38th Reconnaissance Squadron

38th Reconnaissance Squadron
38 RS Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint 64-14846 Electronic Intelligence Aircraft
Active	15 January 1941 – 20 August 1946 15 March 1947 – 14 October 1949 1 November 1950 – 1 April 1970 1 April 1979–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Part of	Air Combat Command 12th Air Force 55th Wing 55th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Offutt Air Force Base
Motto(s)	We lead, others follow.
Decorations	DUC AFOUA
Insignia
38th RS emblem

The 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (38 RS) is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the RC-135 aircraft conducting reconnaissance missions.

The mission of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron is to provide RC-135 aircraft and personnel to conduct global reconnaissance for national intelligence agencies, key decision makers and warfighters.

Established in late 1942 as a P-38 Lightning fighter squadron, trained under Second Air Force in the pacific northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), assigned to VIII Fighter Command in England in late 1943. Squadron's mission was to provide long range fighter escort for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers on strategic bombing missions over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. In April 1944 received P-51D Mustang fighter aircraft and continuing its primary task of escorting B-17 and B-24 bombers that attacked such targets as industries and marshalling yards in Germany, and airfields and V-weapon sites in France.

The squadron flew air patrols over the English Channel and bombed bridges in the Tours area during the Invasion of France in June 1944. In July the squadron attacked gun emplacements during the Saint-Lô breakthrough. The unit patrolled the Arnhem sector to support the Airborne invasion of the Netherlands in September 1944, and later in December, transportation facilities during the Battle of the Bulge. During the Western Allied invasion of Germany, the squadron flew ground support missions by strafing trucks, locomotives, and oil depots near Wesel when the Allies crossed the Rhine in March 1945 and continued offensive operations until 21 April 1945.