kelly Field, Texas, the squadron trained at Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio during the summer of 1917 before deploying to France in December 1917.

After a period of training in France, the 12th became an early photo-reconnaissance unit, flying over the trenches of the Western Front. Was attached to the French IV Army Corps and American I Army Corps; squadron moved frequently from one area of the front to another, usually staying at one location nor more than a week or two, taking air photos and gathering intelligence. After the Armistice with Germany in November 1918, the squadron remained in France and later Germany as part of the IV Army Corps with the Rhineland Occupation forces. Returned to the United States in June 1919.

Remained active after World War I, being assigned to Scott Field, Illinois as part of the 1st Army Observation Group. The squadron performed observation duties with various Army units throughout the 1920s, being assigned to Texas in October 1919 and patrolled the Mexico – United States border from various airfields during the 1920s. Participated in forest fire patrols and flood relief operations in the Mississippi valey during 1937. It supported Army maneuvers at Fort Sam Houston; Fort Bliss; Fort Huachuca, and Fort Campbell. In the summer of 1937 the 12th Observation Squadron moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, and became the only Air Corps unit directly attached to a ground forces unit (the 7th Cavalry Brigade ) in a combined arms team, where it remained for more than three years.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, trained under Third Air Force in Louisiana for deployment to the European Theater of Operations, being assigned to Eighth Air Force at RAF Membury, England in the fall of 1942. Using unarmed fighter aircraft (P-38s, later P-51s) fitted with aerial mapping cameras, the squadron performed numerous long distance mapping flights over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, photographing targets for later attack by VIII Bomber Command and the Royal Air Force. These flights were extremely hazardous, being flown without escort and in unarmed aircraft. Transferred to Ninth Air Force in the spring of 1944, the squadron flew numerous missions over the Normandy Invasion Beaches, and other parts of the English Channel coast of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, obtaining intelligence about enemy fortifications, armored units, infantry concentrations and other tactical intelligence.

Moved into France in July 1944, supporting the United States Third Army with tactical intelligence as the ground forces moved eastward through France during the summer of 1944, moving into Belgium and into Germany as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany during the spring of 1945. After the German Capitulation, became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe Army of Occupation during 1945. Squadron flying reconnaissance over northern Italy during the 1946 Trieste Crisis. Returned to the United States in early 1946 and being demobilized.

Reactivated at March Field, California in July 1946 as part of the Continental Air Command Fourth Air Force, equipped with RF-80A Shooting Stars; Major (Future Brigadier General) Robin Olds served as the first Operations Officer. Inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions. Reactivated in Japan in 1951 as part of Far East Air Forces, flying tactical battlefield reconnaissance over the skies of Korea, being stationed at several airfield in South Korea as well as in Japan. Remained in Japan after the 1953 Korean Armistice, flying routine reconnaissance missions until being inactivated in 1960.

Reactivated during the Vietnam War in 1966, being deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. Flew RF-4C Phantom IIs over the skies of Indochina until 1971, gathering tactical intelligence to support the United States and South Vietnamese ground forces. Returned to the United States as part of the United States drawdown of forces, becoming an RF-4C training unit at Bergstrom AFB. Deployed several times to West Germany during the 1970s and 1980s supporting Army units during Reforger Exercises and other NATO/Tactical Air Command deployments during the Cold War. Deployed to the Middle East in early 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm flying tactical reconnaissance missions over Iraq and Kuwait. Inactivated in 1992 with the phaseout of the RF-4C.

Reactivated at Beale AFB, California in 2001 operating unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft as part of the Global War on Terror.