302nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron

C-46 Commando flying over the Hump

The first squadron that was to form the 302d was the 302d Transport Squadron, which was activated in the summer of 1943 at Mohanbari Airport, India as one of the three squadrons of the 30th Transport Group when the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command expanded by adding three groups.[a 1] The squadron drew its cadre from the 6th Transport Squadron,[a 2] which had been stationed at Mohanbari since March 1942.[1] For the next five months the squadron flew personnel, equipment and supplies from its base in India over the Hump to advanced bases in China.

On 1 December 1943, the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command reorganized, disbanding its table of organization groups and squadrons and replacing them with "Stations" manned under exact manning tables. The squadron, along with the remainder of the 30th group, was replaced by Station 9, India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.[1]

C-54 Skymaster of the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron showing squadron emblem[2]

The second squadron consolidated to form the 302 Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron was the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was activated in late 1944 at Wendover Field, Utah as part of the 509th Composite Group, the first unit to be organized, equipped and trained for atomic warfare.[3][4] The squadron was initially equipped with both Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft, but the C-47s were only used in operations in the United States, and when the squadron moved overseas, it was an all C-54 unit.[5] For several months prior to the formal activation of the squadron, its planes had been transporting personnel and equipment for the nuclear weapons project. Squadron aircrew made several flights to Tinian prior to deployment to familiarize themselves with the route prior to supporting the group's move there.[6]

In May 1945 the squadron moved to North Field, Tinian,[3] transporting men and materiel of the 509th group as the group moved to its operational base.[7] Squadron ground personnel deployed by ship, departing from the Seattle Port of Embarkation.[6] In the Pacific, the unit continued to support the 509th as it prepared for the atomic strikes on Japan.

The squadron moved to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico in the fall of 1945. Although it remained active, demobilization resulted in the loss of almost all squadron personnel. The unit was, however, manned and equipped to enable it to participate in atomic testing until it was inactivated in August 1946 and replaced by the 1st Air Transport Unit (later the 1st Strategic Support Squadron).[8][9] During Operation Crossroads the squadron operated as Air Transport Unit 1.54 (Provisional).[10] Prior to the weapons drop, it transported personnel and material (including radiological test samples) to support the testing. When special observation aircraft failed to arrive in the Kwajalein Atoll test area seven days before the test, the squadron substituted for them. On the first and second day after testing, the 320th flew scientists and high ranking personnel on low level observation flights over the test area.[11]

302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-80C Shooting Star 45-8435

The third squadron was the 302d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which was activated on 1 January 1953, taking over the mission, personnel and North American RF-51 Mustangs of the 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, a Tennessee Air National Guard squadron that was returned to state control after having been called to active duty for the Korean War. This reorganization was part of the replacement of the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing by the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.[12][13] The squadron was re-equipped with Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star Jet aircraft returned from use in the Korean War in mid-1953.[14] The first RF-80s received[a 3] had small underwing wing fuel tanks. These planes were replaced by planes[a 4] with 230 gallon capacity tip tanks for longer range.[15]

The squadron deployed to Sembach Air Base, West Germany in mid-1953.[16] The air echelon flew the squadron's aircraft to Europe via the Northern Route, and except for a weather delay at Keflavik Air Base, the movement was successful. The ground echelon sailed on the USS General LeRoy Eltinge (AP-154).[15] In Germany the 302d became part of Twelfth Air Force of United States Air Forces in Europe.[13]

Just three days after arriving at Sembach the 302d was operationally ready and performed photographic mapping missions of the Rhine valley and of Munich. The 302d trained with North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe during the summer months, however, due to poor weather conditions in central Europe during the winter months, it deployed frequently to Wheelus Air Base, Libya and Nouasseur Air Base (after 1958), Morocco for training. In 1954 the squadron formed an aerobatic team, named the "Bald Iggles" that performed on Armed Forces Day, 21 May 1954. Throughout 1954, however, exercises flown by the 302d indicated that the RF-80 had shortcomings that limited its ability to perform the reconnaissance mission in Europe.[15] Fortunately, the squadron upgraded to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash in the second half of 1955.[17]

In the summer of 1957, the runway at Sembach began to buckle because of the record heat. This forced the squadron to deploy to Cazeaux in France.[15] At the end of 1957, the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was inactivated in the "Combat Wing" reorganization and the squadron was assigned directly to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.[18]

The squadron moved to Laon-Couvron Air Base, France in mid-1958 due to the problems with the Sembach AB runway, which would not be capable of handling the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoos that were expected to replace the RF-84Fs, but operated from Phalsbourg Air Base, where two other squadrons of the 66th wing were located,[a 5] while improvements were made to the Laon runway. In early 1959 it was announced that the two RF-84F equipped squadrons assigned to the 66th wing were to be inactivated and their places taken by the 17th and 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, which flew Voodoos[15] and were deployed from Shaw Air Force Base.[19][20] These new squadrons arrived at Laon in May 1959 and the 302d was inactivated in late June.

• 30th Transport Group: 21 July 1943 – 1 December 1943[1]
• 509th Composite Group: 17 December 1944 – 19 August 1946[3]
• 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group: 1 January 1953[22]
• 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing: 8 December 1957 – 20 June 1959[13]

• Mohanbari Airfield, India, 21 June 1943 – 1 December 1943[1]
• Wendover Field, Utah, 9 December 1944 – 25 May 1945[3]
• North Field, Tinian, Marianna Islands, 30 May 1945[3]
• Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, 17 October 1945 – 19 August 1946[3]
• Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 January 1953 – 25 June 1953[12]
• Sembach AB, West Germany, 7 July 1953[16]
• Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, 25 August 1958[16] – 20 June 1959[15] (operated from Phalsbourg Air Base until 30 September 1958)

• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1943
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1945[3]
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster, 1944–1946[3]
• North American RF-51, 1953[15]
• Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star, 1953–1955[15]
• Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, 1955–1959[15]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases, Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ossip, Jerome J., ed. (1946). 509th Pictorial Album. Chicago, Illinois: Rogers Printing Co.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 Jun 1971