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319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
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319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
The 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, operating General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance vehicles.
The squadron was first activated as the 319th Fighter Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to North Africa. In combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It was withdrawn from combat from September to December 1943 while it equipped with different aircraft and moved from Africa to Italy. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations before returning to the United States for inactivation.
The squadron was reactivated in 1947, serving in the air defense role in Panama and the Northwestern United States until the spring of 1952, when it deployed to Korea. In combat operations through 1953, it earned another Distinguished Unit Citation and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. It was inactivated in Japan in 1955. It resumed its air defense role later that year, serving as the 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron under Air Defense Command until 1969, and briefly from 1971 to 1972. It served as a training unit, the 319th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, with the Interceptor Weapons School from 1975 to 1977.
The squadron was converted to provisional status as the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron to provide unmanned reconnaissance in the North Pacific in 2022.
The squadron was first organized at Mitchel Field, New York on 3 August 1942 as one of the three original squadrons of the 325th Fighter Group, but moved the same day to Brainard Field, Connecticut. The squadron drew its initial cadre from the 87th Fighter Squadron. It equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and trained for combat at Brainard Field and Hillsgrove Army Air Field, Rhode Island until late January 1943, when it began to deploy overseas. In addition to training, the squadron flew regular patrols off the New England coast under the control of the Boston Fighter Wing.
On 2 January, the air echelon flew their Warhawks to Norfolk, Virginia, where they were loaded aboard the USS Ranger, a United States Navy aircraft carrier. When the Ranger approached the coast of Africa, their pilots flew their planes to the mainland. The remainder of the air echelon was transported across the Atlantic via the South Atlantic Ferry Route. On 22 January 1943, the ground echelon moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, On 7 February, they boarded the USS Lyon. They arrived at Oran, Algeria two weeks later. On 1 March, the ground and air echelons of the squadron were united.
The squadron arrived in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in February and was established at its first combat station, Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria by 1 March 1943. It flew its first combat mission on 17 April, a strike against Mateur Airfield. It escorted medium bombers and flew strafing missions and flew sweeps over the Mediterranean Sea from bases in Algeria and Tunisia. The squadron participated in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia. It participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and in Operation Husky, the invasion and conquest of Sicily. On 22 July, near Cagliari, the squadron destroyed 12 enemy aircraft without any loss. On 30 July, the 325th Group used diversionary tactics to lure a superior number of enemy planes into the air over Sardinia, destroying more than half of them. The squadron was awarded its first Distinguished Unit Citation for this action. On 28 August, Lt Collins became the squadron's first ace. In late September 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat to convert to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and prepare to move to the Italian peninsula. Training on the new aircraft was delayed by heavy intermittent rain at its North African base.
By early December 1943, the squadron began to operate its Thunderbolts from Foggia Airfield, Italy, flying its first mission with the new plane on 14 December, escorting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on attack on Corfu. However, it only operated the P-47 for a short period, converting to North American P-51 Mustangs in March 1944, and moving to Lesina Airfield, Italy on the 29th of the month. However, on 30 January it flew its "T-Bolts" more than 300 miles at very low altitude to make a surprise attack on German interceptors defending airdromes near Villorba. The severe losses it inflicted on the defending forces enabled heavy bombers to attack vital targets in the area without encountering serious opposition. This action resulted in the second award of the Distinguished Unit Citation to the squadron.
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319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
The 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, operating General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance vehicles.
The squadron was first activated as the 319th Fighter Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to North Africa. In combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It was withdrawn from combat from September to December 1943 while it equipped with different aircraft and moved from Africa to Italy. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations before returning to the United States for inactivation.
The squadron was reactivated in 1947, serving in the air defense role in Panama and the Northwestern United States until the spring of 1952, when it deployed to Korea. In combat operations through 1953, it earned another Distinguished Unit Citation and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. It was inactivated in Japan in 1955. It resumed its air defense role later that year, serving as the 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron under Air Defense Command until 1969, and briefly from 1971 to 1972. It served as a training unit, the 319th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, with the Interceptor Weapons School from 1975 to 1977.
The squadron was converted to provisional status as the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron to provide unmanned reconnaissance in the North Pacific in 2022.
The squadron was first organized at Mitchel Field, New York on 3 August 1942 as one of the three original squadrons of the 325th Fighter Group, but moved the same day to Brainard Field, Connecticut. The squadron drew its initial cadre from the 87th Fighter Squadron. It equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and trained for combat at Brainard Field and Hillsgrove Army Air Field, Rhode Island until late January 1943, when it began to deploy overseas. In addition to training, the squadron flew regular patrols off the New England coast under the control of the Boston Fighter Wing.
On 2 January, the air echelon flew their Warhawks to Norfolk, Virginia, where they were loaded aboard the USS Ranger, a United States Navy aircraft carrier. When the Ranger approached the coast of Africa, their pilots flew their planes to the mainland. The remainder of the air echelon was transported across the Atlantic via the South Atlantic Ferry Route. On 22 January 1943, the ground echelon moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, On 7 February, they boarded the USS Lyon. They arrived at Oran, Algeria two weeks later. On 1 March, the ground and air echelons of the squadron were united.
The squadron arrived in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in February and was established at its first combat station, Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria by 1 March 1943. It flew its first combat mission on 17 April, a strike against Mateur Airfield. It escorted medium bombers and flew strafing missions and flew sweeps over the Mediterranean Sea from bases in Algeria and Tunisia. The squadron participated in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia. It participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and in Operation Husky, the invasion and conquest of Sicily. On 22 July, near Cagliari, the squadron destroyed 12 enemy aircraft without any loss. On 30 July, the 325th Group used diversionary tactics to lure a superior number of enemy planes into the air over Sardinia, destroying more than half of them. The squadron was awarded its first Distinguished Unit Citation for this action. On 28 August, Lt Collins became the squadron's first ace. In late September 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat to convert to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and prepare to move to the Italian peninsula. Training on the new aircraft was delayed by heavy intermittent rain at its North African base.
By early December 1943, the squadron began to operate its Thunderbolts from Foggia Airfield, Italy, flying its first mission with the new plane on 14 December, escorting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on attack on Corfu. However, it only operated the P-47 for a short period, converting to North American P-51 Mustangs in March 1944, and moving to Lesina Airfield, Italy on the 29th of the month. However, on 30 January it flew its "T-Bolts" more than 300 miles at very low altitude to make a surprise attack on German interceptors defending airdromes near Villorba. The severe losses it inflicted on the defending forces enabled heavy bombers to attack vital targets in the area without encountering serious opposition. This action resulted in the second award of the Distinguished Unit Citation to the squadron.
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