# 38th Reconnaissance Squadron

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron
> Source revision: 1354189575
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

This article is about the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base. For other units with this designation, see [38th Reconnaissance Squadron (disambiguation)](/source/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron_(disambiguation)).

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "38th Reconnaissance Squadron" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

38th Reconnaissance Squadron 38th Reconnaissance Squadron RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft[a] Active 1941–1946 1947–1949 1950–1970 1979–present Country United States Branch United States Air Force Role Reconnaissance and Surveillance Part of Air Combat Command Garrison/HQ Offutt Air Force Base Mottos Ducimus Ceteri Sequuntur (Latin for 'We Lead, Others Follow') (1957-1994)[1] Engagements European Theater of Operations Iraq War[2] Global war on terrorism[citation needed] Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2] Insignia 38th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[b][2] 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[c][1] 38th Pursuit Squadron emblem[d][2]

Military unit

The **38th Reconnaissance Squadron** is a [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) unit. It is a part of the [55th Wing](/source/55th_Wing) at [Offutt Air Force Base](/source/Offutt_Air_Force_Base), Nebraska. It operates the [Boeing RC-135](/source/Boeing_RC-135) aircraft conducting reconnaissance missions.

## Mission

The mission of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron is to provide RC-135 aircraft and personnel to conduct global reconnaissance for national intelligence agencies, key decision makers and warfighters.

## History

### World War II

Established in late 1942 as a [Lockheed P-38 Lightning](/source/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning) fighter squadron, trained under [Second Air Force](/source/Second_Air_Force) in the Pacific northwest. Deployed to the [European Theater of Operations](/source/European_Theater_of_Operations), assigned to [VIII Fighter Command](/source/VIII_Fighter_Command) in England in late 1943. Squadron's mission was to provide long range fighter escort for [Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress](/source/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress) and [Consolidated B-24 Liberator](/source/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator) heavy bombers on strategic bombing missions over [Occupied Europe](/source/Occupied_Europe) and [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany). In April 1944 received [P-51D Mustang](/source/P-51D_Mustang) fighter aircraft and continuing its primary task of escorting B-17 and B-24 bombers that attacked such targets as industries and marshalling yards in Germany, and airfields and V-weapon sites in France.

The squadron flew air patrols over the [English Channel](/source/English_Channel) and bombed bridges in the [Tours](/source/Tours) area during the [Invasion of France](/source/D-Day) in June 1944. In July the squadron attacked gun emplacements during the [Saint-Lô](/source/Saint-L%C3%B4) breakthrough. The unit patrolled the [Arnhem](/source/Arnhem) sector to support the [Airborne invasion of the Netherlands](/source/Operation_Market-Garden) in September 1944, and later in December, transportation facilities during the [Battle of the Bulge](/source/Battle_of_the_Bulge). During the [Western Allied invasion of Germany](/source/Western_Allied_invasion_of_Germany), the squadron flew ground support missions by strafing trucks, locomotives, and oil depots near [Wesel](/source/Wesel) when the Allies crossed the Rhine in March 1945 and continued offensive operations until 21 April 1945.

P-38Hs of the 38th Fighter Squadron.

After the German Capitulation, became part of the [United States Air Forces in Europe](/source/United_States_Air_Forces_in_Europe) Army of Occupation, at AAF Station Kaufbeuren, then moved to [AAF Station Giebelstadt](/source/AAF_Station_Giebelstadt) in early 1946 where it received its first jet aircraft, the [Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star](/source/Lockheed_P-80A_Shooting_Star). Inactivated in August 1946 when personnel were demobilized and aircraft were transferred to the [31st Fighter Group](/source/31st_Fighter_Group).

### Cold War reconnaissance

The squadron was reactivated by [Strategic Air Command](/source/Strategic_Air_Command) in 1947 as a reconnaissance squadron, equipped with Boeing RB-17 Flying Fortress aircraft. It flew aerial photography, mapping, charting, and photo reconnaissance missions, some of which flew around borders of the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) and over the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany. Little was known about the [air defense](/source/Air_defense) capability of the Soviet Union at this time and the most effective way of determining their capability was to probe the borders and see whether they would respond. Gradually the RB-17s and other aircraft mapped the perimeter of the Soviet Air Defenses from the Baltic Sea to the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Japan.

The squadron was upgraded to [Boeing RB-29 Superfortress](/source/Boeing_RB-29_Superfortress) aircraft in 1949 and continued its reconnaissance mission. However, it was again inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

The squadron was again reactivated in 1950 at [Ramey Air Force Base](/source/Ramey_Air_Force_Base), Puerto Rico, again flying RB-29s performing strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, precise electronic geodetic mapping, and electronic reconnaissance missions, upgrading to [Boeing RB-50 Superfortresses](/source/Boeing_RB-50_Superfortress) in 1952.

In 1953, the squadron was equipped with [Boeing RB-47E Stratojets](/source/Boeing_RB-47E_Stratojet) and conducted a variety of classified overflights of the Soviet Union during the 1950s. Some of these flights were mounted from [Thule](/source/Thule_Air_Base) in Greenland and probed deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, taking a photographic and radar recording of the route attacking SAC bombers would follow to reach their targets. Flights which involved penetrating mainland Russia were termed SENSINT (Sensitive Intelligence) missions. One RB-47 even managed to fly 450 miles inland and photograph the city of [Igarka](/source/Igarka) in Siberia. Beginning in 1958, used 3 specially modified Stratojets, known as EB-47Es (Tell Two), in Operation Iron Work to monitor Soviet missile tests from [Baikonur](/source/Baikonur), [Tyuratam](/source/Tyuratam) and [Kapustin Yar](/source/Kapustin_Yar). The early EB-47E 'Tell Two' was easily recognizable as the aircraft were equipped with 2 large telemetry pods attached to either side of the fuselage, just aft of the nose, which intercepted data from Soviet data from missile tests. A later version of the 'Tell Two' housed the telemetry pods internally and had a streamlined nose. The USAF long range radar site at Samsum in Turkey, on the south coast of the Black Sea, also assisted in this activity.

Missions flown on a reduced scale after February 1958 when events showed the vulnerability of the RB-47 to Soviet air defenses and the development of the U-2 aircraft.

When the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing relocated to [Offutt Air Force Base](/source/Offutt_Air_Force_Base) on 16 August 1966, the 38th took over the [Operation Looking Glass](/source/Operation_Looking_Glass) mission from the [34th Air Refueling Squadron](/source/34th_Air_Refueling_Squadron) and operated [Boeing EC-135C](/source/Boeing_EC-135C) as well as operating 3 KC-135R Rivet Stand reconnaissance aircraft. On 1 April 1970 SAC reorganized the Post Attack Command and Control mission and the 38th inactivated and turned the mission over to the newly [2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron](/source/2d_Airborne_Command_and_Control_Squadron).

The squadron flew worldwide strategic reconnaissance including in support of the [Cuban Missile Crisis](/source/Cuban_Missile_Crisis) in October 1962, [Operation Urgent Fury](/source/Operation_Urgent_Fury) in October 1983, [Operation El Dorado Canyon](/source/Operation_El_Dorado_Canyon) in April 1986, [Operation Just Cause](/source/Operation_Just_Cause) in December 1989, and Operations [Desert Shield](/source/Gulf_War#Operation_Desert_Shield) and [Desert Storm](/source/Operation_Desert_Storm) from January–February 1991.[2]

## Lineage

- Constituted as the **38th Pursuit Squadron** (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940

- Activated on 15 January 1941

- Redesignated **38th Pursuit Squadron** (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942

- Redesignated **38th Fighter Squadron** (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942

- Redesignated **38th Fighter Squadron**, Twin Engine on 20 August 1943

- Redesignated **38th Fighter Squadron**, Single Engine on 5 September 1944

- Inactivated on 20 August 1946

- Redesignated **38th Reconnaissance Squadron**, Very Long Range, Mapping on 3 February 1947

- Activated on 15 March 1947

- Redesignated **38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron**, Photo-Mapping on 1 July 1949

- Inactivated on 14 October 1949

- Redesignated **38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron**, Medium, Photo on 27 October 1950

- Activated on 1 November 1950

- Redesignated **38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron**, Medium on 16 June 1952

- Redesignated **38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron** on 16 August 1966

- Inactivated on 1 April 1970

- Activated on 1 April 1979

- Redesignated **38th Reconnaissance Squadron** on 1 September 1991[2]

### Assignments

- [55th Pursuit Group](/source/55th_Pursuit_Group) (later 55th Fighter Group), 15 January 1941 – 20 August 1946

- [5th Reconnaissance Group](/source/5th_Operations_Group#Post/Cold_War), 15 March 1947

- [311th Air Division](/source/311th_Air_Division), 26 May 1949 (attached to [9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing](/source/9th_Strategic_Reconnaissance_Wing))

- 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 1 June–14 October 1949

- 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 1 November 1950 (attached to [91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing](/source/91st_Strategic_Reconnaissance_Wing) until 6 January 1951, then to [55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing](/source/55th_Strategic_Reconnaissance_Wing))

- - Further attached to [3d Air Division](/source/3d_Air_Division), 15 January–28 May 1951, [7th Air Division](/source/7th_Air_Division) after 5 April 1952)

- 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 June 1952 – 1 April 1970 (remained attached to [7th Air Division](/source/7th_Air_Division) to 9 August 1952)

- 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1 April 1979

- 55th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present[2]

### Stations

Hamilton Field, California, 15 January 1941 Columbia Airport, Oregon, 21 May 1941 McChord Field, Washington, 14 December 1941 Paine Field, Washington, 9 September 1942 – 20 August 1943 RAF Nuthampstead (Station 131),[3] England, 16 September 1943 RAF Wormingford (Station 159),[3] England, 16 April 1944 Kaufbeuren Airfield (R-70),[4] Germany, 20 July 1945 AAF Station Giebelstadt (Y-90),[4] Germany, 4 April–20 August 1946 Clark Field (later Clark Air Force Base), Luzon, Philippines, 15 March 1947 – 6 May 1949 Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California, 26 May 1949 Topeka Air Force Base (later Forbes Air Force Base), Kansas, 1 June–14 October 1949 Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 1 November 1950 Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, 6 January 1951 Deployed to RAF Bassingbourn, England, 15 January–28 May 1951, RAF Sculthorpe, England (5 April–15 May 1952, RAF Upper Heyford, England, 15 May–9 August 1952) Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas, 9 October 1952 Deployed to Ben Guerir Air Base, French Morocco, 30 May–6 August 1955 Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 16 August 1966 – 1 April 1970 Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 1 April 1979 – present[5]

### Aircraft

- [Republic P-43 Lancer](/source/Republic_P-43_Lancer) (1941)

- Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1941–1944)

- [Republic P-47 Thunderbolt](/source/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt) (1943)

- [North American P-51 Mustang](/source/North_American_P-51_Mustang) (1944–1946)

- Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (1946)

- [Douglas A-26 Invader](/source/Douglas_A-26_Invader) (1946)

- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1947)

- Boeing FB-17 (later RB-17) Flying Fortress (1947–1949)

- [Beechcraft RC-45 Expeditor](/source/Beechcraft_RC-45_Expeditor) (1948–1949)

- [Curtiss C-46 Commando](/source/Curtiss_C-46_Commando) (1948–1949)

- [Douglas C-47 Skytrain](/source/Douglas_C-47_Skytrain) (1948–1949)

- Boeing RB-29 Superfortress (1949)

- Boeing RB-50 Superfortress (1950–1954)

- Boeing RB-47 Stratojet (1954–1965)

- Boeing EB-47 Stratojet (1957–1965)

- Boeing EC-135 (1966–1970)

- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (1966 – c. 1968)

- [Boeing RC-135](/source/Boeing_RC-135) (1979–present)[2]

## References

**Notes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Aircraft is Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint serial 64-14846.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** restored and modified 22 February 1994

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Approved 24 May 1957. Description: On a white shield bordered red an A[ir] F[orce] blue lightning bolt in [bend sinister](/source/Bend_(heraldry)#Bend_sinister) surmounted by a dragon's head issuing from [sinister](/source/Dexter_and_sinister) [base](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry)) A[ir] F[orce] blue, tongue, mouth, fire from mouth, nostrils, nose markings and pupils of the eyes of the second [color mentioned]. talons and iris of eyes A[ir] F[orce] yellow, eyeball and teeth white; heavy eyebrows and facial outlines black wearing earphones white, with black detail and head strap; carrying in his talons an electronic symbol of three black entwined orbits with three nuclei red, entwined around an electronic testing box white, instruments outlined black.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Approved 3 March 1942.

**Citations**

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Maurer38FS_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Maurer38FS_2-1) Maurer, *Combat Squadrons*, pp. 179–180

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-38RSfacts_3-7) Dollman, TSG David (19 October 2016). ["Factsheet 38 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC)"](https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432028/38-reconnaissance-squadron-acc/). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 August 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Anderson_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Anderson_7-1) Station number in Anderson.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Johnson_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Johnson_8-1) Station number in Johnson.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Station information in Dollman, except as noted.

### Bibliography

This article incorporates [public domain material](/source/Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States) from the [Air Force Historical Research Agency](https://www.afhra.af.mil/)

- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). [*Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II*](https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf) (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from [the original](http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf) (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). [*U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day*](https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf) (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from [the original](http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf) (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. [*Air Force Combat Units of World War II*](http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf) (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-912799-02-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-912799-02-1). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [61060979](https://lccn.loc.gov/61060979). Retrieved 17 December 2016.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. [*Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II*](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf) (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-405-12194-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-405-12194-6). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [70605402](https://lccn.loc.gov/70605402). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [72556](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/72556). Archived from [the original](http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf) (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). [*Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977*](https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-912799-12-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-912799-12-9). Retrieved 17 December 2016.

## External links

- [AFHRA 38th Reconnaissance Squadron History](http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0038recos.html)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- ["B-47 Stratojet Historical Website"](https://b-47.com/). B-47 Association. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

v t e Air Combat Command (ACC) Air Forces First (Northern) Ninth (Central) Twelfth (Southern) Fifteenth Sixteenth (Cyber) Centers 601st Air Operations 609th Air Operations 612th Air Operations 616th Operations Air Force Technical Applications Cyberspace Capabilities United States Air Force Warfare Bases Beale Creech Davis–Monthan Grand Forks Langley–Eustis (Langley) Moody Mountain Home Nellis Offutt Seymour Johnson Shaw Tonopah Tyndall Wings Composite 23rd 53rd 55th 57th 355th 432nd Fighter 1st 4th 20th 325th 366th 388th Cyberspace 67th 688th Other 9th Reconnaissance 70th ISR 93rd Air Ground Operations 99th Air Base 319th Reconnaissance 363rd ISR 461st Air Control 480th ISR 505th Command and Control 552nd Air Control 557th Weather 633rd Air Base

v t e United States Air Force Leadership Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Structure Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct reporting units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol Personnel and training Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment Uniforms and equipment Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms History and traditions History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two / Air Force Three Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association Category

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [38th Reconnaissance Squadron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Reconnaissance_Squadron?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.