Lineage. Constituted as 423 Night Fighter Squadron on 17 Aug 1943. Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Redesignated as: 155 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron on 22 Jun 1944; 45 Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic, on 3 Dec 1945; 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic, on 1 Jul 1948. Inactivated on 25 Mar 1949. Redesignated 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 19 Sep 1950. Activated on 26 Sep 1950. Redesignated as: 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic-Jet, on 1 Jan 1953; 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Jan 1967. Inactivated on 31 May 1971. Activated on 15 Oct 1971. Inactivated on 31 Oct 1975. Redesignated as 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron on 8 Sep 1981. Activated on 1 Apr 1982. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1989. Redesignated as 45 Reconnaissance Squadron on 24 Jun 1994. Activated on 1 Jul 1994.
Assignments. Air Defense Department, AAF School of Applied Tactics (attached to 481 Night Fighter Operational Training Group), 1 Oct 1943; 481 Night Fighter Operational Training Group, 1 Nov 1943; IX Tactical Air Command, 18 Apr 1944; 10 Photographic Group, 17 May 1944; IX Tactical Air Command, 16 Feb 1945; 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 21 Feb 1945 (attached to 9 Tactical Reconnaissance Group [Provisional], 25 Apr–23 May 1945); 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 23 May 1945; IX Tactical Air Command, 12 Jul 1945; 64 Fighter Wing, 1 Aug 1945; 10 Reconnaissance Group, 24 Nov 1945; 86 Composite Group, 15 May 1947; United States Air Forces in Europe, 14 Jan 1948; 7300 Air Force Composite Wing, 1 Jul 1948; United States Air Forces in Europe (attached to 36 Fighter Wing), 13 Aug 1948–25 Mar 1949. 543 Tactical Support Group, 26 Sep 1950; 314 Air Division, 1 Dec 1950 (attached to 49 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 27 Dec 1950–24 Feb 1951); 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 25 Feb 1951 (attached to 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jun–25 Nov 1954 and 1 Jul–30 Sep 1957); 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Oct 1957; 39 Air Division, 25 Apr 1960 (attached to 460 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 8 Jul 1966–[as Detachment 1, 45 TRS]); 475 Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Jan 1968 (remained attached to 460 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing [as Detachment 1, 45 TRS] to 31 Dec 1970); Fifth Air Force, 15 Mar–31 May 1971. 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 15 Oct 1971–31 Oct 1975 (attached to 10 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 13 Jun–7 Jul 1973). 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Apr 1982–30 Sep 1989. 55 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1994–.
Stations. Orlando AB, FL, 1 Oct 1943; Kern County Aprt, CA, 29 Jan–26 Mar 1944; Chormy Down, England, 18 Apr 1944; Chalgrove, England, 20 May 1944; Rennes, France, c. 10 Aug 1944; Chateaudun, France, 28 Aug 1944; St Dizier, France, c. 12 Sep 1944; Le Culot, Belgium, c. 13 Feb 1945; Maastricht, Holland, c. 4 Apr 1945; Kassel/Rothwesten, Germany, c. 10 Jul 1945; Darmstadt, Germany, 28 Sep 1945; Furth, Germany, 24 Nov 1945; Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, 26 Mar 1947–25 Mar 1949. Itazuke AB, Japan, 26 Sep 1950; Komaki AB, Japan, 23 Oct 1950; Taegu AB, South Korea, 27 Dec 1950; Kimpo, South Korea, 18 Aug 1951; Misawa AB, Japan, 3 Mar 1955–31 May 1971 (detachment at Don Muang RTAFB, Thailand, Nov 1961–1 May 1962 and 14 Nov–14 Dec 1962; Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 14 Dec 1962–5 May 1963, 1 Nov 1963–3 May 1964, and 1 Feb–6 Nov 1965; Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 1 Nov 1965–15 Aug 1966; deployed at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, Jul 1966–31 Dec 1970). Bergstrom AFB, TX, 15 Oct 1971–31 Oct 1975 (deployed at RAF Alconbury, England, 13 Jun–7 Jul 1973). Bergstrom AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1982–30 Sep 1989. Offutt AFB, NE, 1 Jul 1994–.
Commanders. Unkn, 1-14 Oct 1943 (not manned, 1-7 Oct 1943); Lt Col Joe G. Gillespie Jr., 15 Oct 1943; Maj George W. Reynolds, 28 Mar 1945; Lt David F. Ducy Jr., 5 Oct 1945; Lt William K. Bixby II, c. Nov 1945; Maj Franklin L. Moore, 24 Nov 1945; Maj Harry W. Trimble, 23 Jul 1946; Lt Col Robert R. Smith, 26 Mar 1947-unkn. Capt Lawrence R. McKulla, 26 Sep 1950; Lt Col Paul A. Pettigrew, 27 Oct 1950; Lt Col Stephen A. Stone Jr., 2 May 1951; Lt Col Thomas A. Hudson Jr., Nov 1951; Lt Col Morgan R. Beamer Jr., 30 Aug 1952; Lt Col Ewell K. Nold Jr., 1 May 1953; Lt Col Roger K. Rhodarmer, Jun 1953-unkn; Maj Edward G. Murphy, c. 1954-unkn; Lt Col Arthur G. Durbeck, c. 1955; Maj Frank O. Lux, 8 Aug 1957-unkn; Maj C. Bush, 1959-unkn; Maj Noble J. McSwane, c. 1960; Lt Col Arthur L. Osborn, 10 Sep 1960; Lt Col James A. Bryant, 1963; Lt Col Colin J. Walker, 23 Jun 1966; Maj Simon W. C. Moses, c. 1-22 Jul 1966; none (not manned), 23 Jul 1966-31 May 1971. Lt Col Dannie T. Waddle Jr., 15 Oct 1971; Lt Col James E. Kater, 20 Jul 1973; Lt Col Kay L. Berry, 20 Dec 1974-31 Oct 1975.
[Commanders, Detachment 1, 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: Maj Simon W. C. Moses, 8 Jul 1966; Col Daniel J. Nelson, 1 Aug 1966; Lt Col Gordon H. Johns, 1 Nov 1966; Lt Col Byron P. Spears, 10 Sep 1967; Col Alfred G. Simmons, 27 Aug 1968; Lt Col Jack W. Gillette, 24 Jan 1969; Lt Col Jack C. Bowland, 5 May 1969; Lt Col Kirby A. Bernich, 9 Aug 1969; Lt Col Thomas T. Mounts, 6 Dec 1969; Lt Col Spencer Hall Jr., 18 May-c. 16 Nov 1970; none (not manned), c. 16 Nov-31 Dec 1970.]
Lt Col David W. Buermeyer, 1 Apr 1982; Lt Col Harold Gillenwaters, 11 Jun 1983; Lt Col William A. Jenkins, 21 Dec 1984; Lt Col Stanley Degruccio, 4 Nov 1985; Lt Col Richard W. Rice, 8 Jul 1986; Lt Col Charles M. Wentz, 20 Nov 1987-30 Sep 1989. Lt Col Richard L. Wilson, 1 Jul 1994; Lt Col Joseph E. Spivey, 20 Jul 1995; Lt Col Robert T. Marlin, 9 May 1997-unkn; Lt Col Keven Harshbarger, 22 Nov 2004; Lt Col Ken Bauer, 21 Jul 2006; Lt Col Jeffrey Compton, Apr 2008; Lt Col Brian Humphrey, Apr 2010; Lt Col Ross M. Bullock, 12 Aug 2011-.
Aircraft. P–70, 1943–1944; A–20, 1943–1945; F–3, 1944–1945; A–26 (later, B–26), 1945–1949; F–6, 1946–1948; B–17, 1948. T–6, 1950–1951; F–51, 1950–1953; C–47, 1951–1952; F–80, 1952–1955; RF–80, 1952–1955; RF–84, 1955–1958; RF–101, 1958–1970. RF–4, 1971–1975. RF–4, 1982–1989. RC-135, 1994-; WC-135, 1994-; TC-135, 1994-; OC-135, 1994-.
Operations. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 6 Jun 1944–8 Apr 1945. Photo–mapping of Europe, Jun 1945–Mar 1949. Combat in Korea, 29 Dec 1950–27 Jul 1953. Squadron detachments flew combat reconnaissance in SEA, Nov 1961–Jul 1966. Combat reconnaissance in Southeast Asia (SEA), Jul 1966–Nov 1970. Trained basic pilot and navigator graduates in RF-4 weapons systems for entire US Air Force, 1982-1989. Performed reconnaissance missions including verification of Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), 1994-; also conducted air sampling missions, and world-wide reconnaissance and treaty missions supporting international treaty members, 1994-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Korea: CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea
Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/ Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations (Korea): 25 Feb–21 Apr 1951; 9 Jul–27 Nov
1951; 1 May–27 Jul 1953. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 18 Feb 1966–30 Jun 1967; 1 Sep 1967–10 Jul 1968; 11 Jul 1968–31 Aug 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 1 Nov 1962–31 Oct 1963; 1 Nov 1963–31 Dec 1964; 1 Jan 1966–30 May 1967; 1 Jul 1969–30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul–31 Dec 1970. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2006-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2008; 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2010; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2014; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Dec 1952–30 Apr 1953; 8 Nov 1961–10 May 1962; 16 Oct 1971–15 May 1973; 16 May 1974–31 Oct 1975; 1 Jun 1982–31 May 1983; 1 Jun 1983–31 May 1984; 1 Jan 1985–1 Feb 1986; 1 Jul 1994-31 Jul 1995; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 10 Feb 1951–31 Mar 1953. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966–30 Apr 1970.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 6 Sep 2019.
Aircraft and Operations through 6 Sep 2019.
Commanders through Aug 2012.
Supersedes statement prepared in Aug 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Dec 1952; latest rendering; 1 Sep 2021.
Prepared by James M. Musser.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.