Active 1942-1944; 1947 Role Reconnaissance | Country United States Notable
commanders Winston P. Wilson | |
 | ||
Branch United States Air Force | ||
The 16th Photographic Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 55th Reconnaissance Group at MacDill Field, Florida, where it was inactivated on 16 December 1947. It served as a mapping unit during World War II and the initial years of Strategic Air Command
Contents
History
Initially activated in March 1942 at Bolling Field as a laboratory for processing photographic products produced by the 1st Mapping Group. During World War II, the squadron was engaged in photographic mapping of areas of the United States with a variety of aircraft.
The squadron moved to Buckley Field in late 1944, where it was assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, which became the major reconnaissance organization of Strategic Air Command (SAC). It moved to with the wing to MacDill Field, Florida in April 1946 and was assigned to the 55th Reconnaissance Group in 1947. The squadron was engaged in SAC's strategic mapping mission. The 16th was inactivated in December and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (Special), which was simultaneously activated.
Lineage
Assignments
Stations
Emblem
Approved on 29 March 1943 the squadron's emblem depicts a white caricatured bear, grasping a black aerial camera proper in the forepaws, leaning and diving through space on a wing section formed by two red planks, and having a tail rudder of the same material, all emitting white speed lines and mounted on a light blue disc.