62nd Expeditionary Attack Squadron
The 62d Expeditionary Attack Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is a provisional squadron of Air Combat Command, attached to the 432d Air Expeditionary Operations Group, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The primary mission of the 62d EATKS is to launch and recover all the Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Afghanistan.
62d Expeditionary Attack Squadron
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|---|---|
 Britain's Prince Edward, right, talks with two Royal Air Force pilots attached to the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kandahar Airfield | |
| Active | 1943–1946, 1946-1951, 1971-1989, 2003-present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Reconnaissance and Attack |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Kandahar Airfield |
| Engagements | European Theatre of Operations Korean War War on Terror War in Afghanistan[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 62d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 24 February 1949)[1] |  |
Mission
editThe unit operates Unmanned Aerial Vehicles over locations in Central Asia as part of the Global War on Terrorism.[2]
History
editWorld War II
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Activated as part of IV Fighter Command in early 1943, engaged in Air Defense of the San Francisco area as well as a Replacement Training Unit until the end of 1943. The squadron was trained as a North American P-51 Mustang unit, then dispatched across the Atlantic to join IX Fighter Command in the United Kingdom. It provided air support to Allied ground forces in France and carried out air defence missions, attacking enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat over Europe.[3]
Converted to a tactical reconnaissance squadron in August 1944, engaging in hazardous reconnaissance flights over enemy-controlled territory, gathering intelligence for Allied commanders. Advanced eastward across France using forward combat airfields, then into the Low Countries as well as Occupied Germany until the end of combat in Europe, May 1945.[4]
Postwar era
editRemained in Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe occupation forces, returning to MacDill Field, Florida, in December 1945. Equipped with Douglas FA-26C Invaders for night reconnaissance. The FA-26 (later RB-26) was an A-26 with all guns removed and cameras installed throughout the aircraft.
Korean War
editDue to the pressing needs of Far East Air Forces in Japan the 162d and the photo-processing 363d Reconnaissance Technical Squadron moved from Langley Air Force Base to Itazuke Air Base, Japan on 18 August 1950 for Korean War service and began operations as part of the 543d Tactical Support Group, flying RB-26 Invader night reconnaissance missions. It later moved to a forward base, Taegu Air Base (K-2) in South Korea on 8 Oct 1950, returning to Komaki Air Base, Japan on 26 January 1951. The squadron was inactivated on 25 Feb 1951.[1]
Reconnaissance training
editReactivated in 1971 as the 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, being equipped with McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft. Performed replacement training for reconnaissance pilots, 1971-1982 until its parent 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was re-equipped with General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons and became a tactical fighter squadron. Also operated flight of Martin EB-57E Canberras performing electronic jamming mission with RF-4Cs on simulated combat missions. Retired B-57s in 1976, being the last USAF active-duty squadron to fly the B-57. moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas along with RF-4Cs and continued replacement pilot training mission until RF-4Cs were retired in 1989, then inactivated.[1]
Expeditionary operations
edit
Reactivated in 2003 as provisional expeditionary reconnaissance squadron by Air Combat Command, operating UAVs as part of the Global War on Terrorism attached to USAFCENT forces in Central Asia.
Lineage
edit- Constituted as the 382d Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 11 February 1943
- Activated on 1 March 1943
- Redesignated 382d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
- Redesignated 162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 August 1944
- Inactivated on 3 February 1946
- Redesignated 162d Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic on 9 July 1946
- Activated on 29 July 1946
- Redesignated 162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic on 14 June 1948
- Inactivated on 25 February 1951
- Redesignated 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 12 May 1971
- Activated on 15 October 1971
- Redesignated 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron on 1 July 1982
- Inactivated on 31 December 1989
- Redesignated 62d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and converted to provisional status on 26 February 2003
- Redesignated 62d Expeditionary Attack Squadron on 16 September 2016[1]
Assignments
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Stations
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Aircraft
edit- Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943
- North American P-51 Mustang, 1944-1945
- North American F-6 Mustang, 1944-1945, 1946
- Douglas FA-26 Invader (later RB-26), 1946-1951
- McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II, 1971-1989
- Martin EB-57E Canberra, 1971-1976[1]
- General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, 2005– present[2]
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, ?-Present[citation needed]
References
editNotes
edit- Explanatory notes
- ^ Aircraft is North American P-51C-1-NT Mustang serial 42-103213. This aircraft was scrapped in Germany on 15 April 1946.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g Bailey, Carl E. (7 February 2017). "Factsheet 62 Expeditionary Attack Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ a b Thornton, Renni (16 June 2010). "62nd ERS reaches 250K flying hours in AOR". 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ Maurer 1983, p. 246.
- ^ Maurer 1982, pp. 362–363.
- ^ Assignment information in Bailey, except as noted.
- ^ a b c Station number in Anderson.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Station number in Johnson.
- ^ Station information in Bailey, except as noted.
Bibliography
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- 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 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (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 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Maurer, Maurer (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.