World War II The squadron was established in mid-1943 as a
tactical reconnaissance and photographic mapping squadron. Initial squadron training was under the
Third Air Force, before it was deployed to the
Mediterranean Theater of Operations and became part of
Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy in August 1945. The squadron's deployment was delayed by the sinking of the
SS Paul Hamilton by German aircraft on 20 April 1944, in which 317 members of the unit were killed in a catastrophic explosion. Equipped primarily with unarmed
Lockheed F-5 Lightnings, the squadron flew hazardous long-range intelligence and photo-mapping missions over enemy-held Italy and
Occupied Europe, to get pictures required for the aerial war against the Axis powers. Initially it flew most missions over enemy-occupied Italy,
Corsica and
Sardinia, later flying missions over the Balkans. After the German surrender in May 1945, the squadron's personnel were demobilized in Italy during the summer of 1945, and the squadron was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States during October.
United States Air Forces in Europe In 1952 the squadron was reactivated as a
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) tactical reconnaissance unit to be based in France as a result of the United States
Cold War military buildup in Europe. It was activated by the transfer of the equipment and personnel of the
Alabama Air National Guard 157th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which had been federalized and brought to active duty during the
Korean War. It took over the
Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star aircraft of the ANG unit, and trained for daylight reconnaissance missions. The squadron, however was stationed at
Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base in West Germany due to the uncompleted facilities at
Toul-Rosières Air Base. Weather conditions in Germany severely restricted the training operations of the assigned RF-80As. The squadron frequently deployed to
Nouasseur Air Base, Morocco during the winter of 1952-53 where the photo conditions were excellent. The squadron moved to
Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany in May 1953 where all of the elements of the parent 10th TRW were assembled at one base. It re-equipped with the
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash in 1955, as the RF-80s were deemed not mission-capable against the Soviet
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15. In January 1958, the squadron was moved to
Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base, France while the runway at Spangdahlem was under repair and renovation. In March 1958, the squadron was reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which was moving to Phalsbourg from
Sembach Air Base due to poor runway conditions. During May, the Thunderflashes were replaced by
McDonnell RF-101C Voodoos, which was the fastest tactical reconnaissance aircraft ever flown by the USAF. Routine training operations were flown from Laon for over seven years. In 1965 the squadron was again reassigned; to the
26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which was being formed at Toul-Rosières Air Base. On 7 March 1966, French President
Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO's military structure but not leave the political organization. He gave NATO forces one year (until 1 April 1967) to depart France. As a result, the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was relocated to
Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. As part of the move from Toul, the 32d moved to England, where it rejoined the 10th Wing, now stationed at
RAF Alconbury. It sent its RF-101s back to the United States, and at Alconbury received new
McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II aircraft. The 32d flew the RF-4C at Alconbury for the next ten years, before being inactivated in 1976. The advent of reconnaissance satellites made tactical reconnaissance less and less necessary by the mid-1970s. This, along with the need for budget reductions after the end of the
Vietnam War caused a reduction in the numbers of frontline tactical reconnaissance aircraft. On 1 January 1976, the squadron was the first of two squadrons of the 10th Wing to be inactivated that year.
Intelligence operations In 1991,
Electronic Security Command reorganized its
intelligence units at
Ft George G. Meade, Maryland, organizing the
6941st Electronic Security Squadron there as a Major Command Controlled (MAJCON) unit. In the early 1990s, the Air Force eliminated this type of unit (commonly called a "four-digit" unit) by replacing them or consolidating them with Air Force Controlled (AFCON) units. In 1993, the two units were consolidated as the
32d Intelligence Squadron. ==Lineage==