13th Reconnaissance Squadron

13th Reconnaissance Squadron
Active	20 June 1942 – 1 December 1945 6 July 1947 – 27 June 1949 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953 1 October 1987 – 31 March 2000 12 March 2005 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 10th Air Force 610th Regional Support Group
Garrison/HQ	Beale Air Force Base
Engagements	World War II
Decorations	DUC AFOUA FCdG w/ Palm

"13th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium)" redirects here. For the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron of World War II, see 913th Air Refueling Squadron.

The 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (13 RS) is part of the 940th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Mission

The 13 RS provides theater commanders with near-real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition data.

History

The 13th flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from, 28 March 1943 – 26 April 1945. It provided Intra-theater airlift for high-ranking Pacific Air Forces military and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment from, 1987–1993. The squadron moved without personnel and equipment to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, on 1 October 1993 and absorbed personnel and equipment of the 30th Airlift Squadron. Equipped with C-141, the squadron took on a new worldwide airlift mission until its inactivation in 2000.

Since 2005 the 13th has operated and maintained deployable, long-endurance RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft and ground control elements to fulfill training and operational requirements generated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in support of unified commanders and the Secretary of Defense. It currently trains all RQ-4B pilots and sensor operators.

Operations

• World War II

Lineage

• 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (1942–1943)
• 13th Photographic Squadron (Light) (1943)
• 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (1943–1947)
• 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (1947–1952)
• 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1952–1987)
• 13th Military Airlift Squadron (1987–1992)
• 13th Airlift Squadron (1992–2005)
• 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (2005 – Present)

Assignments

• 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group (1942–1943)
  • Attached: 1st Bombardment Wing (2 December 1942 – 16 February 1943)
  • Attached: 8th Air Force (16 February – 7 July 1943)
• 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group (1943–1945)
• 65th Reconnaissance Group (1947–1949)
• 65th Troop Carrier Group (1952–1953)

• 374th Tactical Airlift Wing (1987–1992)
• 316th Airlift Support Group (1992)
• 18th Wing (1992–1993)
• 438th Airlift Wing (1993–1994)
• 305th Air Mobility Wing (1994–2000)
• 610th Regional Support Group (2005–2009)
• 940th Wing (2009–2016)
• 726th Group (2016-present)

Bases stationed

• Colorado Springs, Colorado (1942)
• RAF Podington, England (1942–1943)
• RAF Mount Farm, England (1943–1945)
• RAF Chalgrove, England (1945)
• RAF Shepherds Grove, England (1945)
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey (1945)

• Rome Army Air Field, New York (1947–1948)
• Chemung County Airport, New York (1948–1949)
• Mitchel Air Force Base, New York (1952–1953)
• Kadena Air Base, Japan (1987–1993)
• McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey (1993–2000)
• Beale Air Force Base, California (2005 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

• P-38 Lightning (1942–1945)
• L-4 Grasshopper (1942–1943)
• Supermarine Spitfire (1943)
• P-51 Mustang (1945)
• C-46 Commando (1952–1953)
• C-12 Huron (1987–1993)
• C-141 Starlifter (1993–2000)
• RQ-4 Global Hawk (2005 – Present)

Bibliography

• 13th Reconnaissance Squadron History
• 13th Reconnaissance Squadron Fact Sheet