323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron

323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Emblem of the 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Active	1942-1957
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Strategic Reconnaissance

The 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 8 November 1957.

History[]

Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States with final training under Second Air Force in Washington. Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, being one of the first heavy bomb squadrons arriving in England. The 323d was one of the most highly decorated strategic heavy bomb squadrons in the European Theater, flying combat missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until the German capitulation in May 1945. Most personnel demobilized in England immediately after the end of the war in Europe, Squadron returned to the United States with a small headquarters staff and was planned to be re-equipped and remanned as a B-29 Superfortress squadron. Japanese capitulation canceled plans and was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during November 1945.

Reactivated in 1947 as a Strategic Air Command long-range strategic reconnaissance squadron; not manned or equipped until July 1948. Used B-17 and B-29 bombers refitted for reconnaissance missions. Deployed to Japan in 1950, and performed strategic reconnaissance missions over Korea, and the Northern Pacific coast of Communist China and the Soviet Union. Re-equipped with RB-45C Tornado jet reconnaissance aircraft, flying reconnaissance and mapping combat missions over Korea until being assigned to the United States in mid 1952. Re-equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, performed various reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale until inactivation in 1957.

Lineage[]

Constituted 323d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 April 1942

Inactivated on 7 November 1945

Redesignated 323d Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 June 1947

Activated on 1 July 1947

Redesignated: 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 November 1948

Redesignated: 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 6 July 1950

Inactivated on 8 November 1957

Assignments[]

91st Bombardment Group, 15 April 1942 – 7 November 1945
91st Reconnaissance (later Strategic Reconnaissance) Group, 1 July 1947
91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952 – 8 November 1957

Stations[]

Harding Army Air Field, Louisiana, 15 April 1942
MacDill Field, Florida, 16 May 1942
Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 28 June-24 August 1942
RAF Kimbolton (AAF-117), England, 13 September 1942 (ground echelon), early October 1942 (air echelon)
RAF Bassingbourn (AAF-121), England, 14 October 1942 – 23 June 1945
Drew Field, Florida, 3 July-7 November 1945
Andrews Field, Maryland, 1 July 1947
McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 19 July 1948
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 1 October 1949

Deployed to Johnson AB and Yokota AB, Japan 6 July 1950-28 May 1952

Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 11 September 1951 – 8 November 1957

Aircraft[]

B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
RB-17 Flying Fortress, 1948–1949
RB-29 Superfortress, 1949–1950
RB-45C Tornado, 1950–1953
RB-47E Stratojet, 1953–1957

References[]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5

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