1st Reconnaissance Squadron

1st Reconnaissance Squadron
Unit name	1st Reconnaissance Squadron
Dates	5 March 1913 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Reconnaissance
Role	ISTAR
Size	Squadron
Command structure	9th Reconnaissance Wing
Garrison	Beale Air Force Base
Motto	"First to Find"
Battles	World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

1st Reconnaissance Squadron is the oldest flying unit in the United States Air Force, tracing its lineage to the formation of the 1st Aero Squadron in 1913. It has served in every major American conflict from World War I to the War on Terror, evolving from early Curtiss JN-4 biplanes to today's sophisticated high-altitude surveillance platforms. The squadron is currently assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California, executing global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

History

The squadron was originally constituted as the 1st Aero Squadron on 5 March 1913, and its early service included support for the Pancho Villa Expedition led by General John J. Pershing. During World War I, it operated in France as an observation unit, participating in campaigns like the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Following the war, the unit was redesignated multiple times, serving as a pursuit and later a bombardment squadron. In World War II, it flew B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress aircraft in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for missions over Japan. The squadron transitioned to reconnaissance during the Cold War, flying variants of the RB-47 Stratojet and SR-71 Blackbird from bases like Eielson Air Force Base and Kadena Air Base.

Mission and operations

The squadron's primary mission is to provide global intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) for national command authorities and combatant commanders. It operates high-altitude aircraft equipped with advanced SIGINT, IMINT, and MASINT sensors to monitor areas of interest. Current operations support ongoing commitments with United States Central Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and United States European Command, contributing to tasks ranging from treaty verification to direct support of Special Operations Command forces. The unit's real-time data is critical for national security decisions and battlefield awareness.

Aircraft

* Curtiss JN-4 (1917–1919) * De Havilland DH-4 (1919–1928) * Boeing P-12 (1930–1935) * Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1941–1943) * Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1944–1946) * Boeing RB-47 Stratojet (1954–1960) * Lockheed U-2 (1966–1976) * Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (1976–1990) * Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk (2002–present) * Lockheed Martin U-2S (1994–present)

Assignments and bases

The squadron has been assigned to numerous wings and groups throughout its history. Major assignments include the 1st Surveillance Group in the 1920s, the 5th Bombardment Group during World War II, and the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing during the Cold War. Its current assignment is to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing under Air Combat Command. Significant bases have included Fort Sill, Kelly Field, Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. Since 1976, its primary operating location has been Beale Air Force Base.

Notable personnel

* Henry H. Arnold, later General of the Army Air Forces and the Air Force, served with the squadron early in his career. * Jimmy Doolittle, famed Medal of Honor recipient and aviation pioneer, was associated with the unit during the interwar period. * Curtis LeMay, who later commanded the Strategic Air Command, flew with the squadron during its B-29 Superfortress operations. * Several squadron members have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for extraordinary achievements during reconnaissance missions.

Awards and decorations

The squadron has received numerous unit awards reflecting its prolonged combat service and exceptional performance. These include the Distinguished Unit Citation (later the Presidential Unit Citation) for actions from 13 June to 1 July 1945 over Japan. It has also been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device multiple times for service during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 conflicts. Campaign participation credit spans from the Mexican Border Service to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary campaign.

Category:United States Air Force reconnaissance squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1913