Role Reconnaissance | ||
 | ||
Active 1942-1945; 1947-1957; 2009; 2010; 2011- Part of United States Air Forces Europe Garrison/HQ Naval Air Station Sigonella Engagements European Theater of Operations Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | ||
The 324th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. Its is assigned to the 409th Air Expeditionary Group at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Iitaly.
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The squadron was first activated in 1942 as the 324th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in combat from late 1942 until V-E Day, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. Following the end of the war, it returned to the United States and was inactivated in November 1945.
The unit was activated as the 324th Reconnaissance Squadron under Strategic Air Command in 1947. The following year it moved to McGuire Air Force Base and began to equip with bombers modified for long range reconnaissance. It continued in the strategic reconnaissance role until 1957, when it was inactivated.
In 2009, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 324th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed.
World War II
The squadron was established as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadron in early 1942. It trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States with final training under Second Air Force in Washington. The 324th deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it became part of VIII Bomber Command in England. It was one of earliest American heavy bomber squadrons to arrive in England. Most personnel were demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe. The squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re-equipped and remanned as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress squadron. The surrender of Japan canceled these plans and it was inactivated in the United States during November 1945.
Strategic reconnaissance
The squadron was reactivated in 1947 as a Strategic Air Command long-range strategic reconnaissance squadron, although it was not manned or equipped until July 1948. It used B-17 and B-29 bombers refitted for reconnaissance missions. The squadron deployed to Japan in 1950, and performed strategic reconnaissance missions over Korea and the Northern Pacific coast of People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The 324th Re-equipped with RB-45C Tornado jet reconnaissance aircraft, flying reconnaissance and mapping combat missions over Korea until returning to the United States in mid-1952. The squadron re-equipped with RB-47E Stratojets and performed various reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale until inactivation in 1957.
Provisional unit
In 2009, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 324th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. It was most recently activated in the Mediterranean as part of the 409th Air Expeditionary Group.