USAF Patch Recon tb USAFE b 38 TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF 4C Phantom c4f

USAF 38 Tac Recon Squadron Patch USAFE TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Photo RF 4C Phantom 1973 Ramstein AFB West Germany Velcro Embroidered on twill cut edge 91mm by 86mm three and nine sixteenth inches by three and three eighth inches.

USAF 38 Tac Recon Squadron Patch USAFE TRS Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Photo RF 4C Phantom 1973 Ramstein AFB West Germany

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WWII

P 38 Foto 5 Lightning B 25 Mitchell Foto 10

38 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was activated by the US Army Air Force at Will Rogers Field Oklahoma on 1 May 1944 before relocating to Muskogee Army Airfield Oklahoma 15 May 1944 assigned to Third Air Force Oklahoma for training. The Squadron equipped with P 38 Lightning adapted to F 5 Foto 5 and B 25 Mitchell bomber aircraft modified to F 10 Foto 10 for long range photo recon.

On completion of training 38 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to Thirteenth Air Force for operations in the Central Pacific Area and departed to the Pacific on 2 November 1944. The Squadron was attached to 4 Photographic Group on 12 December 1944 and formed up at Hollandia Airfield Complex Netherlands East Indies on 14 December 1944. 38 Photo Recon Squadron relocated to Wama Airfield Morotai Netherlands East Indies on 28 December 1944 and assigned to 4 Photographic Group 1 February 1945.

The P 38 F 5 and the B 25 Mitchell F 10 aircraft incorporated aerial mapping cameras and flew unarmed without escort to gather photographic intelligence on enemy positions and targets. The Squadron was tasked with long distance mapping missions over Japanese controlled areas including the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines. 38 Photo Recon Squadron relocated to Clark Field Luzon Philippines on 5 October 1945 and was reassigned back to Thirteenth Air Force on 5 December 1945. With the end of WWII 38 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated on 15 January 1946. 

USAFE RF 80A Shooting Star

38 Reconnaissance Squadron Photographic was activated by the US Air Force at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base West Germany on 10 July 1952 on the renaming of 160 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron TRS Alabama Air National Guard ANG which was returning to the US after federalized service to provide reconnaissance cover in Europe for units deployed for the Korean War. The initial plan to base the Squadron at Toul Rosières Air Base France was changed as the Base facilities had not been completed. 38 Reconnaissance Squadron Photographic took over 160 TRSs RF 80A Shooting Star reconnaissance aircraft and equipment with 160 TRS returning to the US after federalized service to provide reconnaissance cover in Europe for units deployed for the Korean War. The Squadron was assigned to 10 Tactical Reconnaissance Group of 10 TRW US Air Force Europe USAFE and 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 Shooting Star 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 on 4 May 1953 with the rest of 10 TRW.

RF 84F Thunderflash

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 Phalsbourg Bourscheid AB France and attached to 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in January 1958 while the runway at Spangdahlem was renovated. 38 TRS was reassigned to the 66 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in March 1958 which was moving to Loan AB from Sembach AB.

RF 101C Voodoo

38 TRS reequipped with RF 101C Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft during May 1959 the fastest tactical reconnaissance aircraft ever flown by the USAF. 38 TRS continued reconnaissance duties in support of NATO operations exercises and competitions and relocated to Toul Rosieres AB France on 17 October 1960 and on 1 January 1966 was reassigned to the newly reactivated 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing being formed at Toul Rosieres AB.

RF 4C Phantom

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. 38 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron relocated to Ramstein AB West Germany on 1 October 1966 and reequipped with the RF 4C Phantom recon aircraft.

The Squadron along with 26 TRW relocated to Zweibrucken Air Base West Germany on 31 January 1973 following USAFE and NATO reorganisation and realignment at the end of the Vietnam War. 38 TRS continued reconnaissance duties in support of NATO exercises competitions and operations including deployment to Incirlik AB Turkey in January 1991 undertaking combat photographic recon missions over northern Iraq during Operation Desert Storm February to March 1991. With the end of the Cold War and the phasing out of the RF 4C Phantom 38 TRS was inactivated at Zweibrucken AB on 31 July 1991.

This USAF 38 Tac Recon Squadron patch dates from 1973.