Lineage. Organized as 38 Provisional Aero Squadron on 12 Jun 1917. Redesignated as: 38 Aero Squadron on 3 Aug 1917; Squadron A, Chanute Field, IL, on 13 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 1 Dec 1918. Reconstituted and consolidated (1933) with 38 Pursuit Squadron which was constituted on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 1 Aug 1933. Redesignated as 38 Observation Squadron (Long Range, Light Bombardment) and inactivated on 1 Mar 1935. Redesignated as 38 Reconnaissance Squadron and activated on 1 Sep 1936. Redesignated as: 38 Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range) on 6 Dec 1939; 38 Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940; 427 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942. Inactivated on 25 Jul 1945. Redesignated as 427 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 Aug 1958. Activated on 1 Dec 1958. Discontinued and inactivated on 1 Jan 1962. Redesignated as 427 Reconnaissance Squadron on 17 Aug 2011. Activated on 1 May 2012. Inactivated on 20 Nov 2015. Activated on 4 Sep 2018.
Assignments. Unkn, 12 Jun 1917-1 Dec 1918. 18 Pursuit Group (attached to 1 Pursuit Group), 1 Aug 1933-1 Mar 1935. 1 (later, 1 Bombardment) Wing (attached to 19 Bombardment Group), 1 Sep 1936; IV Bomber Command (attached to 19 Bombardment Group), 19 Sep 1941; Sierra Bombardment Group, 16 Dec 1941; Fourth Air Force, 17 Jan 1942 (attached to IV Bomber Command, 26 Jan 1942); 19 Bombardment Group, 25 Feb 1942 (attached to 303 Bombardment Group for training, c. 13 Mar 1942); 303 Bombardment Group, 31 Mar 1942-25 Jul 1945. 303 Bombardment Wing, 1 Dec 1958-1 Jan 1962. 9 Operations Group, 1 May 2012-20 Nov 2015. 9 Operations Group, 4 Sep 2018-.
Stations. Camp Kelly, TX, 12 Jun 1917; Chanute Field, IL, 25 Aug 1917-1 Dec 1918. Selfridge Field, MI, 1 Aug 1933-1 Mar 1935. March Field, CA, 1 Sep 1936; Albuquerque, NM, 5 Jun-22 Nov 1941 (air echelon departed Hamilton Field, CA, 6 Dec 1941; arrived Hickam Field, TH, 7 Dec 1941; subsequently dissolved and personnel assigned to other units; ground echelon departed San Francisco aboard ship, 6 Dec 1941; returned 9 Dec 1941); Bakersfield, CA, 17 Dec 1941; Gowen Field, ID, 13 Mar 1942 (departed Muroc, CA, 28 May-c. 14 Jun 1942); Alamogordo, NM, 18 Jun 1942; Biggs Field, TX, 7-22 Aug 1942; Molesworth, England, 12 Sep 1942; Casablanca, French Morocco, c. 31 May-25 Jul 1945. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 1 Dec 1958-1 Jan 1962. Beale AFB, CA, 1 May 2012-20 Nov 2015. Beale AFB, CA, 4 Sep 2018-.
Commanders. Unkn, 12 Jun 1917-1 Dec 1918. Unkn, 1 Aug 1933-1 Mar 1935. Maj William S. Gravely, 1 Sep 1936; Maj Harry A. Halverson, 20 Jul 1937; Maj Paul H. Prestiss, 17 Aug 1937-26 May 1939; unkn, 27 May-2 Jul 1939; Maj Truman H. Landon, 3 Jul 1939-unkn; Maj Charles C. Sheridan, 20 Mar 1942; Maj Glenn E. Hagenbuch, 3 Jan 1943; Lt Col Edgar E. Snyder Jr., Aug 1943; Maj Robert W. Sheets, 1 Nov 1944-c. Mar 1945; unkn, c. Mar-25 Jul 1945. Lt Col Richard L. Walker, 1 Dec 1958; Lt Col Walter S. King, c. 31 Aug 1960-c. 31 Aug 1961; unkn, c. 1 Sep 1961-1 Jan 1962. Lt Col David W. Berg, 1 May 2012-.
Aircraft. Apparently included JN-4 and DH-4, 1917-1918. Unit evidently not equipped, 1933-1935. In addition to B-10, B-17, and B-18, equipment included BC-1, OA-4, and OA-8 during period 1936-1941; B-17, 1942-1945. B-47, 1958-1961. MC-12, 2012-.
Operations. Served as flying training unit, 1917-1918. Flew reconnaissance patrols and photographic missions in support of flood-relief operations in Southern California, 2-5 Mar 1938. Air echelon, en route to Philippine Islands, arrived at Hickam Field, TH, during Japanese attack of 7 Dec 1941; flew patrol and search missions in mid-Pacific under direction of Hawaiian Air Force from 9 Dec 1941 until echelon’s identity lost through absorption by other units (c. Feb 1942). Training activities of new air echelon interspersed with emergency antisubmarine patrols off California coast, c. late May-early Jun 1942. Between arrival in England in Sep 1942 and departure to Casablanca, French Morocco in late May 1945, bombed targets in France, Belgium, and Germany as part of strategic bombing campaign of occupied Europe. From Dec 1958 to Dec 1961, conducted training exercises to prepare for long-range bombardment operations with atomic or conventional weapons. Flew MC-12 Liberty aircraft; provided intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces, 2012-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Central Pacific; Antisubmarine, Asiatic-Pacific Theater; Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 11 Jan 1944. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2013-31 May 2014. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-[Sep 1961]; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 10 Sep 2020.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Jun 2012.
Supersedes statement prepared on 26 Jul 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 18 Jul 1960. Emblem requires modification for format and design. Organization should submit emblem request IAW standards outlined in AFI 84-105, Chapter 3.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.