USAF Patch Recon s y Sqn 1 SRS Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron SR 71

USAF Patch 1 SRS Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Lighter Yellow Patch SR 71 Blackbird Beale AB Worldwide Dets and OLs 1960s Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 103mm by 100mm four and one sixteenth inches by three and seven eighth inches.

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Wing History  

1 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was activated on 25 June 1966 on the redesignation of 1 Bombardment Squadron Medium relocated to Beale AB reassigned to 9 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and reequipped with SR 71 Blackbird high altitude reconnaissance intelligence surveillance aircraft joining 9 SRWs 99 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron U 2s to conducted clandestine worldwide strategic reconnaissance missions from Beale and a number of overseas operating locations. The Squadron was also equipped with T 38 Talon to ensure pilot hours compliance. 

1 SRS operated over Vietnam until the end of the war in 1975 including North Vietnam and the Chinese border gathering photographic electronic signals intelligence SIGINT SAC target information and monitored the Ho Chi Min Trail supply routes from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam. Despite the SR 71s speed and operating altitude crews risked their lives daily to obtain the latest and best reconnaissance data. 1 SRSs sister Squadron 99 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was reassigned to U 2R equipped 100 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing attached to 17 Air Division Provisional at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield Thailand on 1 November 1972. 

Between 1974 and 1976 the 1 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons SR 71s set a number of speed and altitude flying world records. 

On 1 July 1976 the U 2R equipped 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB AZ was inactivated and its aircraft redesignated as 99 Strategic  Reconnaissance Squadron and was reassigned to 9 SRW at Beale AFB rejoining 1 Strategic  Reconnaissance Squadrons SR 71s. 9 SRW also received from 100 SRW further permanent Detachments Dets and temporary Operating Locations OLs around the world with Osan AB Korea as OL A and Detachment 2 from 1976 RAF Akrotiri Cyprus OL Olive Harvest and Det 3 from 1976 RAF Mildenhall England OL and Det 4 from 1976 Patrick AFB FL Operating Location LF and Det 5 from 1976 USAF Plant 42 Palmdale CA Det 6 Maintenance. 1 SRS deployed its SR 71s and crews to the Detachments and OLs on a rotational basis carrying out classified strategic reconnaissance missions throughout the Cold War. 1 SRS provided two SR 71 aircraft based at RAF Mildenhall on a permanent basis as Detachment 4 from January 1983 with the UK remaining in control of the more sensitive missions. In addition to its missions over Europe Det 4 took part in operation Eldorado Canyon over Libya in 1986. Det 4 ceased operations on 22 November 1989 with the last SR 71 aircraft departing the UK on 18 January 1990. 

USAF announced the impending retirement of the SR 71 Blackbird in January 1990 with 1 SRS setting a number of new speed and altitude flying world records before carrying out its last SR 71 flight on 28 March 1990. 

The Squadron reequipped with U 2Rs retaining its T 38 Talons and was redesignated 1 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Training on 1 July 1990 tasked with training U 2 pilots and aircrew. 1 SRST was redesignated 1 Reconnaissance Squadron Training on 1 September 1991. The Squadron became 1 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 July 1994 receiving U 2S and the worlds only five TU 2S two seater training aircraft. The Squadron received RQ 4 Global Hawk UAVs in 2002 and became responsible for training all High Altitude Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance pilots and mission planners for the U 2S Dragon Lady and pilots and sensor operators for the RQ 4 Global Hawk. Training for all U 2S pilots includes additional qualification with the T 38A Talon the companion trainer to the U 2S.

USAF Pilots wishing to operate the U 2S apply to the program voluntarily and undergo and pass an intensive two week evaluation before assignment to the 1 RS to begin training with T 38A Talons then complete the initial and high altitude mission qualification in the U 2S before being assigned to 99 Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AB.

This patch dates from the 1960s.