Lineage. The 27 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (constituted as 27 Observation Squadron on 1 Jul 1942; activated on 17 Jul 1942; redesignated as 27 Reconnaissance Squadron [Fighter] on 2 Apr 1943, and 27 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; disbanded on 30 Nov 1943; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 167 Liaison Squadron (activated on 19 Feb 1945 by special authority prior to constitution on 1 Mar 1945; inactivated on 3 Oct 1946) and the 7 Special Operations Squadron (constituted as 7 Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated, on 14 May 1964; organized on 1 Jul 1964; redesignated as 7 Special Operations Squadron on 15 Jul 1968). Consolidated squadron retained designation as 7 Special Operations Squadron.
Assignments. 77 Observation (later, 77 Reconnaissance; 77 Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 17 Jul 1942-30 Nov 1943. Ninth Air Force, 19 Feb 1945 (attached to Sixth Army Group to 14 Jun 1945); XII Tactical Air Command, 20 May 1945; US Forces, European Theater, 15 Jul 1945; Third Air Force, 4 Aug 1945; XIX Tactical Air Command, 21 Jan 1946; Tactical Air Command, 21 Mar 1946; Ninth Air Force, 28 Mar-3 Oct 1946. United States Air Forces in Europe, 14 May 1964; Seventeenth Air Force, 1 May 1967; 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 17 Nov 1972; 86 Tactical Fighter Wing, 31 Jan 1973; 322 Tactical Airlift Wing, 15 Mar 1973; Seventeenth Air Force, 30 Jun 1975; 601 Tactical Control Wing, 15 Oct 1975; 7575 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1977; 2 Air Division, 1 Mar 1983; 39 Aerospace Rescue & Recovery (later, 39 Special Operations) Wing, 1 Feb 1987 (attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, 13 Jan-18 Mar 1991 and 6 Apr-14 May 1991); 352 Special Operations Group, 1 Dec 1992- (attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, 22 Feb-22 Mar 1993).
Stations. Godman Field, KY, 17 Jul 1942; Alamo Airfield, TX, 15 Oct 1942; Abilene Airfield, TX, 9 Apr 1943; Esler Field, LA, 13 Sep 1943; Birmingham AAB, AL, 14-30 Nov 1943. Vittel, France, 19 Feb 1945; Kaiserslautern, Germany, 5 Apr 1945; Pfaffengrund, Germany, 14 Apr 1945; Darmstadt, Germany, 10 Jun-2 Jul 1945; Drew Field, FL, 4 Aug 1945; Muskogee AAFld, OK, 1 Sep 1945; Marshall Field, KS, 1 Nov 1945-3 Oct 1946. Sembach AB, Germany, 1 Jul 1964; Ramstein AB, Germany, 15 Aug 1968; Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 15 Mar 1973 (deployed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, 13 Jan-18 Mar 1991 and 6 Apr-14 May 1991); RAF Alconbury, England, 1 Oct 1992-(deployed at Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 22 Feb-22 Mar 1993); RAF Mildenhall, England, 17 Feb 1996-.
Commanders. Unkn, 17 Jul 1942-30 Nov 1943. Capt Walter S. Sherman, 10 Mar 1945; unkn, 30 Jun 1945-31 May 1946; Maj Jerald C. Liebhart, by Jun 1946; Maj Lynn E. Witt Jr., 1 Jul 1946; Capt Francis H. Skipper, 2 Sep-3 Oct 1946. Lt Col Horace S. Reece, 1 Jul 1964; Lt Col William A. McLaughlin, 14 Sep 1966; Lt Col Richard R. Cole, by 18 Jul 1969; Col Richard C. Reeder, 7 Aug 1970-20 Mar 1973; unkn, 20-28 Mar 1973; Lt Col Lincoln A. Perry, (acting), 29 Mar 1973; Col Ralph W. Haymaker, 1 Jun 1973; Lt Col Lincoln A. Perry, 13 Feb 1974; Col Jerry A. Crist, 22 Aug 1975; Lt Col Charles A. Caven, 8 Jul 1976; Lt Col Thomas P. Bradley, 30 Mar 1978; Lt Col Walter K. Schmidt, 6 Jun 1980; Lt Col William E. Hudspeth, 8 Jul 1982; Lt Col J. J. Bortner, 26 Jun 1984; Lt Col George C. Ferkes, 21 Jul 1986; Lt Col Norman C. McCaslin, 1 Aug 1990; Lt Col Earle C. Lauderdale, 6 Nov 1992; Lt Col David J. Scott, 1 Jul 1994; Lt Col Percy R. Helm III, 31 Jul 1995; Lt Col Frank J. Kisner, 28 Jun 1997; Lt Col Bradley D. Arnold, 11 Jun 1999; Lt Col Thomas C. McMullen, 15 Feb 2001; Lt Col Mark B. Alsid, 9 Jul 2002; Lt Col Patrick K. Dean, 18 May 2004; Lt Col Albert M. Elton III, 27 Jun 2005; Lt Col Brad M. Sullivan, 7 Jun 2007; Lt Col Matthew A. Powell, 4 Nov 2008; Lt Col Benjamin R. Maitre, 15 Oct 2010-.
Aircraft. O-47, L-1, and L-4, 1942; P-39, 1942-1943. L-4, 1945; L-5, 1945-1946. C-47, 1964-1973; C-123, 1964-c. 1973; U-10, 1964-1968; C-130, 1968-c. 1977; UH-1, 1971-1973; MC-130, 1977-.
Operations. Aerial support for training ground forces, Jul 1942-Nov 1943. Courier operations in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 10 Mar-May 1945. Special operations training, May 1964-. Supported coalition forces in Southwest Asia conflict, Jan-Mar 1991; later resupplied Kurds in Northern Iraq. Supported special operations missions including psychological operations (PSYOPS), c. 2000-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rhineland; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 14 Jan-23 Mar 1991; 1 Aug 1998-31 Jul 1999; 1 Aug 2000-31 Jul 2002; 1 Aug 2003-31 Jul 2005. Gallant Unit Citations: 15 Oct 2001-15 Apr 2002; 12 Feb-12 May 2003. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2007; 1 Oct 2007-30 Sep 2009. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Sep 1964-15 Aug 1966; 16 Aug 1966-15 Jul 1968; 17 Mar-30 Jun 1972; 1 Aug 1976-30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1983-30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1986; 1 Feb 1987-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 24 Mar 1991-31 Jul 1992; 1 Aug 1992-31 Jul 1993; 1 Aug 1994-31 Jul 1996; 1 Aug 1996-31 Jul 1998; 1 Aug 1999-31 Jul 2000.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 21 Oct 2011.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Oct 2011.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved on 11 Jan 1965; latest rendering, 3 Oct 2018.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.