History


Established in early 1943 as the 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), initially to Australia, then flying long range unarmed combat aerial photography missions during the New Guinea Campaign from forward airfields in Papua New Guinea with photographic versions of the P-38 Lightning. Moved forward to support Mac Arthur's island hopping campaign to the Netherlands East Indies, then flying missions in support of the 1944-1945 Philippines Campaign. Later moving to Okinawa in August 1945 after the Japanese Capitulation. Flew aerial reconnaissance over Occupied Japan and Korea, inactivating in early 1946.

Reactivated in 1947 in the reserve at Hamilton Field, but it is unclear whether or not the unit had any assigned aircraft of personnel. It was inactivated in 1949 due to budgetary reductions.

Reactivated under S.A.C. in 1955 as a RB-47 Stratojet reconnaissance squadron flying strategic reconnaissance missions to meet SAC's global reconnaissance commitments from October 1955–1962. Flew many long-range clandestine missions with the RB-47, flying many ferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory, and sometimes inside on penetration flights to map planned routes for B-52s if combat missions over the Soviet Union ever became necessary. Missions flown on a reduced scale after February 1958 when events showed the vulnerability of the RB-47 to Soviet air defenses and the development of the U-2 aircraft. Converted to standard B-47 medium bombers in late 1961 and redesignated as 681st Bombardment Squadron, but inactivated in 1962 prior to becoming combat ready.

Lineage


  • Constituted 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 5 Feb 1943
Redesignated 26th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 Feb 1943
Activated on 9 Feb 1943
  • Redesignated 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943.
Inactivated on 20 Feb 1946
  • Redesignated 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic-RCM) on 3 July 1947
Activated in the reserve on 1 Aug 1947
Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
  • Redesignated 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 14 Jan 1955
Activated on 24 Jan 1955
  • Redesignated 681st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 25 Oct 1961.
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1962

Assignments


  • 6th Photographic (later Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping; Photographic Reconnaissance; Photographic ; Reconnaissance) Group      9 Feb. 1943
Attached to 308th Bombardment Wing after 22 Oct 1945
  • 308th Bombardment Wing,   21 Nov 1945-20 Feb 1946
  • 70th Reconnaissance Group,  1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
  • 70th Strategic Reconnaissance (later Bombardment) Wing,  24 Jan 1955-25 Jun 1962

Stations

  • Colorado Springs AAB (Peterson)   9 Feb-22 Oct 1943
  • Sydney Airport, Australia,  19 Nov 1943
  • Archerfield Airport, Brisbane,   25 Nov 1943
  • Dobadura, PNG,  26 January, 1944
Detachment at Port Moresby, PNG   February - March 1944
  • Finschafen, PNG,  19 February 1944
  • Nadzab, PNG,   28 March 1944
Air echelon at Hollandia, PNG, after 25 June 1944
  • Hollandia, PNG,   23 July 1944
  • Mokmer, Biak, Netherlands East Indies,  5 August 1944
  • Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines,  16 January 1945
Air echelon at  Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines,  22 July-September 1945
  • Kadena Field, Okinawa,  6 August 1945
  • Kimpo Field, Korea,  October 1945 - 20 February 1946
  • Hamilton Field, California,  1 August 1947 - 27 June 1949
  • Little Rock AFB, Arkansas,   24 January 1955 - 25 June 1962

Aircraft


  • F-4 Lightning 1943
  • F-5 Lightning 1944-1946
  • RB-47 Stratojet 1955-1961
  • B-47 Stratojet 1961-1962

26th PRS

26th PRS    Commanding Officers

OUR FALLEN COMRADES