Lineage

The 27th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (constituted 27th Observation Squadron on 1 Jul 1942; activated on 17 Jul 1942; redesignated 27th Reconnaissance Squadron [Fighter] on 2 Apr 1943, and 27th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; disbanded on 30 Nov 1943; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 167th Liaison Squadron (activated on 19 Feb 1945 by special authority prior to constitution on 1 Mar 1945; inactivated on 3 Oct 1946) and the 7th Special Operations Squadron (constituted 7th Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated, on 14 May 1964; organized on 1 Jul 1964; redesignated 7th Special Operations Squadron on 15 Jul 1968).

Assignments

77th Observation (later, 77th Reconnaissance; 77th Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 17 Jul 1942?30 Nov 1943. Ninth Air Force, 19 Feb 1945 (attached to Sixth Army Group to 14 Jun 1945); XII Tactical Air Command, 20 May 1945; US Forces, European Theater, 15 Jul 1945; Third Air Force, 4 Aug 1945; XIX Tactical Air Command, 21 Jan 1946; Tactical Air Command, 21 Mar 1946; Ninth Air Force, 28 Mar?3 Oct 1946. United States Air Forces in Europe, 14 May 1964; Seventeenth Air Force, 1 May 1967; 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 17 Nov 1972; 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, 31 Jan 1973; 322d Tactical Airlift Wing, 15 Mar 1973; Seventeenth Air Force, 30 Jun 1975; 601st Tactical Control Wing, 15 Oct 1975; 7575th Operations Group, 1 Jul 1977; 2d Air Division, 1 Mar 1983; 39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery (later, 39th Special Operations) Wing, 1 Feb 1987 (attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, 13 Jan?18 Mar 1991 and 6 Apr?14 May 1991); 352d Special Operations Group, 1 Dec 1992? (attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, 22 Feb?22 Mar 1993).

Stations

Godman Field, KY, 17 Jul 1942; Alamo Airfield, TX, 15 Oct 1942; Abilene Airfield, TX, 9 Apr 1943; Esler Field, LA, 13 Sep 1943; Birmingham AAB, AL, 14?30 Nov 1943. Vittel, France, 19 Feb 1945; Kaiserslautern, Germany, 5 Apr 1945; Pfaffengrund, Germany, 14 Apr 1945; Darmstadt, Germany, 10 Jun?2 Jul 1945; Drew Field, FL, 4 Aug 1945; Muskogee AAFld, OK, 1 Sep 1945; Marshall Field, KS, 1 Nov 1945?3 Oct 1946. Sembach AB, Germany, 1 Jul 1964; Ramstein AB, Germany, 15 Aug 1968; Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 15 Mar 1973 (deployed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, 13 Jan?18 Mar 1991 and 6 Apr?14 May 1991); RAF Alconbury, England, 1 Oct 1992?(deployed at Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 22 Feb?22 Mar 1993).

Aircraft

O?47, L?1, and L?4, 1942; P?39, 1942?1943. L?4, 1945; L?5, 1945?1946. C?47, 1964?1973; C?123, 1964?c. 1973; U?10, 1964?1968; C?130, 1968?c. 1977; UH?1, 1971?1973; MC?130, 1977?.

Operations

Aerial support for training ground forces, Jul 1942?Nov 1943. Courier operations in ETO, 10 Mar?May 1945. Special operations training, May 1964?. Supported Coalition forces in Southwest Asia conflict, Jan?Mar 1991; later resupplied Kurds in Northern Iraq.

Honors

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rhineland; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 14 Jan?23 Mar 1991. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Sep 1964?15 Aug 1966; 16 Aug 1966?15 Jul 1968; 17 Mar?30 Jun 1972; 1 Aug 1976?30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978?30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1981?30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1983?30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1985?30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1989?30 Jun 1991; 24 Mar 1991?31 Jul 1992; 1 Aug 1992?31 Jul 1993.

Emblem

On a Light Blue disc within a Brown border, issuing from base a Blue demi?sphere grid lined and rimmed White, surmounted by a Yellow lightning flash and sword forming a saltire and supporting a Yellow eagle displayed with wings inverted, White head and tail, all detailed Brown. Approved on 11 Jan 1965 (KE 16243); replaced emblem approved on 28 Dec 1942 (K 2884).