Lineage. Organized as 7 Aero Squadron on 29 Mar 1917. Redesignated as: 7 Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 7 Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1925; 7 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Sep 1937; 7 Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium Range) on 6 Dec 1939; 7 Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940; 397 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942. Inactivated on 1 Nov 1946. Redesignated as 7 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 May 2015. Activated on 15 May 2015.
Assignments. Panama Canal Department, 29 Mar 1917; 3 Observation (later, 6 Observation; later 6 Composite; later 6 Bombardment) Group, 30 Sep 1919; 19 Composite Wing, 1 Feb 1940 (attached to 6 Bombardment Group, 1 Feb 1940-25 Feb 1942); 6 Bombardment Group, 25 Feb 1942; VI Bomber Command, 1 Nov 1943-1 Nov 1946. 69 Reconnaissance Group, 15 May 2015; 319 Operations Group, 28 Jun 2019-.
Stations. Ancon, Canal Zone, 29 Mar 1917; Corozal, Canal Zone, 16 Apr 1917; Empire, Canal Zone, May 1917; Fort Sherman, Canal Zone, c. 29 Aug 1917; Cristobal, Canal Zone, Mar 1918; Coco Walk (later, France Field), Canal Zone, May 1918; Howard Field, Canal Zone, 26 Nov 1941; David, Panama, 11 Dec 1941; Talara, Peru, 18 Aug 1942; Rio Hato, Panama, c. 4 May 1943; Galapagos Islands, c. 7 Apr 1944; Rio Hato, Panama, c. 6 Feb 1945-1 Nov 1946. Sigonella NAS, Italy, 15 May 2015-.
Aircraft. Included JN-4, R-3 (R-9), and R-4, during period 1917-1919; in addition to DH-4, included JN-4, HS2L, OA-1, and O-2 during period 1919-1931; in addition to O-19, 1930-1937, included OA-4 during period 1930-1936; B-10, 1936-1939; B-18, 1938-1942; B-17, 1941-1942; LB-30, 1942-1944; A-17, 1943; RB-17, 1943; B-24, 1943-1946; RQ-4, 2015-.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols under direction of Coast Defenses of Crisobal, 1 Jun-15 Nov 1918. Goodwill mission to Colombia, 14-18 Dec 1936, and participated in similar flights to El Salvador and Nicaragua, 13-19 May 1935, to Guatemala, 8-11 Feb 1938, and to El Salvador, 19-22 Apr 1938; mercy mission to Chile following devastating earthquake, 28 Jan-13 Feb 1939. Antisubmarine patrols in Pacific and Caribbean after 7 Dec 1941. Trained replacement crews, 1944-1945. World-wide high-altitude combat surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Meritorious Unit Award: 6 Jun 2016-31 May 2017. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: [15]-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, Aircraft, Operations, and Honors through 31 Jul 2019.
Supersedes statement prepared 15 May 2015.
Emblem. Approved on 5 May 1924.
Prepared by James M. Musser
Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.