Lineage

Constituted 761 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Redesignated 761 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 29 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 26 Sep 1945. Redesignated 9 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic on 29 Apr 1946. Activated on 20 Jun 1946. Inactivated on 20 Oct 1947. Redesignated 9 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Electronics and Weather on 21 Jul 1953. Activated on 11 Nov 1953. Redesignated: 9 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 15 May 1965; 9 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966. Inactivated on 31 Aug 1971. Redesignated 9 Space Operations Squadron on 5 Feb 1999. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1999.

Assignments

460 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1943-26 Sep 1945. 314 Composite Wing, 20 Jun 1946-20 Oct 1947 (attached to 3 Bombardment Group, c. 25 Sep 1946-21 Apr 1947; 71 Reconnaissance Group, 22 Apr-7 May 1947; 3 Bombardment Group, 7 May-20 Oct 1947). 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 11 Nov 1953; 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 8 Feb 1958; 4402 Tactical Training Group, 1 Jul 1966; 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Feb 1967; 75 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Sep 1969; 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 15 Jul-31 Aug 1971. 310 Space Group, 1 Oct 1999-.

Stations

Alamogordo AAFld, NM, 1 Jul 1943; Kearns AAFld UT, 31 Aug 1943; Chatham AAFld, GA, 29 Oct 1943-3 Jan 1944; Spinazzola, Italy, c. 11 Feb 1944-6 Jun 1945; Waller Field, Trinidad, 15 Jun 1945; Natal, Brazil, 30 Jun-26 Sep 1945. Johnson AB, Japan, 20 Jun 1946; Yokota AB, Japan, c. Sep 1946-20 Oct 1947. Shaw AFB, SC, 11 Nov 1953 (deployed at Langley AFB, VA, 1 Jun-1 Oct 1959; MacDill AFB, FL, 21 Oct-30 Nov 1962); Bergstrom AFB, TX, 1 Sep 1969-31 Aug 1971. Vandenberg AFB, CA, 1 Oct 1999-.

Commanders

Capt Robert L. Spear, Jul 1943; Maj William B. Campbell, c. Sep 1943; Lt Col Robert L. Spear, by Nov 1943; Maj Henry L. Downey, by 19 Jan 1945; unkn, Apr-26 Sep 1945. Maj Donald C. Surles, 20 Jun 1946; Lt Col William L. Gray, 24 Jul 1946-20 Oct 1947. Lt Col Charles A. Callahan, by 1 Jan 1954; Lt Col Robert G. Williams, c. 14 Oct 1955; Lt Col Allen S. Webb, 5 Aug 1957; Lt Col William E. Hanes, 5 Jun 1959; Lt Col Walter C. Goodson, 18 Feb 1961; Commander Chester E. Kingsbury (USN), 6 Jun 1962; Lt Col Everett G. Walker, 1 Oct 1963; Lt Col Duane A. Kuhlmann, 7 Apr 1964; Capt Henry O. Porter, Jul 1966; unmanned, 20 Jan 1968-31 Aug 1969; Lt Col James P. Estes, 1 Sep 1969; Lt Col Raymond L. Norman, 1 Mar 1970-31 Aug 1971.

Aircraft

B-24, 1943-1945. F-7, B-17, 1946; F-2, F-9, 1946-1947; F-13, FB-17, 1947. RB-26, 1954-1956; RT-33, 1955-1956; WT-33, 1956; TB-25, 1956; RB-66, 1956-1965; WB-66, 1957-1964; RF-4, 1965-1967, 1969-1971.

Operations

Combat in MTO and ETO, 19 Mar 1944-26 Apr 1945. Electronic and weather reconnaissance, 1954-1966. Flew classified film during Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962. Routinely deployed aircraft and crews to SEA, 1965-1966.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Austria, 26 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Oct-24 Nov 1962; 1 Nov 1969-31 May 1971; 15 Jul-31 Aug 1971.

Emblem

Approved on 6 May 1999; based on emblem approved on 14 Oct 1946.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 6 Sep 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Aug 1971.