Lineage. Constituted as 324 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Apr 1942. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 324 Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Jun 1947. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated as: 324 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 Nov 1948; 324 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium on 6 Jul 1950. Inactivated on 8 Nov 1957. Redesignated as 324 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, and converted to a provisional status, on 25 Jun 2009. Activated on 2 Jul 2009. Inactivated on 9 Dec 2009. Activated on 26 Mar 2010. Inactivated on 1 Jun 2010. Activated on 28 Jul 2010. Inactivated on 1 Oct 2010. Activated on 25 Mar 2011.
Assignments. 91 Bombardment Group, 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945. 91 Reconnaissance (later, 91 Strategic Bombardment) Group, 1 Jul 1947; 91 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952-8 Nov 1957. 404 Air Expeditionary Group, 2 Jul-9 Dec 2009. 404 Air Expeditionary Group, 26 Mar-1 Jun 2010. 404 Air Expeditionary Group, 28 Jul-1 Oct 2010. United States Air Forces in Europe (attached to Seventeenth Air Force [Air Forces Africa]), 25-29 Mar 2011; 404 Air Expeditionary Group, 30 Mar 2011 (attached to 100 Operations Group, 2 Apr 2011-29 Feb 2012); 409 Air Expeditionary Group, 1 Mar 2012-.
Stations. Harding Field, LA, 15 Apr 1942; MacDill Field, FL, 13 May 1942; Walla Walla, WA, 22 Jun-24 Aug 1942; Kimbolton, England, 13 Sep 1942; Bassingbourn, England, 14 Oct 1942-23 Jun 1945; Drew Field, FL, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945. Andrews Field, MD, 1 Jul 1947; McGuire AFB, NJ, 19 Jul 1948; Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Oct 1949; Lockbourne AFB, OH, 11 Sep 1951-8 Nov 1957. Ramstein AB, Germany, 2 Jul-9 Dec 2009. Ramstein AB, Germany, 26 Mar-1 Jun 2010. Naval Station, Rota, Spain, 28 Jul-1 Oct 2010. Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy, 25 Mar 2011-.
Commanders. Unkn, 15 Apr-15 May 1942; Capt Harold C. Swelser, 16 May 1942; Capt Edward D. Gaitley Jr., 23 Nov 1942; Maj Claude E. Putnam, 29 Nov 1942; Capt Edward D. Gaitley Jr., 16 Jan 1943; Maj Haley W. Aycock, 29 Jan 1943; Lt Col Richard W. Weitzenfeld, 30 Jun 1943; Maj Immanuel J. Klette, 26 Jul 1944-unkn. Unkn, 1 Jul 1947-30 Jun 1950; Maj Rodger L. Howard, 1 Jul 1950; Capt Landon E. McConnell, Nov 1950; Capt Jack G. Emerson, 23 Feb 1951; Lt Col John A. Des Portes, 20 Mar 1951; Lt Col John R. Archer Jr., 1 Nov 1952; Maj Hugh P. Marohl, Jun 1955; Lt Col William V. Strait Jr., Jul-8 Nov 1957.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1945. B/RB-17, 1949; B/RB-29, 1949-1950; B/RB-45, 1950-1953; RB-47, 1953-1957.
Operations. Combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 7 Nov 1942-25 Apr 1945. Unknown, 1947-1949. Trained for strategic missions and flew photography missions, 1949-1957.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Hamm, Germany, 4 Mar 1943; Germany, 11 Jan 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 8 Sep 1953-8 Nov 1957.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 15 May 2012.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 8 Nov 1957.
Supersedes statement prepared on 9 Jul 2009.
Emblem. Approved on 24 Aug 1953. Emblem should be modified to meet the standards of AFI 84-105, chapter 3.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.