USAF Patch Recon tb 16 TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF 4 Phantom a

USAF Patch 16 TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 1970s RF 4C Phantom II EB 57E Canberra Shaw AFB Fully embroidered cut edge 82mm by 69mm three and one quarter inches by two and three quarter inches.

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Squadron History

16 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Night Photo was activated on 10 October 1950 at Langley AB Virginia equipped with RB 26 Invader recon aircraft on the redesignation of 160 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron assigned to 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Group tasked with tactical night photographic reconnaissance. The Squadron added RB 57 Canberra recon aircraft to its fleet in 1954 retiring its RB 26 Invaders in 1955 before reequipping with RB 66 Destroyer reconnaissance aircraft in 1956.

16 TRS relocated to Shaw AB South Carolina on 8 February 1958 and reequipped with RF 101C Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft. With the elimination of USAFs Group layer the Squadron was reassigned direct to 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The Squadron deployed to MacDill AB Florida from 22 October to 30 November 1962 in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis undertaking hazardous missions over Cuba gathering intelligence photos for the campaign.

16 TRS reequipped with RF 4C Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft in 1965 and established and operated a flight of EB 57E Canberra electronic warfare aircraft adding EB 66 Destroyer electronic countermeasures jamming aircraft in 1971. The Squadron became the last USAF active duty B 57 Canberra operator retiring them in 1976 when F 4G Phantom II Wild Weasel aircraft took over the mission. The Squadron provided training for RF 4C crews and was redesignated 16 Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron on 1 October 1979.

With 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing realigning for F 16 fighter operations and redesignated 363 Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 October 1981 but retained 16 TRS operating its RF 4C Phantoms at Shaw AB to provide tactical reconnaissance training and was redesignated 16 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 July 1982. 16 TRS continued its mission until 1989 when its RF 4Cs were transferred to 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom AB Texas and the Squadron was inactivated on 15 December 1989.

The Squadron was reactivated as 16 Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 1 October 1996 at Robins AB Georgia equipped with E 8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System J STARS advanced ground surveillance and battle management aircraft system.

This patch dates from the 1970s