95th Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 95th Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 95th Recon Sqn Emblem
dates= October 1, 1982 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= 55th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Offutt Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Kickin' Ass"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War I
World War II
anniversaries=

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 activated 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.

Although the 95th RS can trace its lineage back to 95th Aero Squadron (a fighter unit) of World War I, its mission today is vastly different from that of the 95th AS and its many successors. However, the 95th RS is authorized to display the honors of its ancestor units.

Aircraft Flown

* U-2/TR-1, 1983 - 1993
* RC-135U/V/W, 1994 - present
* E-4, 1994 - present
* OC-135, 1994 - present

External links

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil Air Force Historical Research Agency]
* [http://www.offutt.af.mil Offutt Air Force Base web site]
* [http://www.usaww1.com July 14, 2008 - 90th anniversary Commemoration of 27th, 94th, 95th, 147th aero squadrons in France]