348 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC)

Lineage.  Constituted as 348 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942.  Activated on 1 Jun 1942.  Inactivated on 8 Nov 1945.  Redesignated as 348 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 3 Jul 1947.  Activated in the Reserve on 17 Jul 1947.  Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.  Redesignated as 348 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Heavy and activated, on 1 Jan 1953.  Redesignated as 348 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 Oct 1955.  Inactivated on 30 Sep 1973.  Redesignated as 348 Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 Aug 2011.  Activated on 19 Sep 2011.     

Assignments.   99 Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945.  99 Bombardment Group, 17 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.  99 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 99 Bombardment) Wing, 1 Jan 1953-30 Sep 1973.  69 Reconnaissance Group, 19 Sep 2011; 319 Operations Group, 28 Jun 2019-.

Stations.  Orlando AB, FL, 1 Jun 1942; MacDill Field, Fl, 1 Jun 1942; Pendleton Field, OR, 29 Jun 1942; Gowen Field, ID, 28 Aug 1942; Walla Walla, WA, 30 Sep 1942; Sioux City AAB, IA, 17 Nov 1942-2 Jan 1943; Navarin, Algeria, 16 Mar 1943; Oudna, Tunisia, c. 4 Aug 1943; Tortorella Airfield, Italy, c. 13 Dec 1943; Marcianise, Italy, c. 27 Oct-8 Nov 1945. Brookley Field, AL, 17 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.  Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Jan 1953; Westover AFB, MA, 4 Sep 1956-30 Sep 1973.  Grand Forks AFB, ND, 19 Sep 2011-.   

Commanders.  Unkn, 1 Jun-31 Aug 1942; Maj Warren B. Whitmore, 1 Sep 1942; Maj Robert Elliott, 17 Jul 1943; Maj Max E. Davis, 15 Oct 1943; Capt George E. Branson, c. Dec 1943; Capt Harold E. Murphree Jr., 18 Feb 1944; Maj John A. Christensen, 12 Jun 1944; Maj Frank B. Knepper, c. 1 Sep 1944; Lt Col Robert E. Guay, 26 Apr 1945-unkn. Unkn, 17 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.  Unkn, 1 Jun 1953-May 1955; Lt Col Wante J. Bartol, by Jun 1955; Maj Oscar C. Fitzhenry, by Dec 1955; Lt Col Wante J. Bartol, Nov 1956; Lt Col Merle M. Jones, Sep 1958; Lt Col John M. Chapman, Jul 1959; Maj John A. Herberg, 18 May 1961; Lt Col Lynn H. Moulthrop Jr., 18 May 1962; Lt Col Donald L. Keplinger, 20 Nov 1965; Lt Col Charles B. Layton, 15 Jun 1967; Lt Col Donald B. Shea, 20 Aug 1969; Lt Col Walter R. Dawes, 3 Nov 1969; Lt Col Drew C. Sleeper, 1 Dec 1969; Lt Col Andrew Pringle, 1 Sep 1970; Maj Carlos M. Ruiz, 22 Sep 1970; Lt Col Donald Macleod Jr., 27 Mar 1973; Lt Col Lawrence Gray, 1 Jul-30 Sep 1973. 

Aircraft.  B-17, 1942-1945.  B/RB-36, 1953-1956; B-52, 1956-1973.  R/E-Q4 (Global Hawk), 2011-.

Operations.  Combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 31 Mar 1943-26 Apr 1945.  Earned two Distinguished Unit Citations (DUCs) during World War II: on 5 Jul 1943 for a bombing mission against enemy aircraft and installations in Sicily, and on 22-23 Apr 1944 for bombing an enemy aircraft factory in Austria.  Served as both a bombardment and a reconnaissance squadron, Jul 1954-c. 21 Feb 1955 and as a reconnaissance squadron, 1 Oct 1955-27 Feb 1956.  Trained to become and remained combat-ready in B-52 aircraft, 1956-1973.  Activated in 2011, and afterwards began flying the R/E-Q4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft for reconnaissance missions. 

Service Streamers.  None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.   

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.  Distinguished Unit Citations:  Sicily, 5 Jul 1943; Austria, 23 Apr 1944.  Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2013-31 May 2014; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 2-21 Mar 1969 and 15-31 Mar 1970.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1967-1 Mar 1968; 2 Mar-1 Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun 1972; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 2 Mar 1969-31 Mar 1970.   

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 8 Sep 2020.

Commanders through Sep 1973, Aircraft, and Operations through Nov 2014.

Supersedes statement prepared on 20 Nov 2014.

Emblem. Approved on 17 Nov 1958; newest rendition approved on 9 Apr 2012. 

Prepared by Margaret Ream.