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322Nd EXPEDITIONARY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON

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322Nd EXPEDITIONARY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON 322nd EXPEDITIONARY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON MISSION LINEAGE 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) constituted, 28 Jan 1942 Activated, 15 Apr 1942 Redesignated 322nd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 20 Aug 1943 Inactivated, 7 Nov 1945 Redesignated 322nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, 23 May 1950 Activated, 6 Jul 1950 Inactivated, 8 Nov 1957 Redesignated 322nd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 15 Nov 1962 Activated 15 Nov 1962 Organized, 1 Feb 1963 Discontinued and inactivated, 25 Jun 1968 Redesignated 322nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, and converted to provisional status, 22 Jul 2010 Activated, 11 Feb 2011 STATIONS Harding Field, LA, 15 Apr 1942 MacDill Field, FL, 13 May 1942 Walla Walla, WA, 22 Jun-24 Aug 1942 Kimbolton, England, 13 Sep 1942 Bassingbourn, England, 14 Oct 1942-22 Jun 1945 Drew Field, FL, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945 Barksdale AFB, LA, 6 Jul 1950 Lockbourne AFB, OH, 11 Sep 1951-8 Nov 1957 Glasgow AFB, MT, 1 Feb 1963-25 Jun 1968 Bagram AB, Afghanistan, 11 Feb 2011 ASSIGNMENTS 91st Bombardment Group, 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 6 Jul 1950 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952-8 Nov 1957 Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962 91st Bombardment Wing, 1 Feb 1963-25 Jun 1968 Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 22 Jul 2010 WEAPON SYSTEMS B-17, 1942-1945 B/RB-29, 1950 B/RB-45, 1950-1953 RB-47, 1953-1957 B-52, 1963-1968 B-52D B-52C B-45A COMMANDERS Maj Victor S. Zienowicz, 15 May 1942 Maj Paul L. Fishborne, 24 Nov 1942 Cpt Robert B. Campbell, 20 May 1943 LTC Donald E. Sheeler, 15 Jul 1943 Maj Leroy B. Everett Jr., 25 Apr 1944 Maj Karl W. Thompson, 26 Aug 1944 Maj Edwin F. Close, 5 Feb 1945-1945 LTC William J. Meng, 6 Jul 1950 Maj Daniel T. Rogers, 12 Aug 1950 Maj Ernest L. Blanton, 12 Oct 1950 1Lt Paul E. Smith, 3 Nov 1950 Maj Hal C. Conner, 1950 Col William J. Meng, 7 Jan 1951 LTC Hal C. Conner, 14 Feb 1951 LTC Robert F. Carter, Sep 1952 Maj James T. Chafin Jr., Apr 1954 Maj Jack G. Emerson, Sep 1955 LTC William E. Yeates, 1 Apr 1957 Maj Charles C. Heckel, 8 Apr 1957 LTC William M. Williams, 10 Oct-8 Nov 1957 LTC James E. Wagner, Feb 1963 LTC Leroy J. Fassman, by Jul 1963 LTC George E. Heifner, by Jan 1966 LTC William E. Yinger, by Jan 1968-unkn HONORS Service Streamers None Campaign Streamers World War II Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe Air Combat, EAME Theater Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None Decorations Distinguished Unit Citations Hamm, Germany, 4 Mar 1943 Germany, 11 Jan 1944 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 8 Sep 1953-8 Nov 1957 1 Jul 1965-30 Jun 1966 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1967 1 Feb-1 Mar 1968 2 Mar-15 Apr 1968 EMBLEM Over and through an irregular white cloud formation shaded blue, a caricatured figure of “Uncle Sam,” in flight, wearing a blue plug hat studded with white stars, rimmed by a red band, blue jacket, and red-and-white striped trousers, carrying in the left hand a yellow aerial bomb and dropping anchor to base with right hand. (Approved, 12 Oct 1942) MOTTO NICKNAME OPERATIONS Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 7 Nov 1942-25 Apr 1945. Performed reconnaissance missions on a worldwide scale, 1950-1957. Maintained alert readiness to launch B-52 aircraft against any aggressor, 1963-1968. The year closed out on a high note for the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. In November, the 322nd and 324th squadrons were designated all-jet organizations and the B-45 MTU detachment relocated from Langley AFB to Barksdale to facilitate personnel instruction. Systematized training procedures were drawn up for combat crews, with quarterly requirements in flying and photography to maintain their skill ratings.12 By December the 323rd Squadron possessed 14 RB-45Cs and the 324th had six, while the 322nd operated six older B-45As for training purposes. As an indication of mounting crew proficiency, a large-scale aerial mapping project of Indianapolis, Indiana, was undertaken with satisfactory results. Old tactical problems reappeared when RB-45Cs were intercepted by F-84 Thunderjets that managed to slip in unseen from behind to make tail passes on the unsuspecting bomber. The continuing lack of proper tail defenses, so painfully apparent in Korean operations, reigmted urgent calls for remedial action. "Since the mission of a reconnaissance aircraft is to return with photographic information for higher staff planners, the problem of protection other than speed and altitude should be considered,'" Major Eakes pointed out. "The crew of the RB-45C cannot see at all below the level of the horizontal stabilizer and has difficulty seeing between the 5 oclock and 7 oclock positions level since the rear ejection seat obstructs his vision to a greater extent than normally would be expected. This lack of visibility will allow enemy fighters to approach within firing range without detection unless a tail gunner is on board or some type of radar is made available. This weakness would nullify any advantage in speed, climb rate, or maneuverability that the RB-45C might put to use in order to accomplish a successful mission." Throughout November, training for the 322nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron accelerated in anticipation of its forthcoming sojourn to England. On November 21, 1951, the squadron began transferring men and aircraft overseas and, six days later, elements of the 324th Squadron began trickling back into Lockbourne. Among those departing Ohio at that time were squadron leader John Crampton and his RAF crews, who were now operationally attached to Detachment I at Sculthorpe. The wing also participated in a major simulated enemy penetration attack with the Eastern Air Defense Command to test the soundness of the air defense system. Five Tornados performed as aggressors, but two missions were scrubbed because of faulty radar and fuel shortages. "Radar malfunctions have in the past been a source of serious concern to this Headquarters," the historian noted. "This situation is further aggravated by the inability to perform in-flight maintenance on the RB-45C type aircraft." The only other noticeable problem was apprehension over the Tornado's lack of tail defenses. Colonel Preston noted that the new turret installed on B-45As was impractical, due to weight considerations. In addition, he suggested that RB-45Cs adapt the A-model's "fish bowl" canopy to provide a greater cone of vision for the gunner During February the wing flew 770 hours, even through only eleven RB-45Cs and six B-45As remained on station. This marginal upswing notwithstanding, operations remained impaired by parts shortages, through which an estimated 1,810 hours of flying time were lost. "Although this figure represents a noticeable decline from January's total," the historian noted, "it is still excessively high and tends to illustrate the seriousness of critical parts shortage on Lockbourne Air Force Base." Wing officials, to promote greater use of celestial navigation, also advised Headquarters, Second Air Force, that installation of astrodomes and D-l sextants in RB-45Cs was still highly desirable. March flying produced another slight increase, with 939 hours flown at Lockbourne The biggest event that month was concluding Detachment I's activities in the United Kingdom and a phased withdrawal of the 322nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron beginning on March 18, 1952. The last RB-45C reached Lockbourne on March 26, closing a highly successful episode in the history of the 91st Wing. A new unit, Detachment 3, comprised of American and RAF exchange crews from the 323rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, subsequently rotated back to England on a 90-day TDY with little fanfare. After restrictions on B-45As were lifted in March, wing hours flown again rose, to 1,469, despite the fact that three RB-45Cs were deployed to Korea and others remained at San Bernardino awaiting turrets. Six additional B-45As were deposited at Norton AFB in anticipation of being replaced by the eagerly expected RB-47s. On April 25, 1953, the Tornados became increasingly irrelevant to wing operations once the first Stratojets began arriving at Lockbourne. By June the wing boasted twenty-seven of the sleek new RB-47s. SAC, mean- while, which had agitated superiors to phase out all existing B-45s from its inventory, finally received permission to transfer them to Tactical Air Command. Much, to SAC's surprise, six qualified combat crews were also ordered to TAG. Headquarters, SAC, protested this move, declaring that this infringed on their ability to carry out the emergency war plan, particularly since the 322nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was converting to RB-47s. Air Staff officials agreed and reduced the number of transferees to two flight crews and sixteen tall gunners. In May, the first six RB-45Cs were released to TAG after reconditioning. These six would be followed by an additional four each month in July, August, and September, with the final aircraft departing in November. Those Tornados, finally sporting tail turrets, were ultimately transferred to the 363rd Training Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Air Force Order of Battle Created 3 Apr 2012 Updated: Sources Air Force Historical Research Agency. U.S. Air Force. Maxwell AFB, AL. The Institute of Heraldry. U.S. Army. Fort Belvoir, VA. Air Force News. Air Force Public Affairs Agency. Unit yearbook. 91st Bombardment Wing (H), Glasgow AFB, MT. 1963 .
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