95th Reconnaissance Squadron
| 95th Reconnaissance Squadron | |
|---|---|
 95th Recon Sqn Emblem | |
| Active | October 1, 1982 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | 55th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Offutt Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | "Kickin' Ass" |
| Engagements | World War I World War II |
The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron (95 RS) is a United States Air Force reconnaissance unit based at Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Nebraska. Although it is a component of the 55th Operations Group, main flying operations are conducted from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom and Souda Bay, Crete.
Mission
Conducts RC-135 Rivet Joint flight operations in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operations as tasked by National Command Authorities and European Command. Provides all operational management, aircraft maintenance, administration, and intelligence support to produce politically sensitive real-time intelligence data vital to national foreign policy. Supports EC-135, OC-135, and E-4B missions when theater deployed.
History
The 95th RS was originally activated as the 95th Aero Squadron (a fighter unit) on August 20, 1917 at Kelly Field in Texas. It deployed to various locations in France during World War I, initially at Issoudun. On May 5, 1918, it was assigned to the 1st Pursuit Group. Well-known pilots with the 95th Aero Squadron who perished in World War I included Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of President Theodore Roosevelt, and Irby Curry. After the war ended on November 11, 1918, the 95th Aero Squadron was demobilized on March 18, 1919.
The 95th Aero Squadron underwent various activations and inactivations over the years and experienced numerous name changes. During World War II, it was known as the 95th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) and was a squadron in the 17th Bombardment Group that provided B-25 Mitchells and crews for the Doolittle Raid and later flew the B-26 Marauder in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.
After being inactivated on June 25, 1958, it was redesignated as the 95th Reconnaisance Squadron on January 20, 1982 and reactivated at RAF Alconbury in the United Kingdom on 1 October 1982. It flew U-2 and TR-1 aircraft in support of NATO and US Air Forces Europe missions. After the end of the Cold War, the 95th RS was no longer needed and the unit was inactivated on 15 September 1993. This hiatus did not last long as the unit was reactivated on 1 July 1994 at RAF Mildenhall, this time flying the RC-135 Rivet Joint, OC-135 Open Skies and E-4B aircraft.
Aircraft Flown
- Nieuport 28, 1917 - 1918
- SPAD XIII, 1918
- B-25 Mitchell, 1941-1942
- B-26 Marauder, 1942-1945
- U-2/TR-1, 1983 - 1993
- RC-135U/V/W, 1994 - present
- OC-135, 1994 - present