History 97th Intelligence Squadron

1 history

1.1 world war i
1.2 interwar years
1.3 world war ii
1.4 1979

history
world war i

the squadron first organized @ kelly field, texas in summer of 1917 97th aero squadron. after little more month of training, squadron moved concentration center @ garden city, new york shipment france. squadron arrived in november , maintained , repaired aircraft until end of world war in 1918. squadron returned united states in 1919 , demobilized few days later.

interwar years

curtiss o-39 falcon



north american o-47a

the second incarnation of unit began in 1935, when air corps activated 97th observation squadron @ mitchell field, new york. squadron equipped curtiss falcon airplanes, flew variety of other 2 seat curtiss , douglas biplane observation planes. little more year later, new squadron consolidated world war unit. unit assigned directly second corps area, although mobilization plans called combined national guard , organized reserve squadrons in observation group in event of war.

the squadron began fly more modern metal monoplanes when re-equipped north american o-47 in 1938. in fall of 1940 squadron assigned iv corps , moved lawson field, georgia. @ lawson, 1 flight of squadron attached united states army infantry school @ fort benning. flight began experiment light aircraft, including stinson o-49 (later l-1) vigilant, taylorcraft o-57 (later l-2) grasshopper , piper l-4 grasshopper cooperation infantry units. shortly before united states entered world war ii, 97th assigned 66th observation group.

world war ii

bell p-39 airacobra

one week after japanese attack on pearl harbor, bulk of squadron moved miami s 36th street airport, where, along other units of air support command, began engage in antisubmarine patrols beginning on 18 december 1941. after may 1942, squadron operated under control of gulf task force. continued these operations until september 1942, when focus of german submarine attacks shifted away coast of united states toward caribbean.

in september 1942, squadron left gulf coast. trained personnel aerial reconnaissance , artillery spotting. supported ground forces on carolina maneuvers of 1942, tennessee maneuvers of 1942 , 1943 , second army maneuvers of 1943–1944. in september 1943, squadron moved thermal army air field , participated in exercises in desert training center. however, army air forces found standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization, proving less adapted training mission. accordingly, adopted more functional system in each base organized separate numbered unit, while existing groups , squadrons disbanded or inactivated. resulted in 97th, along other units @ thermal, being disbanded in spring of 1944 , being replaced aaf base unit, assumed squadron s mission, personnel, , equipment.

from 1979

in march 1979, united states air force security service (usafss) activated 6949th security squadron @ offutt air force base, nebraska. squadron provided intelligence information strategic air command. when usafss became electronic security command, squadron became 6949th electronic security squadron.

in january 1980, 6949th expanded group , assigned 6985th electronic security squadron subordinate unit. members of 6985th flew aboard cobra ball rc-135 aircraft, collecting information on soviet missile launches. on 15 march 1981, cobra ball ii aircraft crashed snowbank while attempting land @ shemya air force base, alaska. 3 members of 6985th killed in crash. group returned squadron strength in august of year.

the 6949th electronic security squadron consolidated 97th tactical reconnaissance squadron in october 1993.

members of 97th have flown aboard number of reconnaissance aircraft in addition cobra ball, including hog-nosed rc-135m, rc-135v, , rc-135w rivet joint aircraft designed provide near real-time battle management information , electronic warfare support theater commanders , combat forces.

crews 45th reconnaissance squadron , 97th intelligence squadron operate rc-135u combat sent aircraft, highly specialized reconnaissance plane equipped communications gear designed locate , identify foreign military radar signals. 2 planes assigned 55th wing @ offutt air force base combat sent crews include 2 airborne systems engineers, @ least 10 electronic warfare officers , 6 or more technical , other specialists. in april 2014, russian su-27 fighter intercepted 1 of rc-135us on sea of okhotsk , flew in front of it, passing within 100 feet.