{{Redirect|28th Reconnaissance Squadron|the 28th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy)|418th Flight Test Squadron}} {{more footnotes needed|date=December 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 36th Intelligence Squadron center|60px |image= |image_size= |caption= |dates= 1942–1946; 1990-Present |country={{flag|United States|23px}} |allegiance= |branch={{air force|USA}} |type= |role= |size= |command_structure= |current_commander= |garrison= |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles=Southwest Pacific Theater<ref name=36ISfacts>{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432606/36-intelligence-squadron-acc/ |last1=Butler|first1=William M.|title=Factsheet 36 Intelligence Squadron (ACC)|date=8 November 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=15 July 2013}}</ref> |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations=Air Force Meritorious Unit Award<br/>Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device<br/>Air Force Outstanding Unit Award<br/>Air Force Organizational Excellence Award<br/>Philippine Presidential Unit Citation<ref name=36ISfacts/> |battle_honours= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol=165px |identification_symbol_label=36th Intelligence Squadron emblem |identification_symbol_2=165px |identification_symbol_2_label=36th Photographic Mapping Squadron emblem <small>(approved 7 March 1944)</small><ref name=36ISfacts/> }}
The '''36th Intelligence Squadron''' is an active non-flying squadron, of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Targeting Center at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it has been stationed since 1990. The squadron has earned the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award while stationed at Langley.
During World War II the squadron served in the Pacific as the '''36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron''' The squadron earned the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat operations during the Liberation of the Philippines in 1944–1945.
==History== ===World War II=== The squadron was first activated in the summer of 1942 as the '''28th Observation Squadron''', one of the squadrons of the 73d Observation Group at Godman Field, Kentucky, where it was equipped with the Bell P-39 Airacobra.<ref name="Maurer173">Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 173</ref> The squadron engaged in training activities including the Tennessee maneuvers of 1943.<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 50</ref>
During World War II, the squadron operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater, providing aerial reconnaissance and intelligence information over a wide area of the theater in numerous campaigns. In 1945, it performed reconnaissance missions over Formosa as well as the Philippines.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/065/747.xml |title=Abstract, History 36 Photo Recce Sq Apr 1945|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=15 July 2013}}</ref> The squadron earned the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat operations during the Liberation of the Philippines in 1944–1945. Following the Japanese surrender the squadron moved to Japan, briefly serving as part of the occupation forces, but returned to the Philippines at the end of 1945 and was inactivated in 1946.<ref name=Maurer173/>
===Intelligence=== The squadron was reactivated as an intelligence unit supporting Tactical Air Command (TAC) in 1990. When Air Combat Command replaced TAC in 1992, the 36th was transferred along with its parent group.<ref name=36ISfacts/> In February 2008, it was reassigned to the Air Combat Command Targeting and Intelligence Group. Although much of its history remains classified, it has won numerous awards for its performance.
==Lineage== * Constituted as the '''28th Observation Squadron''' on 1 July 1942 : Activated on 17 July 1942 : Redesignated: '''28th Reconnaissance Squadron''' (Fighter) on 2 April 1943 : Redesignated: '''28th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron''' on 11 August 1943 : Redesignated: '''36th Photographic Mapping Squadron''' on 9 October 1943 : Redesignated: '''36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron''' on 29 March 1944 : Inactivated on 20 February 1946 * Redesignated '''36th Tactical Intelligence Squadron''' and activated on 1 September 1990 : Redesignated '''36th Air Intelligence Squadron''' on 1 November 1991 : Redesignated '''36th Intelligence Squadron''' on 1 October 1993<ref name=36ISfacts/>
===Assignments=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * 73d Observation (later Reconnaissance; Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 17 July 1942 * 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 9 October 1943 (attached to 73d Tactical Reconnaissance Group) * 74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 21 October 1943 (attached to 73d Tactical Reconnaissance Group to 3 November 1943) * I (later III) Tactical Air Division, 29 March 1944 * Far East Air Forces, November 1944 * Thirteenth Air Force, 2 December 1944 * Fifth Air Force, 7 December 1944 {{Col-break|width=50%}} * 6th Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Group, 23 December 1944 * Seventh Air Force, 20 October 1945 * V Fighter Command, 29 November 1945 * Far East Air Forces (later Pacific Air Command, US Army), 3 December 1945 – 20 February 1946 * 480th Tactical Intelligence Group (later 480th Air Intelligence Group, 480th Intelligence Group), 1 September 1990<ref name=36ISfacts/> * Air Combat Command Targeting and Intelligence Group (later Air Force Targeting Center), 2 June 2008 – present<ref>Air Force Organization Change Status Report, June 2008, Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency</ref> {{Col-end}}
===Stations=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * Godman Field, Kentucky, 17 July 1942 * Camp Campbell Army Airfield, Kentucky, 25 June 1943 * Muskogee Army Air Field Oklahoma, to April-31 October 1944 * Hollandia Airfield Complex, Netherlands East Indies, 15 December 1944 * Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 26 December 1944 {{Col-break|width=50%}} * Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, c. 28 April – 26 July 1945 * Motobu Airfield, Okinawa, 4 August 1945 (air echelon remained at Clark Field to September 1945) * Chofu Airport, Japan, October 1945 * Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines, December 1945 – 20 February 1946 * Langley AFB, Virginia, 1 September 1990 – Present<ref name=36ISfacts/> {{Col-end}}
===Aircraft=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=33%}} '''Attack and Bomber Aircraft''' * Douglas A-20 Havoc and DB-7, 1942–1944 * Lockheed A-29 Hudson during period 1942 – 1944 * North American B-25 Mitchell, 1943–1944 * Lockheed B-34 Ventura, during period 1942 – 1944
{{Col-break|width=33%}} '''Fighter Aircraft''' * Lockheed P-38 Lightning (F-5), 1944, 1945. * Bell P-39 Airacobra: 1942–1943, 1943, 1943–1944 * Republic P-43 Lancer during period 1942 – 1944 * North American P-51 Mustang during period 1942 – 1944
{{Col-break|width=34%}} '''Observation and Liaison Aircraft''' * Stinson L-1 Vigilant, during period 1942 – 1944 * Taylorcraft L-2, during period 1942 – 1944 * Piper L-4 Cub, during period 1942 – 1944 * North American O-47, during period 1942 – 1944 * Curtiss O-52 Owl, during period 1942 – 1944 {{col-end}}
===Awards and campaigns=== {{unit awards table |award_image1=AF MUA |award_name1=Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |award_date1=1 June 2004 – 31 May 2006 |award_notes1=36th Intelligence Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image2=AF MUA |award_name2=Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |award_date2=1 June 2006 – 31 May 2007 |award_notes2=36th Intelligence Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image3=AF OUA w/ v |award_name3=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device |award_date3=1 June 2002 – 31 May 2003 |award_notes3=36th Intelligence Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image4=AF OUA |award_name4=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date4=1 September 1990 – 31 December 1991 |award_notes4=36th Tactical Intelligence Squadron (later 36th Air Intelligence Squadron)<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image5=AF OUA |award_name5=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date5=1 January 1992 – 30 September 1993 |award_notes5=36th Air Intelligence Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image6=AF OEA |award_name6=Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |award_date6=1 October 1993 – 30 September 1995 |award_notes6=36th Intelligence Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> |award_image7=PPUC |award_name7=Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation |award_date7=17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945 |award_notes7=36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=36ISfacts/> }}
Manual campaign table {| class="wikitable" ! Campaign Streamer ! Campaign ! Dates ! Notes |- |200px |American Theater | |28th Observation Squadron (later 36th Photographic Mapping Squadron)<ref name=Maurer173/> |- |200px |New Guinea | |36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=Maurer173/> |- |200px |Western Pacific | |36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=Maurer173/> |- |200px |Luzon | |36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=Maurer173/> |- |200px |Southern Philippines | |36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=Maurer173/> |- |200px |China Offensive | |36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron<ref name=Maurer173/> |}
==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} * {{cite book|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210115181723/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 January 2021 |title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|publisher=Office of Air Force History|year=1983|isbn=0-912799-02-1|edition=reprint|location=Washington, DC|lccn=61060979|editor=Maurer, Maurer|orig-year= 1961}} * {{cite book|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|publisher=Office of Air Force History|year=1982|isbn=0-405-12194-6|edition= reprint|location=Washington, DC|lccn=70605402|oclc=72556|editor=Maurer, Maurer|orig-year=1969}}
{{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II}} {{USAAF 13th Air Force World War II}}
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