30th Reconnaissance Squadron


The 30th Reconnaissance Squadron is a reconnaissance test squadron assigned to the 432nd Operations Group, 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The squadron flies the RQ-170 Sentinel Unmanned aerial vehicle out of the Tonopah Test Range Airport in Tonopah.
The squadron was previously assigned to the 57th Operations Group, 57th Wing, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Operations

Activated on 1 September 2005, at Tonopah Test Range Airport; and on 17 July 2007
In 2010 a detachment with RQ-170 Sentinels was sent to Al Dhafra Air Base in order to spy on the nuclear program of Iran.

History

World War II

Established on 1 May 1943 as a Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, initially trained under Second Air Force in Colorado; reassigned to Third Air Force in Oklahoma where the squadron received Lockheed F-4 Lightning reconnaissance aircraft.
Deployed to the European Theater of Operations in England, being assigned to Ninth Air Force. Initially stationed at the Royal Air Force reconnaissance training school at RAF Chalgrove, later moved to RAF Middle Wallop, where the squadron became operational in the ETO. The squadron arrived in Chalgrove in late February 1944 and began operations in March. Engaged in unarmed and extremely hazardous combat operations over Occupied Europe, mapping of the Netherlands and flew bomb-damage assessment missions over marshalling yards and gun emplacements in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, in April 1944.
Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for participation with 10th Photographic Group, 7–20 May 1944, in photo reconnaissance of Utah Beach for Normandy invasion. The citation read, in part: "Employing specially modified equipment installed in unarmed P-38 type aircraft, the intrepid pilots of the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group undertook the most hazardous missions. Flying unarmed and unescorted and at altitudes as low as twenty-five feet, they fearlessly piloted their aircraft over the difficult photographic runs in the face of intense fire from some of the strongest anti-aircraft installations in western Europe." Dicing, was the term used when referring to these extremely low-altitude flights over Utah Beach.
Flew sorties over France on D-Day making visual and photographic reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road and rail junctions, traffic centers, airfields, and other targets. Moved into liberated area of France in early July, flying weather missions, made visual reconnaissance for ground forces, and photographed enemy positions to assist the First and Third Armies; Twelfth Army Group, and other Allied forces in the drive to Germany. Flew its first mission over Germany on 24 August 1944. Took part in the offensive against the Siegfried Line, Sep–Dec 1944, and in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944 – Jan 1945.
From then until the close of the war in Europe, the squadron photographed dams and bridges on the Roer River in preparation for the ground offensive to cross the river, and aided the Allied assault across the Rhine River and into Germany. Flew its 2,000th operational mission on 22 March 1945. Flew missions to Berlin on 8 April and to Dresden on 10 April 1945. Returned to the United States in July 1945, being assigned to Third Air Force, Continental Air Command at Drew Field, Florida. Squadron demobilized without becoming fully operational during the fall of 1945, inactivating on 7 November.

Reserve operations

Re-established at Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey in 1947 as a Tenth Air Force Air Force Reserve corollary unit under the guidance of active duty units at McGuire Air Force Base in order to train and maintain currency in reconnaissance operations for its reserve personnel. Primarily operated North American F-6 Mustangs. Moved to McGuire from Newark in 1949 when consolidated due to budget restrictions. Was brought to active service in 1951 due to manpower needs during the Korean War, personnel and aircraft being reassigned as fillers to various active-duty units. Inactivated as a paper unit in May 1951.

Cold War reconnaissance

Reactivated under Tactical Air Command at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina on 1 January 1953. Performed training of photo-reconnaissance pilots with Douglas RB-26 Invader aircraft. Deployed to NATO in July 1953, being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe at Sembach Air Base, West Germany; its host 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing being the initial unit based at the new air base. Trained in night reconnaissance with RB-26s; replaced with Martin RB-57A Canberra jet aircraft in 1955. Was reassigned to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base in 1958 as part of a USAFE reorganization. Upgraded to Douglas RB-66C Destroyers and continued night reconnaissance training. Moved to England in 1959 when Spangdahlem became a tactical fighter base. Operated from RAF Alconbury, however rotated frequently to Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France where the 10th TRW operated a forward detachment until 1965.
Re-equipped with the McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft in 1966; operated the day/night capable Phantom for 10 years until 1976 when inactivated due to budget reductions and the need for tactical reconnaissance aircraft was reduced to the increasing use of space reconnaissance assets.

Unmanned vehicle operations

Reactivated in 2005 and equipped with unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 5 February 1943
  • Redesignated 30th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo on 11 March 1947.
  • Redesignated 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photo on 15 November 1952
  • Redesignated 30th Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 June 2005

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft