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13th Reconnaissance Squadron
13th Reconnaissance Squadron
	13th Reconnaissance Squadron RQ-4 Global Hawk
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1952–1953; 1987–2000; 2005–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Beale Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Lucky Thirteen
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ; French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Insignia
13th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem
13th Airlift Squadron emblem
13th Military Airlift Squadron emblem
13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem

The 13th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 926th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Mission

The squadron provides theater commanders with near-real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition data.^[4]

History

World War II

The 13th flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from 28 March 1943 – 26 April 1945.

Airlift

In 1952, it converted to a troop carrier mission and provided intra-theater airlift for high-ranking USAFE military and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment from, 1987–1993. In 1987, it was renamed the 13th Military Airlift Squadron.

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 and was renamed the 13th Airlift Squadron. Equipped with C-141, the squadron took on a new worldwide airlift mission until its inactivation in 2000.^[1]

Unmanned reconnaissance

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-4B pilots and sensor operators.^[4]

Lineage

Constituted as the 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 June 1943

Activated on 20 June 1942

Redesignated 13th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943

Redesignated 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943

Inactivated on 1 December 1945

Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic on 11 March 1947

Activated in the reserve on 6 July 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

Redesignated 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952

Inactivated on 1 April 1953

Redesignated 13th Military Airlift Squadron on 14 July 1987

Activated on 1 October 1987

Redesignated 13 Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1992

Inactivated on 31 March 2000

Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 February 2005

Activated in the reserve on 12 March 2005^[1]

Assignments

3d Photographic Group (later 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group), 20 June 1942 (attached to 1st Bombardment Wing from 2 December 1942, 8th Air Force from 16 February 1943)
7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7 July 1943
Unknown 21 November 1945 – 1 December 1945^{[note 5]}
65th Reconnaissance Group, 6 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953
374th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 October 1987
316th Airlift Support Group, 1 April 1992
18th Operations Group, 1 June 1992
438th Operations Group, 1 October 1993
305th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – 31 March 2000
610th Regional Support Group, 12 March 2005
940th Operations Group, 1 July 2009
726th Operations Group, 10 February 2016 – present^[1]

Stations

Army Air Base Colorado Springs, Colorado, 20 June – 17 October 1942
RAF Podington, England, 2 December 1942
RAF Mount Farm, England, 16 February 1943
RAF Chalgrove, England, 8 April 1945
RAF Grove, England, c. 13 October – 23 November 1945
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 30 November – 1 December 1945

Rome Army Air Field, New York, 6 July 1947
Chemung County Airport, New York, 26 January 1948 – 27 June 1949
Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953
Kadena Air Base, Japan, 1 October 1987
McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 1 October 1993 – 31 March 2000
Beale Air Force Base, California, 12 March 2005 – present^[1]

Aircraft

Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1945)
Piper L-4 Grasshopper (1942–1943)
Supermarine Spitfire (1943)
North American P-51 Mustang (1945)
Curtiss C-46 Commando (1952–1953)
Beechcraft C-12 Huron (1987–1993)
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (1993–2000)
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk (2005–present)^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ Rendition approved 21 December 2011.
^ Approved 5 June 1995.
^ Approved 13 October 1988.
^ Approved 6 March 1944.
^ Probably New York Port of Embarkation on arrival at Camp Kilmer.

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Robertson, Patsy (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 13 Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
^ ^a ^b Endicott, p. 433
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 73-74
^ ^a ^b No byline (1 September 2009). "Inside 940WG Library: Factsheet 13th Reconnaissance Squadron". 940th Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2018.

Bibliography

Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

External links

13th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet Archived 9 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine

[2] Rendition approved 21 December 2011.

[3] Approved 5 June 1995.

[5] Approved 13 October 1988.

[6] Approved 6 March 1944.

[9] Probably New York Port of Embarkation on arrival at Camp Kilmer.

[13RSfacts-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Robertson, Patsy (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 13 Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

[Endicott-4] Endicott, p. 433

[7] Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 73-74

[13_RS_Fact_Sheet-8] No byline (1 September 2009). "Inside 940WG Library: Factsheet 13th Reconnaissance Squadron". 940th Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2018.

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