Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch/100mm
21st EXPEDITIONARY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON (USAFE)
Lineage. Constituted 21 Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942. Activated on 2 Mar 1942. Redesignated: 21 Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 21 Reconniassance Squadron (Bomber) on 2 Apr 1943; 21 Tactical Reconniassance Squadron on 11 Apr 1943. Disbanded on 1 May 1944. Reconstituted, and consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 1 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which was constituted on 5 Nov 1945. Activated on 6 Dec 1945. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949. Redesignated 1 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photo, on 25 Jun 1952. Activated on 10 Jul 1952. Redesignated: 1 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photo-Jet, on 15 May 1959; 1 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966. Inactivated on 15 Jan 1988. Redesignated 21 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, and converted to provisional status, on 10 Aug 2007.
Assignments. Air Force Combat Command, 2 Mar 1942; Army Air Forces, 9 Mar 1942; 75 Observation (later, 75 Reconnaissance; 75 Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 12 Mar 1942-1 May 1944. 10 Reconnaissance (later, 10 Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 16 Dec 1945-1 Apr 1949. 10 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 10 Jul 1952; 10 Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 10 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Dec 1957-15 Jan 1988. United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 10 Aug 2007.
Stations. Langley Field, VA, 2 Mar 1942; Kellogg Field, MI, 9 Mar 1942; Will Rogers Field, OK, 30 Aug 1942; William Northern Field, TN, 12 Mar 1943; Key Field, MS, 19 Aug 1943-1 May 1944. Creil, France, 16 Dec 1945; Istres, France, 13 Jan 1946; Compiegne, France, 30 May 1946; Furth, West Germany, 12 Sep 1946-c. 20 Jun 1947; Langley Field, VA, 25 Jun 1947; Lawson Field, GA, 8 Sep 1947; Pope Field (later, Pope AFB), NC, 29 Sep 1947-1 Apr 1949. Toul-Rosieres AB, France, 10 Jul 1951; Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, 8 May 1953; RAF Alconbury, England, 25 Aug 1959-15 Jan 1988.
Aircraft. L-4 and C-47, 1942; A-20, 1942-1943; B-25, 1942-1943; P-39, 1942-1943; 1943-1944; P-40, 1942-1943; 1943-1944; P-51, 1942-1943; 1943-1944; L-4, 1943. C-47, 1945-1946; UC-64, 1945-1946; C-45, 1946; P-51/F-6, 1946-1947; F-6, 1947-1948; P-51, 1947; AT-6, 1947-1949. RB-26, 1952-1956; RB-57, 1954-1957; RB-66, 1957-1965; RF-4C, 1965-1987.
Operations. Served as a replacement training unit, Dec 1942-Apr 1944. During 1945-1949, provided photographic reconnaissance for Army and Air Force agencies; photographed national cemeteries. Provided ground, air, and naval forces with visual and photographic information concerning disposition, movement, and activity of friendly and hostile forces, 1952-1965. Maintained combat readiness to accomplish visual, photographic, and electronic reconnaissance in support of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Royal Air Force (RAF), 1965-1987. Not operational, 16 Jun 1987-15 Jan 1988.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 31 Dec 1959-1 Jan 1962; 15 Jul 1968-15 Jul 1969; 1 Jun 1972-1 Jun 1973; 15 Nov 1977-14 Nov 1979; 1 Jun 1985-31 May 1987.
Emblem. Approved on 20 Jul 1954, modified on 2 Nov 2010.