USAF Patch Recon tb USAFE b 32 TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF 101C Voodoo b5a

USAF Patch USAFE 32 TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Patch RF 101C Voodoo Loan Couveron AFB France 1960 Embroidered on twill cut edge 136mm by 120mm five and three eighth inches by four and three quarter inches.

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Squadron History 

Originally to be based at Toul Rosieres Air Base France 32 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was activated at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base West Germany on 10 July 1952 due to incomplete facilities in France equipped with the RF 80A Shooting Star reconnaissance aircraft and personnel of Alabama Air National Guard ANG 157 TRS which was returning to the US after federalized service to provide reconnaissance cover in Europe for units deployed for the Korean War. The Squadron assigned to 10 Tactical Reconnaissance Group was tasked with daylight tactical reconnaissance in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO Cold War operations.

Weather conditions in Germany severely restricted the Squadrons training operations with the RF 80A aircraft and the Squadron deployed to Nouasseur Air Base Morocco during the winter where conditions for photo reconnaissance were excellent before relocating to Spangdahlem AB West Germany in May 1953 to join the rest of 10 TRW.

32 TRS reequipped with RF 84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft in 1955 as the RF 80 Shooting Stars were classed as not mission capable against the Soviet Mig 15. The Squadron was reassigned direct to 10 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 December 1957 in line with the removal of the Group layer.

The Squadron relocated to Laon Couvron Air Base France in January 1958 while the runway at Spangdahlem was renovated and was reassigned to the 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in March 1958 which was relocating to Laon Couveron AB from Sembach AB due to poor runway conditions. 32 TRS reequipped with RF 101C Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft in May 1958 which was the fastest tactical reconnaissance aircraft ever flown by the USAF.

The Squadron continued reconnaissance duties in support of NATO operations and relocated to Toul Rosieres AB France on 1 July 1965 reassigned to the newly reactivated 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On 7 March 1966 French President Charles de Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATOs integrated military structure. The US was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967. As a result 32 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron relocated to RAF Alconbury England on 15 August 1966 and reequipped with the RF 4C Phantom recon aircraft.

32 TRS operated the RF 4C from RAF Alconbury in support of NATO operations until inactivation on 1 January 1976 with the reduction in the numbers of frontline tactical reconnaissance aircraft following the end of the Vietnam war and the advent of satellite reconnaissance.

The Squadron was reactivated as 32 Intelligence Squadron at Kelly AFB Texas on 15 July 1988 assigned to 694 Electronic Security Wing to undertake electronic intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance duties in support of USAF Department of Defense DoD and the National Security Agency NSA. The Squadron relocated to Ft George G. Meade Maryland on 1 October 1991 was reassigned to 694 Intelligence Wing on 1 April 1992 and then to 694 Intelligence Group on 1 October 1993. 32 Intelligence Squadron was reassigned to 70 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing on 1 May 2005 and then to 707 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group on 25 September 2009.

This patch dates from 1960.