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25th Attack Group

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25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
File:25trw.jpg
25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing patch
Active1940-45, 1965-1966
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Motto(s)Guard With Power

The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.

History

The wing's lineage and honors can be traced not just through its own history, but through the history of two World War II organizations, the 25th Bombardment Group and the 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance).

Lineage

  • Constituted as 25th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 22 Dec 1939.
Activated 1 Feb 1940.
Redesignated: 25th Bombardment Group (Medium), May 1942
Disbanded on 20 Jun 1944.
  • Constituted as 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) on 17 Jul 1944.
Activated on 9 Aug 1944
Inactivated on 8 Sep 1945
  • Established and activated as 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 1 July 1965
Inactivated on 15 October 1966

Major Commands

Bases Assigned

Major Aircraft Assigned

Operational History

Consolidated B-24J-401-CF Liberator Serial 42-50578 of the 652d Bomb Squadron.
Martin B-26G-1-MA Marauder Serial 43-34195 painted black for night recon missions of the 654th Bomb Squadron.
A British de Havilland Mosquito XVI of the 654th Bomb Squadron.
Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer Serial 54-0419, converted to EB-66E. of the 25th TRW.

World War II

Constituted as 25th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Operational squadrons were the 10th, 12th and 35th Bombardment Squadrons. Initially trained with A-17As, assigned B-18A/B aircraft when deployed to the Caribbean. With the outbreak of World War II the group's mission was to fly antisubmarine patrols, escort convoys, and served as part of the defense force of the Caribbean area. In 1942, the 417th Squadron was added; in 1943 the 10th squadron was inactivated, being replaced by the 59th.

Returned to the United States in April 1944, and was reassigned to Second Air Force. Re-equipped with B-17s and programmed for overseas deployment to Europe. This deployment was cancelled in June 1944 and the group was disbanded, with planes and personnel being sent to Europe as replacements.

The 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) was formed at RAF Cheddington, England as the 802d Reconnaissance Group on 30 March 1944, and transferred to Watton on 12 April 1944. On 9 August 1944, the 802 RG was redesigated as the 25th BG(R). Assigned squadrons were:

  • 652d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (YN/R4) B-17F/G, B-24J
  • 653d Bombardment Squadron (Light) (WX) De Havilland Mosquito XVI
  • 654th Bombardment Squadron (Special B-25C, B-26G (XN), A-26, De Havilland Mosquito XVI

The 652d Bomb Squadron originated as a provisional weather recon unit that was formed on 31 Augsut 1943 and transferred RAF St Eval in Cornwall with B-17 Flying Fortresss on 8 September 1943 for conducting meteorological fights over the Atlantic Ocean. On 25 Octoer 1943 it was formalized at St. Mawgan as Detachment "A" of a newly formed Combat Weather Detachment, 1st CCRC Bovingdon. On 23 November 1943 the unit moved to RAF Bovingdon after flying 231 weather sorties. At Bovington, the squadron was reorganized as the 8th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 28 March 1944, then transferred to Watton on 12 April 1944.

The 653d and 654th Bomb Squadrons were re-located at Watton on 12 April for special weather recon missions over enemy-occupied territory in advance of bomber formations and visual coverage of target strikes. Pilots for the Mosquitos came from former P-38 Lightning pilots of the 50th Fighter Squadron transferred from the 342d Composite Group based in Iceland.

From Watton the 25th continued weather flights over the waters adjacent to the British Isles and eventually to the Azores to obtain meteorological data along with night photographic missions to detect enemy activity; and daylight photographic and mapping missions over the Continent.

A B-25 Mitchell assigned to 7th Photo Group was modified for night-photography work, and flown by 25th BG personnel on night photo-recon missions using photoflash bombs.

Also, the group eventually engaged in electronic-countermeasure missions in which chaff was spread to confuse enemy defences during Allied attacks. In November 1944, they began supporting the OSS Joan-Eleanor project flying Mosquito and A-26 aircraft to insert and communicate with secret agents in Holland and Germany. For statistical purposes, Watton classified OSS flights as Redstocking to receive group credit for these missions.

The 25th Bomb Group moved to Drew AAF, Florida during July-August 1945, for transition to A-26 Invaders against Japan, and was deactivated on 8 September 1945.

The group flew a total of 3,370 sorties for the loss of 15 aircraft.

Cold War

The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated on 1 July 1965 at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France as part of USAFE. Upon activation, the wing absorbed the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and 42d Electronic Countermeasures Squadron. The squadrons were transferred from Toul-Rosieres AB, where they operated as a detachment of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at RAF Alconbury, UK.

The 25th flew variants of the B-66 "Destroyers" on photo reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.

The escalation of the conflict in SE Asia prompted the establishment of Detachment 1 of the 42 ECS at Takhli RTAFB during February, 1966. 5 of its B-66's were sent to Thailand.

On 7 March 1966, French President Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.

On 1 May 1966, the 42d was inactivated and the squadrons remaining aircraft were deployed to Takhli RTAFB, with all of its assets in Thailand being assigned to the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS).

The 19th TRS and its aircraft were reassigned to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina. On 15 October 1966 the 25th TRW was deactivated.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • McAuliffe, Jerome J. (2005). US Air Force in France 1950-1967. San Diego, California: Milspec Press, Chapter 7, Chambley-Bussieres Air Base. ISBN 0-9770371-1-8.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  • USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers -1908 to present
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