The 95th is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 95th Aero Squadron on 20 August 1917 at
Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the
Western Front during
World War I as a pursuit squadron.[2]
Conducts
RC-135 Rivet Joint flight operations in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operations as tasked by National Command Authorities and European Command. Provides all operational management, aircraft maintenance, administration, and intelligence support to produce politically sensitive real-time intelligence data vital to national foreign policy. Supports EC-135,
OC-135 Open Skies, and
Boeing E-4B missions when theater deployed.
After the war ended on 11 November 1918, the 95th Aero Squadron was demobilized on 18 March 1919. As the 95th Pursuit Squadron it conducted bombing missions on the
Clinton River to prevent flooding in communities near the river caused by an
ice jam. As the 95th Attack Squadron, it flew reconnaissance missions in March 1938 to support flood relief operations in southern California.[5]
Interwar years
The 95th Aero Squadron underwent various activations and inactivations over the years and experienced numerous name changes.
In 1939 the squadron was equipped with the new
Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bomber and redesignated the 95th Bombardment Squadron. The B-18s were soon replaced by
Douglas B-23 Dragons.[3]
In June 1940 the squadron moved to
McChord Field, Washington. The B-23 had a short life in front line service, and the 95th was re-equipped with the new
North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber in February 1941,[3] when the
17th Bombardment Group became the first
Air Corps unit to receive the new bomber.[6] In June, the squadron moved to
Pendleton Field, Oregon,[1] In August, it received the updated B-25B, that had a much heavier defensive armament, dictated by the results of combat reports coming in from Europe.[7]
World War II
Antisubmarine patrols
In the immediate aftermath of the
Pearl Harbor Attack, the 95th flew
anti-submarine warfare patrols in the Pacific Northwest from 22 December 1941 to c. March 1942. It moved to
Lexington County Airport, South Carolina, on 9 February 1942 in order to meet the greater threat from German submarines operating off the East Coast.[1]
Planning for a retaliatory bombing raid on Japan began in December 1941, and twenty-four B-25Bs were diverted from the 17th Bombardment Group, which was the only B-25 unit in the Air Corps, and volunteers from its four squadrons, including the 95th, were recruited, the crews being told only that this was a secret and dangerous mission. The volunteers trained at
Eglin Field, Florida. Upon completion of training, they left Eglin for
McClellan Field, California for final modifications to the B-25s before moving to
Naval Air Station Alameda, where the bombers were loaded on the
USS Hornet (CV-8) for the raid.[8]
Combat in the Mediterranean
The remainder of the squadron remained in Columbia, flying antisubmarine patrols until 23 June when it moved to
Barksdale Field, Louisiana. There, the squadron re-equipped with the
Martin B-26 Marauder, and began transition training under
Third Air Force.[1]
In November 1942, the squadron deployed to North Africa, arriving at
Telergma Airport, Algeria in December 1942 following
Operation Torch's initial landings, becoming part of
XII Bomber Command. The squadron flew
interdiction and
close air support, bombing bridges, rail lines,
marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations and other enemy targets in Algeria and later Tunisia supporting American and later Allied ground forces as they moved east and participated in the
Tunisian Campaign.[9][10]
The unit provided tactical air support in the liberation of Sardinia and Corsica. From airfields in Corsica, the 95th supported Allied ground forces during
Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August 1944. It moved to Southern France and bombed enemy targets during the Allied drive northward. It earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near
Schweinfurt, Germany just before the end of the war on 10 April 1945.[9]
The squadron remained in Europe after
V-E Day. It became part of the
occupation forces, and participated in the disarmament of Germany.[9] It moved to the American Occupation Zone in Austria.[3] The squadron returned to France to stage for its return to the United States, where it was inactivated in late November 1945.[9][1][10]
Korean War
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (August 2017)
Reconnaissance operations
After being inactivated on 25 June 1958, it was redesignated as the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron on 20 January 1982 and reactivated at
RAF Alconbury in the United Kingdom on 1 October 1982. It flew
Lockheed U-2 and
TR-1 aircraft in support of
NATO and
United States Air Forces Europe missions. After the end of the
Cold War, the 95th was no longer needed and the unit was inactivated on 15 September 1993. This hiatus did not last long as the unit was reactivated on 1 July 1994 at RAF Mildenhall, this time flying the RC-135 Rivet Joint and OC-135 Open Skies aircraft.
Lineage
Organized as the 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) on 20 August 1917
Redesignated as: 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), on 5 March 1918
17th Pursuit Group (later 17th Attack; 17th Bombardment Group), 31 May 1929 – 26 November 1945 (attached to 7th Bombardment Group until 29 October 1931)
17th Bombardment Group, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
17th Bombardment Group, 10 May 1952 – 25 June 1958 (attached to
17th Bombardment Wing after 8 June 1957)
^Approved 24 March 1924. Description: The kicking mule, brown on a light blue oval background. In the original version of the emblem, the mule's ears and tail projected outside the disc. The current emblem was reviewed by the
United States Air Force Chief of Staff in 1991. Bailey. The emblem is based on the emblem approved for the 95th Aero Squadron by the
American Expeditionary Forces on 19 November 1918. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 318.
^Martin B-26C-25-MO Marauder, serial 41-35177 is identifiable, flying on one engine over the Mediterranean. This plane was salvaged on 18 August 1945 due to damage from enemy action. Baugher, Joe (10 August 2023).
"1941 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^Per Gorrell[page needed]. Maurer and Bailey both indicate that the assignment to the 1st Pursuit Group lasted until 24 December 1919.
^Maurer says the squadron was attached to the 7th Bombardment Group. Bailey describes this attachment as "possible", but neither Maurer nor Bailey give a unit of assignment. Clay indicates the squadron was again assigned to the 1st Pursuit Group. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 317; Bailey; Clay, p. 1436.
^Both Maurer and Clay indicate that the squadron remained at March Field after moving there in October 1931. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 317; Clay, p. 1436.
Franks, Norman (2001). American Aces of World War I. Dempsey, Harry (illustrator). Oxford, England: Osprey Publishing.
ISBN978-1841763750.
Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919. Series E: Squadron Histories. Vol. 13 History of the 95th Aero Squadron. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration.
OCLC215070705.