Lineage

The 7 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (constituted 7 Photographic Squadron on 19 Jan 1942; activated on 28 Jan 1942; redesignated 7 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 Jun 1942; redesignated 7 Photographic Squadron [Light] on 6 Feb 1943; redesignated 7 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; disbanded on 1 May 1944; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) and the 7 Liaison Squadron (constituted 7 Liaison Squadron on 3 Nov 1945; activated on 10 Dec 1945; inactivated on 28 Mar 1949; redesignated 7 Liaison Flight on 7 Oct 1949; activated on 27 Oct 1949; inactivated, and redesignated 7 Liaison Squadron on 8 Sep 1952; activated on 20 Oct 1952; inactivated on 18 Jun 1954) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 7 Special Operations Flight (constituted on 18 Mar 1969; activated on 1 Jul 1969; inactivated on 30 Apr 1974). Consolidated squadron redesignated: 27 Special Operations Squadron on 19 Sep 1985; 7 Space Operations Squadron on 1 Jan 1993. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jan 1993.

Assignments

Third Air Force, 28 Jan 1942; Eighth Air Force, 29 Mar 1942; 2 Photographic (later 2 Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping; 2 Photographic Reconnaissance) Group, 7 May 1942-1 May 1944. XII Tactical Air Command, 10 Dec 1945; Headquarters Command, United States Air Force in Europe, 10 Mar 1947; Tactical Air Command (attached to 300 Army Air Forces Base Unit), 25 Jun 1947; 1 Fighter Wing, 1 Sep 1947-28 Mar 1949. 5700 Air Base Group, 27 Oct 1949-8 Sep 1952. Eighteenth Air Force, 20 Oct 1952-18 Jun 1954 (attached to 64 Troop Carrier Group, 20 Oct 1952-9 Jan 1953). 1 Special Operations Wing, 1 Jul 1969; 317 Special Operations Squadron, 31 May 1972-30 Apr 1974. 302 Airlift Wing, 1 Jan 1993; 302 Operations Group, 1 May 1993; 310 Space Group, 1 Sep 1997-.

Stations

MacDill Field, FL, 28 Jan 1942; Savannah, GA, 27 Feb 1942; Colorado Springs, CO, 15 May 1942; Will Rogers Fld, OK, 10 Oct 1943-1 May 1944. Heidelberg, Germany, 10 Dec 1945; Phaffengrund, Germany, 1 Jan-25 Jun 1947; Langley Fld, VA, 25 Jun 1947; March Field (later, AFB), CA, 1 Sep 1947-28 Mar 1949. Albrook AFB, Canal Zone, 27 Oct 1949-8 Sep 1952. Donaldson AFB, SC, 20 Oct 1952-18 Jun 1954. Otis AFB, MA, 1 Jul 1969; Eglin Aux Fld #9 (Hurlburt Fld), FL, 31 May 1972-30 Apr 1974. Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, CO, 1 Jan 1993-.

Commanders

1st Lt Neuenhahn, 28 Jan 1942; Maj Harry T. Eidson, 28 Feb 1942; Capt Emmett C. Gravitt, 26 May 1942; Capt Thomas G. Tracy, c. Aug 1942; Capt MacArthur Gorton, by Jun 1943; Capt Darold K. Barker, Nov 1943 (temporary); Capt Donald G. Kaufman, Dec 1943-unkn. Maj Frederick A. Campbell, Jr., 12 Dec 1945; Maj Eugene O'Brien, by Mar 1946 (temporary); Maj Stanley G. Wright, Oct 1946; Maj Donald Hamilton, 25 Jun 1947; 1st Lt Girard S. Tallent, 1 Sep 1947 (temporary); Capt Charles J. Crysler, 4 Nov 1947; Capt Clyde E. Goode, 22 Feb 1948 (temporary); Maj James A. Watkins, 24 Apr 1948; Capt Charles J. Crysler, 31 Jul 1948 (temporary); Maj William R. Crooks, 1 Sep 1948; Capt Dean Miller, 2 Feb-29 Mar 1949. Unkn, 27 Oct 1949-8 Sep 1952. Maj Kelton M. Farris, 20 Oct 1952; Capt Russell D. Barney, 18 Jan-18 Jun 1954. Lt Col Raymond G. Summy, Jul 1969; Lt Col Richard R. Cole, 31 Jul 1970; Lt Col Robert E. Hubeli, 6 Apr 1972; Lt Col Charles E. McMillan, 12 Jan 1973-30 Apr 1974. None (not manned), 17 Jan-17 Mar 1993; Maj Frank J. Cassarino, 18 Mar 1993-.

Aircraft and Space Systems

P-38/F-4 and F-5, 1942-1944; B-25/F-10, 1942-1944. L-5, 1946-1947, 1948; 1949-1952. L-13, 1947-1948; L-4, 1948-1949. L-20, 1952-1954. C-47, 1969-1970; U-10, 1969-1971; C-123, 1970-1973; UH-1, 1971-1974. Satellites, 1993-.

Operations

Trained pilots and technicians for photographic reconnaissance, Jan 1942-Apr 1944. Provided transportation and courier service in Europe, 1946-mid 1947, the US 1947-1949, and Latin America, 1949-1952. Airlift support for US Army Special Forces, 1972-1974. Satellite control since early 1993. First Air Force Reserve space operations squadron.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1969-15 Apr 1971; 4 Sep 1997-1 Nov 1998.

Emblem

Approved on 2 Feb 1994.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 25 Sep 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 1995.