99th Reconnaissance Squadron

The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron is responsible for providing critical intelligence for use by the highest levels of the U.S. government. Squadron pilots fly the Lockheed U-2S aircraft as they continuously train to upgrade from normal aircraft commander status to that of instructor pilot status. The current mission statement of the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron is "To deploy and employ warrior Airmen and execute effective and sustained U-2 operations globally in support of National Objectives." ==History==

World War I Organized at Kelly Field, Texas, on 21 August 1917, the 99th Aero Squadron moved to Garden City, New York, in early November and sailed for France on the fourteenth. After training in the Sopwith 1½ Strutter and the Salmson 2, the squadron began flying combat missions in June 1918. Between 12 and 16 September the squadron flew reconnaissance missions and directed artillery fire in support French 8th Army and the American V Army Corps during the St. Mihiel offensive. It also participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive between 26 September – 11 November 1918 when the Armistice with Germany was reached. Tragedy struck the 99th early in its Panama assignment. On 27 February 1941, one of its B-18As, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Jack L. Schoch and with six other crew members aboard, crashed into Panama Bay just off Venado Beach, with the loss of all on board. The cause of this mysterious loss were never determined, although rescue efforts continued late into the night. With its remaining four B-18As, the unit continued its intensive training program from its base at Rio Hato until, on 25 August 1941, it received one of the new Boeing B-17B Flying Fortresses assigned to the Command. ==Lineage==

• Organized as the 99th Aero Squadron on 21 August 1917 : Redesignated 99th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) on 11 March 1918 : Redesignated 99th Aero Squadron on 24 May 1919 : Demobilized on 9 June 1919 : Reconstituted and organized as 99th Corps Observation Squadron on 2 July 1919 : Redesignated: 99th Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921 : Redesignated: 99th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923 : Inactivated on 31 July 1927 • Activated on 9 November 1928 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1935 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 March 1944 : Inactivated on 20 October 1948 • Redesignated 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic and activated, on 1 May 1949 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 1 April 1950 : Redesignated: 99th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 2 October 1950 : Redesignated: 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 June 1966 : Inactivated on 1 April 1971 • Activated on 1 November 1972 : Redesignated: 99th Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 September 1991 Assignments • Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 21 August 1917 • Aviation Concentration Center, 3 November 1917 • Second Aviation Instruction Center, 12 December 1917 • First Army Observation Group, 11 March 1918 (attached to 3d Artillery Observation School, c. 1 April-31 May 1918) • V Corps Observation Group, 7 August 1918 • Air Service Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force, 13 December 1918 • 1st Air Depot, American Expeditionary Force, 19 February 1919 • Advanced Section Services of Supply, 5 March 1919 • Post Headquarters, Mitchell Field, 24 May 1919 • Eastern Department, 25 May-9 June 1919 • Eastern Department, 2 July 1919 • Third Corps Area, 20 August 1920 • District of Washington, c. Jan 1922 • 8th Division Air Service, 24 May 1923 • Air Corps Training Center, June-31 July 1927 • Second Corps Area (attached to 9th Observation Group after 9 November 1928) • 9th Observation Group (later 9th Bombardment Group), 15 February 1929 – 20 October 1948 • 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Group (later 9th Bombardment Group), 1 May 1949 (attached to 9th Bombardment Wing after 10 February 1951) • 9th Bombardment Wing (later 9th Strategic Aerospace Wing, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing), 16 June 1952 – 1 April 1971 • 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1 November 1972 – 30 June 1976 (attached to Air Division, Provisional, 17th until 1 January 1975) • 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 30 June 1976 • 9th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present Stations • Kelly Field, Texas, 21 August 1917 • Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, New York, 3-14 Nov 1917 • Tours Aerodrome, France, 12 December 1917 • Haussimont Aerodrome, France, 11 March 1918 • Amanty Aerodrome, France, 31 May 1918 • Luxeuil-les-Bains Aerodrome, France, 1 July 1918 : Flight operated from Corcieux Aerodrome, 19-24 Jul 1918 : Flight operated from Dogneville Aerodrome, 24 Jul-26 Aug 1918 • Souilly Aerodrome, France, 7 September 1918 • Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France, 20 September 1918 • Parois Aerodrome, France, 4 November 1918 • Belrain Aerodrome, France, 31 November 1918 • Chaumont-sur-Aire Aerodrome, France, 13 December 1918 • Chaumont Aerodrome, France, c. 25 December 1918 : Flights operated from Prauthoy Aerodrome, Bourbonne-les-Bains Aerodrome, and Montigney-le-Roi Aerodrome, France, until c. 1 February 1919 • Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome, France, 19 February 1919 • Sadirac, France, 5 Mar-8 May 1919 • Mitchel Field, New York, 24 May 1919 • Hazelhurst Field, New York, 25 May-9 Jun 1919 • Mitchel Field, New York, 2 July 1919 • Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey, Jul 1919 • Bolling Field, DC, 17 August 1919 • Kelly Field, Texas (1927) • Mitchel Field, New York (1928–1940) • Río Hato Field, Panama (1940–1941) • Piarco Airport, Trinidad (1941) • Zandery Field, Surinam (1941–1942) • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida (1942–1943) • Montbrook Army Air Field, Florida (1943) • Kissimmee Army Air Field, Florida (1943–1944) • Brooksville Army Air Field, Florida (1944) • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida (1944) • Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944) • McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska (1944) • North Field, Tinian (1944–1946) • Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines (1946–1947) • Harmon Air Force Base, Guam (1947–1948) • Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base (later Travis Air Force Base), California (1949–1953) • Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (c. 7 August – 17 September 1950) • Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (9 April – 19 June 1951) • Detachment at: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (17 June – 22 September 1952) • Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho (1953–1966) • Deployed: RAF Fairford, United Kingdom (23 May – 9 July 1955) • Deployed: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (c. 4 October 1957 – c. 12 January 1958) • Beale Air Force Base, California (1966–1971) • U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand (1972–1976) • Beale Air Force Base, California (1976–present) • Detachment at: RAF Fairford, United Kingdom (September 2019 – present) Aircraft • Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 1918 • Salmson 2A2, 1918-1919 • Dayton-Wright DH-4 (1919–1927) • Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 (1919–1927) • Curtiss O-1 Falcon (1928–1936) • Curtiss O-11 Falcon (1928–1936) • Douglas O-25 (1928–1936) • Loening OA-2 (1928–1936) • Douglas O-31 (1928–1936) • Douglas Y1O-35 (1928–1936) • Douglas O-38 (1928–1936) • Curtiss O-39 Falcon (1928–1936) • Curtiss Y1O-40B Raven (1928–1936) • Curtiss O-40 Raven (1928–1936) • Douglas O-43 (1928–2936) • Martin B-10 (1936–1938) • Douglas OA-4 Dolphin (1937) • Douglas B-18 Bolo (1938–1942) • Sikorsky OA-8 (1939) • Boeing P-12 (1939) • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1941–1942) • North American B-25 Mitchell (1943) • Martin B-26 Marauder (1943) • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1943–1944, 1949–1950) • Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1944–1946, 1946–1947, 1949–1954) • Boeing RB-17 Flying Fortress (1949–1950) • Boeing RB-29 Superfortress (1949–1950) • Boeing B-47 Stratojet (1954–1966) • Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (1966–1971) • Lockheed DC-130 (1972–1975) • Sikorsky CH-3 (1972–1975) • Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady (1972–present) • Lockheed TR-1 (1981-1991) • Northrop T-38 Talon (1976–present) ==See also==