53 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC)

Lineage.    Constituted as 3 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Air Route, Medium on 7 Aug 1944.  Activated on 31 Aug 1944.   Redesignated as: 3 Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather, Heavy on 26 Jan 1945; 53 Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range, Weather on 15 Jun 1945; 53 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather on 27 Nov 1945.  Inactivated on 15 Oct 1947.   Redesignated as 53 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Weather on 22 Jan 1951.   Activated on 21 Feb 1951.   Redesignated as 53 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 15 Feb 1954.  Discontinued on 18 Mar 1960.   Organized on 8 Jan 1962.   Inactivated on 30 Jun 1991.   Activated in the Reserve on 1 Nov 1993. 

Assignments.  North Atlantic Division, 31 Aug 1944; Air Transport Command, 12 Jan 1945; 311 Photographic (later, 311 Reconnaissance) Wing, 15 Feb 1945; Air Transport Command, 13 Mar 1946; Air Weather Service, 20 Mar 1946-15 Oct 1947.   2108 Air Weather Group, 21 Feb 1951; Air Weather Service, 2 May 1951; 9 Weather Group, 20 Apr 1953; 2058 Air Weather Wing, 25 Nov 1953; 2 Weather Wing, 8 Feb 1954-18 Mar 1960.   9 Weather Reconnaissance Group, 8 Jan 1962; 9 Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jul 1965; 41 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Sep 1975; Air Rescue Service, 1 Aug 1989-30 Jun 1991.  403 Operations Group, 1 Nov 1993-.   

Stations.  Presque Isle AAFld, ME, 31 Aug 1944; Grenier Field, NH, 9 Nov 1944; Morrison Field, FL, 8 Nov 1946-21 Jul 1947; Kindley Field, Bermuda, 17 Aug-15 Oct 1947.   Kindley AFB, Bermuda, 21 Feb 1951-5 Nov 1953; Burtonwood Air Depot (later, RAF Burtonwood), England, 7 Nov 1953; RAF Alconbury, England, 25 Apr 1959; RAF Mildenhall, England, 10 Aug 1959-18 Mar 1960.   Kindley AFB, Bermuda, 8 Jan 1962-1 Jul 1963; Hunter AFB, GA, 31 Aug 1963; Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, 15 Jun 1966; Keesler AFB, MS, 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1991.  Keesler AFB, MS, 1 Nov 1993-.   

Service Streamers.  World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers.  None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.   Army Meritorious Unit Commendation: 23 May-31 Oct 1945.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Dec 1958-30 Sep 1959; 1 Jul 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1971; 1 Sep 1975-1 May 1977; 16 Jul 1977-16 Jul 1979; 17 Jul 1979-15 Jun 1981; 1 Apr 1984-31 Mar 1986; 1 Apr 1986-31 Mar 1988; [1 Nov 1993]-30 Apr 1994; 1 May 1994-30 Apr 1996; 1 May 1996-31 Aug 1997; 1 Jan 2004-31 Dec 2005; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2010; 1 Jan 2015-31 Dec 2017.   

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 11 Jul 2023.

Supersedes statement prepared on 9 Mar 2012.

Emblem.  Approved on 27 Sep 2002.

Prepared by Melissa Lahue.

Reviewed by Margaret Ream.