"20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron" redirects here. For The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of World War II, see 20th Special Operations Squadron.
20th Intelligence Squadron emblem (approved 7 July 1958)[1]
The squadron was first activated as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron in July 1942. In September 1943, it moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater, engaging in combat mapping missions until V-J Day, moving forward with Allied forces through New Guinea, the Philippine Islands and the Ryuku Islands, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. It briefly served with the occupation forces before inactivating in June 1946. As the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron), it served in the reserve from 1947 until it was mobilized for the Korean War in 1951. It was inactivated shortly after being called to active duty and its personnel and equipment were used to bring other units up to strength.
The squadron was activated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina in March 1954 as the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. It trained in reconnaissance missions, deploying to MacDill Air Force Base during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1965, the squadron moved to Southeast Asia, where it flew combat reconnaissance missions until inactivating in November 1967.
The mission of the 20th is to provide prompt, precise intelligence enabling warfighters to safely engage and achieve global objectives. The 20th processes and analyzes raw electronic intelligence data, and prepares both operational and technical electronic intelligence reports and studies. The 20th is organized into three flights:
The Target Material Flight produces precise coordinated measurements and mission-support materials for Air Force bomber, fighter and other airborne platforms engaged in exercise, training or actual combat operations.
The Combat Applications Flight activities entail providing direct application support for specified combat customers. This includes an AIA node for operational dissemination of near-real time imagery to Air Force and Department of Defense users worldwide. The Combat Applications Flight is also Air Combat Command’s point of contact for premission survivability and threat assessments, target analysis, weaponeering support and post-mission combat assessments for the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile program.
The Operations Flight provides the day-to-day operating support to the other flights within the 20th. These activities are dispersed though branches who perform the activities of planning, requirements management, systems maintenance, logistics support and resource management.
Historyedit
World War IIedit
The squadron was originally formed as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron in mid-1942.[2] In these early years, the unit worked under several different names and was stationed in the Pacific Theater as an element of Fifth Air Force. The units operated a variety of photographic reconnaissance aircraft in the South Pacific, engaging in combat reconnaissance. It moved to Japan in 1945, carrying out postwar reconnaissance and mapping of the Japanese Home Islands and Korean Peninsula as part of the War Department's Post Hostilities Mapping Project. It was inactivated June 1946[2]
Reserve and Korean Waredit
The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947 as the 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, a long range reconnaissance squadron. It was called to active duty during the Korean War at the start of May 1951. Its personnel were used as fillers for other United States Air Force units and it was inactivated two weeks later.[2]
Cold Waredit
20th TRS McDonnell RF-101C 56-0183 at Shaw AFB, about 1960
The squadron was reactivated and designated the 20th Air Intelligence Squadron under the newly formed Air Combat Command in 1992, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.[1] A year later, it was redesignated as the 20th Intelligence Squadron.[1]
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 14 July 1942
Activated on 23 July 1942
Redesignated 20th Photographic Squadron (Heavy) on 6 February 1943
Redesignated 20th Combat Mapping Squadron on 11 August 1943
Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range (Photographic-RCM)[note 1] on 10 May 1945
Inactivated on 20 June 1946
Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic on 11 March 1947
Activated in the reserve on 25 July 1947
Redesignated 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic Mapping on 27 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 16 May 1951
Redesignated 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic–Jet on 14 January 1954
Activated on 18 March 1954
Redesignated 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadronon 8 October 1966
Discontinued and inactivated 1 November 1967
Redesignated 20th Air Intelligence Squadron on 1 June 1992
Activated 12 June 1992
Redesignated 20th Intelligence Squadron on 1 October 1993[1]
Sydney, Australia, 10 October 1943 (air echelon remained at Colorado Springs Army Air Base to c. 12 October 1943. then at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma from 14 October 1943 to 26 January 1944)
Dulag Airfield, Leyte, 15 November 1944 (operated from Mokmer Airfield, Biak to 22 January 1945, Tacloban Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, from 25 January–23 February 1945, McGuire Field, San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, from 24 February–16 May 1945)
Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 18 March 1954 – 12 November 1965 (operated from: MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 21 October 1962 – 30 November 1962)
Tan Son Nhut Airport, South Vietnam, 12 November 1965
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
External linksedit
National Air Intelligence Center
December 01, 2023
20th, intelligence, squadron, 20th, tactical, reconnaissance, squadron, redirects, here, 20th, tactical, reconnaissance, squadron, world, 20th, special, operations, squadron, united, states, force, unit, assigned, 363d, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissan. 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron redirects here For The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of World War II see 20th Special Operations Squadron The 20th Intelligence Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 363d Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska It has served at Offutt since June 1992 when it was activated as the 20th Air Intelligence Squadron 20th Intelligence SquadronCol Carol Northrup Air Force Targeting Center commander passes the squadron guidon to incoming commander Lt Col Patrick Sutherland 2011 Active1942 1946 1947 1951 1954 1967 1992 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleIntelligenceSizeSquadronPart ofAir Combat CommandGarrison HQOffutt Air Force BaseMascot s Yosemite SamEngagementsSouthwest Pacific TheaterVietnam War 1 DecorationsDistinguished Unit CitationPresidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V DeviceAir Force Meritorious Unit AwardAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAir Force Organizational Excellence AwardPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 Insignia20th Intelligence Squadron emblem approved 7 July 1958 1 The squadron was first activated as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron in July 1942 In September 1943 it moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater engaging in combat mapping missions until V J Day moving forward with Allied forces through New Guinea the Philippine Islands and the Ryuku Islands earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation It briefly served with the occupation forces before inactivating in June 1946 As the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron later 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron it served in the reserve from 1947 until it was mobilized for the Korean War in 1951 It was inactivated shortly after being called to active duty and its personnel and equipment were used to bring other units up to strength The squadron was activated at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina in March 1954 as the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron It trained in reconnaissance missions deploying to MacDill Air Force Base during the Cuban Missile Crisis In 1965 the squadron moved to Southeast Asia where it flew combat reconnaissance missions until inactivating in November 1967 Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2 1 World War II 2 2 Reserve and Korean War 2 3 Cold War 2 4 Intelligence operations 3 Lineage 3 1 Assignments 3 2 Stations 3 3 Aircraft 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksMission editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message The mission of the 20th is to provide prompt precise intelligence enabling warfighters to safely engage and achieve global objectives The 20th processes and analyzes raw electronic intelligence data and prepares both operational and technical electronic intelligence reports and studies The 20th is organized into three flights The Target Material Flight produces precise coordinated measurements and mission support materials for Air Force bomber fighter and other airborne platforms engaged in exercise training or actual combat operations The Combat Applications Flight activities entail providing direct application support for specified combat customers This includes an AIA node for operational dissemination of near real time imagery to Air Force and Department of Defense users worldwide The Combat Applications Flight is also Air Combat Command s point of contact for premission survivability and threat assessments target analysis weaponeering support and post mission combat assessments for the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile program The Operations Flight provides the day to day operating support to the other flights within the 20th These activities are dispersed though branches who perform the activities of planning requirements management systems maintenance logistics support and resource management History editWorld War II edit The squadron was originally formed as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron in mid 1942 2 In these early years the unit worked under several different names and was stationed in the Pacific Theater as an element of Fifth Air Force The units operated a variety of photographic reconnaissance aircraft in the South Pacific engaging in combat reconnaissance It moved to Japan in 1945 carrying out postwar reconnaissance and mapping of the Japanese Home Islands and Korean Peninsula as part of the War Department s Post Hostilities Mapping Project It was inactivated June 1946 2 Reserve and Korean War edit The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947 as the 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron a long range reconnaissance squadron It was called to active duty during the Korean War at the start of May 1951 Its personnel were used as fillers for other United States Air Force units and it was inactivated two weeks later 2 Cold War edit nbsp 20th TRS McDonnell RF 101C 56 0183 at Shaw AFB about 1960The squadron was reactivated in the regular Air Force as the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in 1954 under the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group as a Lockheed RF 80A Shooting Star reconnaissance training squadron at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina It upgraded to Republic RF 84F Thunderflashes in 1955 The squadron transferred to operational missions in 1959 with reassignment to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and re equipped with McDonnell RF 101 Voodoos The unit deployed to Florida in 1962 during Cuban Missile Crisis and flew tactical reconnaissance flights over Cuba during the Crisis It returned to Shaw in late 1962 The squadron deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base South Vietnam 1963 1965 flying tactical reconnaissance in Southeast Asia It was inactivated in 1967 Intelligence operations edit The squadron was reactivated and designated the 20th Air Intelligence Squadron under the newly formed Air Combat Command in 1992 at Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska 1 A year later it was redesignated as the 20th Intelligence Squadron 1 Lineage editConstituted as the 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 14 July 1942Activated on 23 July 1942 Redesignated 20th Photographic Squadron Heavy on 6 February 1943 Redesignated 20th Combat Mapping Squadron on 11 August 1943 Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron Long Range Photographic RCM note 1 on 10 May 1945 Inactivated on 20 June 1946Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron Night Photographic on 11 March 1947Activated in the reserve on 25 July 1947 Redesignated 20th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Photographic Mapping on 27 June 1949 Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951 Inactivated on 16 May 1951Redesignated 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Photographic Jet on 14 January 1954Activated on 18 March 1954 Redesignated 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadronon 8 October 1966 Discontinued and inactivated 1 November 1967Redesignated 20th Air Intelligence Squadron on 1 June 1992Activated 12 June 1992 Redesignated 20th Intelligence Squadron on 1 October 1993 1 Assignments edit 4th Photographic Group later 4th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group 4th Photographic Group 23 July 1942 attached to 6th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group later 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 6th Photographic Group after 17 June 1943 6th Photographic Group later 6th Reconnaissance Group 5 December 1943 91st Reconnaissance Wing 10 November 1945 V Bomber Command 1 December 1945 314th Composite Wing 31 May 1946 20 June 1946 66th Reconnaissance Group 25 July 1947 Tenth Air Force 27 June 1949 311th Air Division 21 July 1949 Second Air Force 1 November 1949 16 May 1951 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 18 March 1954 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 8 February 1958 attached to 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing after 8 April 1959 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 18 May 1959 2d Air Division 12 November 1965 attached to 6240th Combat Support Group 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 18 February 1966 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 18 September 1966 1 November 1967 480th Air Intelligence Group later 480th Intelligence Group 12 June 1992 Air Combat Command Targeting and Intelligence Group 2 June 2008 Air Force Targeting Center 7 December 2009 363d Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group 17 February 2015 present 1 Stations edit Colorado Springs Army Air Base Colorado 23 July 1942 7 September 1943 Sydney Australia 10 October 1943 air echelon remained at Colorado Springs Army Air Base to c 12 October 1943 then at Will Rogers Field Oklahoma from 14 October 1943 to 26 January 1944 Archerfield Airport Brisbane Australia 23 November 1943 Port Moresby Airfield Complex New Guinea 10 December 1943 Nadzab Airfield Complex New Guinea 14 February 1944 operated primarily from Mokmer Airfield Biak after 7 August 1944 Mokmer Airfield Biak 3 September 1944 Dulag Airfield Leyte 15 November 1944 operated from Mokmer Airfield Biak to 22 January 1945 Tacloban Airfield Leyte Philippines from 25 January 23 February 1945 McGuire Field San Jose Mindoro Philippines from 24 February 16 May 1945 Clark Field Luzon Philippines 17 May 1945 Okinawa Ryukyu Islands 4 August 1945 Yokota Airfield Japan 27 October 1945 20 June 1946 operated from Tachikawa Airfield Japan December 1945 April 1946 Johnson Air Base Japan after April Newark Army Air Base New Jersey 25 July 1947 Forbes Air Force Base Kansas 21 July 1949 Barksdale Air Force Base Louisiana 10 October 1949 16 May 1951 Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina 18 March 1954 12 November 1965 operated from MacDill Air Force Base Florida 21 October 1962 30 November 1962 Tan Son Nhut Airport South Vietnam 12 November 1965 Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 1 April 1966 1 November 1967 Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska 12 June 1992 present 1 Aircraft edit North American B 25 Mitchell 1942 Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress 1942 1943 Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1943 1946 Consolidated F 7 Liberator 1943 1946 Lockheed RF 80 Shooting Star 1954 1955 Republic RF 84 Thunderflash 1955 1958 McDonnell RF 101 Voodoo 1957 1967 1 References edit nbsp World War II portalNotes edit Explanatory notes Radio Countermeasures Citations a b c d e f g h i Haulman Daniel 27 November 2020 Factsheet 20 Intelligence Squadron Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 8 July 2018 a b c Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 107 108 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency 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 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 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 External links editNational Air Intelligence Center 20th Intelligence Squadron history Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 20th Intelligence Squadron amp oldid 1130563767, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
