Air Combat Command Shield

U-2 Dragon Lady

The U-2 provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces.

T-38 Talon

The T-38A Talon is a 2-seat, twin-engine, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. Air Education and Training Command is the primary user of the T-38C for joint specialized undergraduate pilot training. Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and the National Aeronautics and Space administration also use the T-38A in various roles. The T-38A is used at Beale AFB as the companion trainer to the U-2 program.

PAVE PAWS

PAVE PAWS is a radar system operated for missile warning and space surveillance, primarily to detect and track sea-launched (SLBM) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

ACC Fact Sheet

Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., is a major command created June 1, 1992, by combining its predecessors Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command. ACC is the primary provider of combat air forces to America's unified combatant commands. Learn more about ACC.

9th Reconnaissance Wing

The wing also maintains a high state of readiness in its expeditionary combat support forces for potential deployment in response to theater contingencies. The 9th RW is composed of more than 3,000 personnel in four groups at Beale and multiple overseas operating locations. At any given moment, day or night, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, there is probably a U-2 aircraft from the 9th RW flying an operational mission somewhere in the world.

Beale's History

Camp Beale opened in October 1942 as a training site for the 13th Armored and the 81st and 96th Infantry Divisions. During World War II, Camp Beale's 86,000 acres were home for more than 60,000 soldiers, a prisoner-of-war encampment and a 1,000-bed hospital. In 1948, the camp transferred from the Army to the Air Force.

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AIR FORCE FACT SHEETS

CBA

1st Reconnaissance Squadron

Mission

The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is responsible for training all High-Altitude Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircrew for the U-2S Dragon Lady and the RQ-4 Global Hawk.  Aircrew members consist of pilots and mission planners for the U-2S, and pilots and sensor operators for the RQ-4.  Training for all U-2S pilots includes additional qualification in the T-38A Talon, the companion trainer to the U-2S. 

The squadron flies over 5,400 U-2S/T-38A training hours and 2,400 RQ-4 combat support hours annually.  Guided by the 9th Reconnaissance Wing motto “One team – One fight”, the rigorous flying training programs produce 24 U-2S pilots, 48 RQ-4 pilots, and 36 RQ-4 sensor operators annually.  The squadron's outstanding record reflects the dedication and professionalism of the elite group of instructors, enlisted, and civilian members of the squadron.

Pilots and sensor operators who complete the approximately three month RQ-4 training syllabus become experts in high-altitude Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations and are assigned to the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, or the 348th  Reconnaissance Squadron at Grand Forks Air Force Base.  Pilots interested in flying the U-2S apply to the program voluntarily.  They undergo an intensive two-week interview process in which their flying ability, judgment, and professionalism are evaluated over three flights in the TU-2S two-seat trainer.  The applicants who successfully pass the interview process are assigned to the 1 RS where they begin training in the T-38A.  Once they are qualified in the T-38A, pilots will complete the initial and high-altitude mission qualification in the U-2S and are assigned to the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base.

Organization

Over 100 active duty airmen, civilians, and contractors are assigned to the 1 RS.  The unit operates the world’s only 5 TU-2S models in existence, and 11 T-38As.  The 1 RS is aligned under the 9th Operations Group, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California.

 

History

The 1 RS is the United States military’s oldest flying unit, first established on 5 March 1913. The squadron has maintained an unbroken heritage from its founding to the present day.  Originally organized in anticipation of a potential breach in security along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, General Pershing directed the 1st Aero Squadron to become the first tactical aviation unit to participate in American military action.  During WWI, the 1st Aero Squadron participated in the four campaigns symbolized by crosses on the 9th Reconnaissance Wing patch.  The 13 crosses on the squadron patch symbolize the 13 “kills” the 1st Aero Squadron won against German aircraft.  While fighting in WWII, the then designated 1st Bombardment Squadron conducted low level incendiary attacks over Japan while flying B-29s, devastating a 15 square mile area of Tokyo.  During the Vietnam War, the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron operated the SR-71 Blackbird.  Flying over 2,000 mph at approximately 80,000 feet, the Blackbird gathered photographic and electronic intelligence products of the Southeast Asian nations involved in the Vietnam conflict. Throughout its history, the 1 RS has flown 47 different airframes while being stationed at 52 locations throughout the world, including 4 stints at sea.

 

The unit carries the following honors:

 

Campaign Streamers

Mexico 1916–1917

 

World War I:

Lorraine

Île-de-France

Champagne

Champagne-Marne

Aisne-Marne

St Mihiel

Meuse-Argonne

 

World War II:

Antisubmarine

American Theater

Air Offensive, Japan

Eastern Mandates

Western Pacific

 

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam and North Korea – 31 Mar – 31 Dec 1968

Distinguished Unit Citation: Kawasaki, Japan – 15 April – 16 April 1945

                                         Shimonoseki Straits, Japan – 13 May – 28 May 1945

 

Meritorious Unit Award

1 June 2009 – 31 May 2011

 

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

1 July 1967 – 30 June 1968

1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971

1 July 1971 – 30 June 1972

1 July 1973 – 30 June 1974 (with Combat “V” device)

1 July 1975 – 30 June 1977

1 July 1981 – 30 June 1982

1 July 1983 – 30 June 1984

1 July 1985 – 30 June 1986

1 July 1986 – 30 June 1987

1 July 1989 – 30 June 1990

1 September 1991 – 30 June 1993

1 July 1993 – 30 June 1994

1 July 1994 – 30 June 1995

1 June 1996 – 30 May 1998

1 June 1998 – 31 May 2000

1 June 2002 – 31 May 2004

1 June 2005 – 31 May 2007

1 June 2007 – 31 May 2009

1 June 2009 – 31 May 2010