Lineage. Constituted as 46 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated as 22 Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 3 Mar 1943. Disbanded on 11 Nov 1943. Reconstituted, and consolidated (19 Sep 1985), with 22 Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light), which was constituted, and activated, on 26 Apr 1965. Organized on 8 May 1965. Inactivated on 22 Sep 1988. Redesignated as 22 Tactical Air Support Training Squadron on 1 Oct 1988. Activated on 14 Oct 1988. Inactivated on 1 Nov 1991. Redesignated as 22 Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 Aug 2012. Activated on 10 Sep 2012. Redesignated as 22 Attack Squadron on 15 May 2016.
Assignments. 41 Bombardment Group (Medium), 15 Jan 1941 (air echelon attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 13 Oct-20 Nov 1942; 25 Antisubmarine Wing, 20 Nov 1942-8 Mar 1943); Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 3 Mar 1943; 25 Antisubmarine Wing, 8 Mar 1943; 479 Antisubmarine Group (air echelon), 14 Aug-11 Nov 1943; 18 Replacement Wing (ground echelon), 24 Sep-30 Oct 1943. Pacific Air Forces, 26 Apr 1965; 2 Air Division, 8 May 1965; 505 Tactical Control Group, 8 Nov 1965; 504 Tactical Air Support Group, 8 Dec 1966; 5 Tactical Control Group, 15 May 1971; 6486 Air Base Wing, 30 Sep 1971; 15 Air Base Wing, 1 Nov 1971; 326 Air Division, 4 Apr 1980-22 Sep 1988. 602 Tactical Air Control (later, 602 Air Control) Wing, 14 Oct 1988-1 Nov 1991. 732 Operations Group, 10 Sep 2012-.
Stations. March Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 18 May 1941; Muroc Bombing Range, CA, 10 Dec 1941; Hammer Field, CA, 26 Feb 1942; Alameda NAS, CA, 9 May 1942; Hammer Field, CA, 3 Jul 1942; Cherry Point NAS, NC, 28 Aug 1942; Bluethenthal Field, NC, 9 Apr 1943; Dunkeswell, England (air echelon), 20 Aug 1943; Salt Lake City AAB, UT (ground echelon), 24 Sep-30 Oct 1943; Podington, England (air echelon), c. Nov-11 Nov 1943. Binh Thuy Airport, South Vietnam, 8 May 1965; Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 15 Jan 1970; Wheeler AFB, HI, 15 May 1971-22 Sep 1988. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 14 Oct 1988-1 Nov 1991. Creech AFB, NV, 10 Sep 2012-.
Commanders. Lt Col Charles B. Dougher, unkn-1 Feb 1942; Lt Col Clifford J. Heflin, 1 Feb 1942-11 Nov 1943. Unkn, 8 May-30 Dec 1965; Lt Col Harold H. Sperber, c. 31 Dec 1965; Lt Col Thomas A. Wacht, c. 31 Dec 1967; Lt Col David M. Sharp, 1 Apr 1968; Col Ulie H. Jeffers Jr., 23 Nov 1968; Maj Barry O'Grady, 16 Jan 1969; Lt Col Wilmer F. Cline, 2 Apr 1969; Lt Col Winfield M. Stein, 15 Jan 1970; Lt Col Andrew G. Martin Jr., 15 Oct 1970; none (not manned), 15 Jan-14 May 1971; Lt Col John J. Kane, 15 May 1971; Lt Col Frank K. Sloan, 1 Jul 1972; Lt Col George M. Weeks III, c. 1 Jul 1978; Lt Col Robert L. Tidwell, 31 Mar 1980; Lt Col Richard L. Bartels, 2 Apr 1982; Lt Col Joseph C. Hurst, 27 Jul 1983; Lt Col Norman R. Baker, 3 Jul 1985; Lt Col Bruce H. Senft, c. Feb 1987-22 Sep 1988. Unkn, 14 Oct 1988; Lt Col James M. Howe, 3 Mar 1989-1 Nov 1991.
Aircraft. B-18, 1941-1942; A-29, 1942-1943; B-17, 1942-1943; B-25, 1943; B-34, 1943; B-24, 1943. O-1, 1965-1971; O-2, 1967-1971; 1971-1983; OV-10, 1983-1988. OV-10, 1988-1991.
Operations. Conducted antisubmarine patrols in the American Theater, Jan 1942-Aug 1943, and in the European Theater, Sep-Nov 1943. The ground echelon disbanded on 30 Oct 1943 and the air echelon disbanded on 11 Nov 1943. Organized at Binh Thuy Airport, South Vietnam, on 8 May 1965. Provided aircrews in Vietnam to direct air strikes for tactical aircraft operating within the Tactical Air Control System (TACS). Also, conducted visual reconnaissance, convoy escort, and other missions as directed by the Tactical Air Commander. Personnel and other resources were absorbed by 19 Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) on 15 Jan 1971 while the 22 TASS transferred without personnel or equipment to Wheeler AFB, HI on 15 May 1971. At Wheeler AFB, provided personnel and equipment to support US Army units in Hawaii. Trained in OV-10 aircraft, 1988-1991.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine; Air Offensive, Europe. Vietnam: Vietnam Defense; Vietnam Air; 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; Commando Hunt V.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Aug 1968-31 Aug 1969; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1970. Meritorious Unit Award; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2013. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Sep 1965-30 May 1966. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: [15] May-30 Sep 1971; 4 Apr-3 Sep 1975; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1979; 4 Mar 1986-3 Mar 1988; 1 May 1988-30 Apr 1990. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-[14 Jan] 1971. Republic of Vietnam First Class Civic Actions Medal with Palm: 1 Jul 1968-1 Jun 1969.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 22 Jun 2016.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Nov 1991.
Supersedes statement prepared on 10 Oct 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 8 Mar 1989. Modified and updated on 6 Jan 2014. Squadron should request a digital copy of emblem with new designation in scroll.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.