Lt Col Clarence S Towels, Jr. (See Commanders -- about 1/3 down)

12 RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON (ACC)
Lineage. Organized as 12 Aero Squadron on 2 Jun 1917. Redesignated as: 12 Squadron (Observation) on 14 Mar 1921; 12 Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 12 Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942; 12 Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 12 Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 31 May 1943; 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 Nov 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Redesignated as 12 Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (Jet Propelled) on 9 Jul 1946. Activated on 29 Jul 1946. Redesignated as 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic-Jet on 14 Jun 1948. Inactivated on 28 Mar 1949. Redesignated as 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic on 5 Feb 1951. Activated on 25 Feb 1951. Redesignated as 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night Photographic-Jet on 23 Feb 1959. Discontinued on 8 Mar 1960. Redesignated as 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic-Jet, and activated on 3 Nov 1965. Organized on 1 Jul 1966. Redesignated as: 12 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966; 12 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1992. Activated on 8 Nov 2001.

Assignments. Unkn, 2 Jun 1917-May 1918; I Corps Observation Group, May-Nov 1918; unkn, Nov 1918-1 Oct 1919; 1 Army Observation Group, 1 Oct 1919 (attached to 1 Surveillance Group from 13 Oct 1919); 1 Surveillance Group, 24 Mar 1920; Eighth Corps Area, 27 Jun 1921 (divisional aviation for 1 Cavalry Division, Sep 1921-Jun 1926, and for 2 Division, Jun 1924-c. Oct 1931; detachment at Field Artillery School, 1 Jul 1927-1 Jun 1928); 12 Observation Group, 1 Oct 1930; Eighth Corps Area, 1 Jun 1937; Fifth Corps Area (attached to 7 Cavalry Brigade [later, 1 Armored Division]), 20 Jun 1937; Armored Force, 2 Oct 1940; 73 Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941; V Air Support Command, 21 Jan 1942; 67 Observation (later, 67 Reconnaissance; 67 Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 29 Mar 1942; 10 Photographic (later, 10 Reconnaissance) Group, 13 Jun 1944 (attached to 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Group to c. 11 Aug 1944); Continental Air Forces (later, Strategic Air Command), 15 Feb-31 Mar 1946. 363 Reconnaissance Group (attached to Twelfth Air Force), 29 Jul 1946; 67 Reconnaissance (later, 67 Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 24 Jul 1947-28 Mar 1949. 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 25 Feb 1951 (attached to 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jun-24 Nov 1954 and 1 Jul-30 Sep 1957); 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Oct 1957-8 Mar 1960. Tactical Air Command, 3 Nov 1965; 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jul 1966; 460 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 9 Sep 1966; 67 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 31 Aug 1971-30 Sep 1992 (under operational control of 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 5 May-4 Jun 1974, 7 Jul-7 Aug 1981, 15 May-11 Jun 1984, and 27 Aug-24 Sep 1987; flight attached to Tactical Fighter Wing, Provisional 35, 14 Jan-10 May 1991). 9 Operations Group, 8 Nov 2001-.

Stations. San Antonio, TX, 2 Jun 1917; Wilbur Wright Field, OH, 8 Jul 1917; Garden City, NY, 2 Nov-3 Dec 1917; St Maixent, France, 1 Jan 1918; Chaumont, France, 16 Jan 1918; Amanty, France, 2 Feb 1918; Ourches, France, 3 May 1918; Flin, France, 13 Jun 1918; Saints, France, 29 Jun 1918; Francheville, France, c. 6 Jul 1918; Moras Ferme (near La Ferte-sous Jouarre), France, 22 Jul 1918; May-en-Multien, France, 3 Aug 1918; Coincy, France, 10 Aug 1918; Chailly-en-Brie, France, 12 Aug 1918; Toul, France, 22 Aug 1918; Remicourt, France, 20 Sep 1918; Julvecourt, France, 3 Nov 1918; Mercy-le-Haut, France, 21 Nov 1918; Trier, Germany, 6 Dec 1918; Coblenz, Germany, 30 Dec 1918; Colombey-les-Belles, France, 16 Apr 1919; Le Mans France, 5 May 1919; Brest, France, 20 May-2 Jun 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, 17 Jun 1919; Scott Field, IL, 6 Jul 1919; Kelly Field, TX, 13 Oct 1919; Ft Bliss, TX, 9 Jan 1920 (flight operated from Douglas, AZ, from 10 Jan 1920); Nogales, AZ (flight operated from Douglas, AZ), 12 Apr 1920; Douglas, AZ (flight operated from Nogales, AZ), c. Feb 1921; Ft Bliss, TX, 28 Sep 1921 (detachment at Ft Sam Houston, TX, after 26 Jun 1924); Ft Sam Houston, TX, 22 Jun 1926 (detachment at Post Field, OK, 1 Jul 1927-1 Jun 1928; detachment operated from Ft Huachuca, AZ, 6 Apr-10 May 1929): Brooks Field, TX, 31 Oct 1931; Godman Field, KY, 20 Jun 1937 (flight at Post Field, OK, 1 Jun 1937-30 Nov 1940); Esler Field, LA, 20 Mar-12 Aug 1942; Membury, England, 7 Sep 1942; Greenham Common, England, 16 Dec 1943; Aldermaston, England, 9 Jan 1944; Chilbolton, England, 1 Mar 1944; Middle Wallop, England, 14 Mar 1944; Le Molay, France, c. 5 Jul 1944; Rennes, France, 11 Aug 1944; Chateaudun, France, 24 Aug 1944; St Dizier, France, 12 Sep 1944; Giraumont, France, 30 Nov 1944; Euren, Germany, 29 May 1945; Ober Olm, Germany, 2 Apr 1945; Furth, Germany, 28 Apr 1945-15 Feb 1946; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb-31 Mar 1946. March Field (later, AFB), CA, 29 Jul 1946-28 Mar 1949. Komaki AB, Japan, 25 Feb 1951; Taegu AB, South Korea, 15 Mar 1951; Kimpo AB, South Korea, 21 Aug 1951; Itami AB, Japan, 8 Nov 1954; Yokota AB, Japan, 14 Aug 1956-8 Mar 1960. Mountain Home AFB, ID, 1 Jul-2 Sep 1966; Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 9 Sep 1966-31 Aug 1971; Bergstrom AFB, TX, 31 Aug 1971-30 Sep 1992 (deployed at Ramstein AB and Zweibrucken AB, Germany, 5 May-4 Jun 1974; Zweibrucken AB, Germany, 7 Jul-7 Aug 1981, 15 May-11 Jun 1984, and 27 Aug-24 Sep 1987; flight deployed at Shaikh Isa AB, Bahrain, 14 Jan-10 May 1991). Beale AFB, CA, 8 Nov 2001-.

Commanders. Maj L. G. Heffernan, 2 Jun 1917; Lt George F. Hughes, 18 Oct 1917-23 Jan 1918; Maj Harry M. Brown, 28 Jan 1918; Maj Lewis H. Brereton, 29 Mar 1918; Capt S. N. Noyes, 1 Jul 1918; Lt R. C. Paradise, 25 Oct 1918-unkn; Maj John C. Kennedy, 1937; Capt Robert M. Lee, 1937; Capt H. L. Alnexs, 1 Jul 1941; Capt R. S. Morrison, Jan 1942; Maj James R. Haun, 10 Jul 1942; Maj Russell E. Berg, 24 Oct 1943; Capt Dickman R. French, 6 Dec 1943; Lt Col Gordon H. Woodrow, 1 Feb 1944; Maj John E. Florence, 2 Feb 1945; Maj Robert H. Holbury, 14 Jul 1945; Capt William M. Winberry, 22 Jul 1945; Capt Wilbur A. Tapscott, 25 Jul 1945-15 Feb 1946. Col Leon W. Gray, 31 Aug 1946; Lt Col Arvis L. Hilpert, 16 Aug 1947;* Lt Col Clarence S. Towles Jr., Jul-3 Dec 1948;* Lt Col Arvis L. Hilpert, unkn-28 Mar 1949. Lt Col Thomas J. Price, 25 Feb 1951; Maj Harry W. Trimble, 24 Apr 1951; Lt Col Eugene H. Mitchell, 8 Nov 1951; Maj Cicero J. Ellen, Apr 1952; Lt Col George T. Prior, Jul 1952; Maj James C. McIver, Jul 1952; Lt Col Eldon Davis, 25 Nov 1952; Lt Col Arthur J. Staveley, 1953; Lt Col George R. Root, 1 Sep 1953-unkn; Maj Thomas G. Tharp, c. Jun 1955; Lt Col Dale F. Benadom, 14 Aug 1956; Lt Col Earl A. Butts, 1959-1960. Lt Col Elmer Froman, 1 Jul 1966; Lt Col Bernard W. Watts, 25 Aug 1966; Lt Col Donald E. Orr, c. Mar 1967; Lt Col Roland D. Foley Jr., 27 Aug 1967; Lt Col William H. Laseter, 2 Oct 1967; Col Roland D. Foley Jr., 25 Mar 1968; Lt Col Vernon L. Allgood, 18 May 1968; Col Martin J. Barnard, 16 Jan 1969; Lt Col Donald F. Vanderkarr, 6 Sep 1969; Lt Col John D. Faulk, 15 Mar 1970; Lt Col William M. Carruthers, 1 Sep 1970; Lt Col John P. Anderson, 1 Oct 1970; Lt Col Raymond L. Norman, 31 Aug 1971; Lt Col Troy G. Ross, 24 Jan 1972; Lt Col Kenneth D. Waits, 23 Aug 1973; Lt Col B. J. Martin, 30 Nov 1974; Lt Col Dewey K. Hemphill, 22 Dec 1975; Lt Col Orin I. Knutson, 6 Jan 1978; Lt Col Kent W. Lattig, 2 Jan1980; Lt Col Charles E. Loflin, 29 Apr 1981; Lt Col Roger L. Grimsley, 10 Nov 1981; Lt Col Glen E. Crosby, 25 Nov 1983; Lt Col Herman W. Burns, 14 Dec 1984; Lt Col James F. Shambo, 21 Nov 1986; Lt Col Bruce D. Hacker, 15 Jul 1988; Lt Col James H. Mills, 6 Oct 1989; unkn, Jun 1991-30 Sep 1992. Lt Col Guy R. Hooper, 8 Nov 2001; Lt Col Donald M. Corley, 13 Apr 2004; Lt Col J. Scott Winstead, 31 Mar 2006; Lt Col Kurt J. Carraway, 31 Mar 2008-.

Aircraft. AR-2, 1918; Salmson 2, 1918-1919; in addition to DH-4, 1919-c. 1926, and O-2, c. 1926-1930, included JN-6, JNS-1, O-11, and C-1 during 1919-1930; in addition to O-19, 1930-1933, 1935, and O-27, 1933-1935, included Y1O-35, B-7, C-7, and YF-1 during 1930-1935; in addition to O-43, 1935-1941, O-47, 1938-1942, YO-54, 1940-1942, O-52 and O-57, 1941-1942, and O-59, 1942, included O-31, O-40, O-46, YO-51, C-8, and YG-1 during 1935-1941, O-38 and O-49 during 1941-1942, A-20 and P-51 during 1942; in addition to Spitfire, 1942-1944, included L-4, 1942-1943, DB-7 and A-20, 1943; P-51/F-6, 1943-1946. FP-80, 1946-1949. RB-26, 1951-1956; RB-66, 1956-1960. RF-4, 1966-1992. RQ-4, 2001-.

Operations. Combat as corps observation unit with French VI Army Corps and American I Army Corps, 10 May-6 Nov 1918; served with IV Army Corps as part of occupation forces in Germany, Nov 1918-Apr 1919. Mexican border patrol, Jan 1920-May 1921, sporadically until 1926, and again in Apr 1929. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 2 Jan 1944-11 May 1945; reconnaissance missions to northern Italy during Trieste crisis, 19-28 May 1945. Combat in Korea, 25 Feb 1951-27 Jul 1953. Combat reconnaissance in Southeast Asia, 13 Sep 1966 to mid-Jul 1971. Combat and follow up reconnaissance in Southwest Asia, Jan-May 1991. Responsible for RQ-4 operations worldwide, 2001-.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War I: Lorraine, Ile-de-France; Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; Champagne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Korea: First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer, 1953. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: LeHavre and Straits of Dover, [23-25] Feb 1944; Korea, 25 Feb-21 Apr 1951; Korea, 9 Jul-27 Nov 1951; Korea, 1 May-27 Jul 1953. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): [9 Sep] 1966-30 Jun 1967; 1 Sep 1967-10 Jul 1968; 11 Jul 1968-31 Aug 1969; 1 Feb-31 Mar 1971. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1967; 1 Jul 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1969-30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1970-30 Jun 1971. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Dec 1952-30 Apr 1953; 1 Aug-2 Sep 1966; 1 Sep 1971-15 May 1973; 16 May 1974-15 May 1976; 16 Dec 1976-1 Dec 1978; 1 Jun 1982-31 May 1983; 1 Jun 1983-31 May 1984; 1 Jan 1985-1 Feb 1986; 1 Jan 1990-1 May 1991; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2005-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-[c. 11 Aug] 1944. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [25] Feb 1951-31 Mar 1953. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 6 Sep 1966-18 Aug 1971.

Clarence S Towles