#1793 50 ATKS, MQ-9A Reaper print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1793 - 11-4128, MQ-9A Reaper, 50th Attack Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
The 50th Attack Squadron, known as the Wildcats, was first activated as the 50th Aero Squadron on 6 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas where it flew the DH-4. The squadron was later assigned to Amanty Aerodrome, France and saw its first combat sortie of World War I on 12 September 1918. During the war, the 50th’s DH-4s were adorned with the Dutch Girl insignia of the Old Dutch Cleanser household cleaner. The Dutch Girl signified the 50th’s mission to “Clean up on Germany.” The 50th saw extensive combat during the war along the Western Front where its aircrew earned two Medals of Honor, three Distinguished Service Crosses and three Silver Stars. During the interwar period the 50th was initially assigned to Scott Field, Illinois and then Langley Field, Virginia where it flew coastal and submarine patrols as well as aerial bombing demonstrations on decommissioned naval vessels. Reassigned to Brooks Field, Texas the 50th flew observation missions along the Mexican border. It was first deactivated in August 1927 and later reactivated in November 1930 and assigned to Luke Field, Hawaii. During this time the 50th flew O-19s for observation and patrol flights. In 1938 the 50th was reassigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii and began flying the B-18 and later the B-17 in 1941. Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into World War II, the 50th was redesignated as the 431st Bombardment Squadron. In 1943 the 50th transitioned to the B-24, which it flew extensively in the Pacific Theater. At the end of World War II the 431st was redesignated as the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron and assigned to Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines then to Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines. The 5th flew the F-13 (B-29), F-7A (B-24J/L), and F-9F (B-17F) on aerial photography and mapping missions over the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, Philippines Islands, Formosa and Pescadores Islands. The squadron was again deactivated in 1947. Reactivated for the second time, this time as the 50th Airmanship Training Squadron, it was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy on 01 October, 1983. The unit developed cadets and flew the T-43 with the 200th Airlift Squadron as part of the 50th’s Airmanship Program. In 1997 the 50th transitioned fully to the development of cadets and was redesignated as the 50th Education Squadron in 2001. It was deactivated again in 2005. On 27 February 2018, the squadron was reactivated as the 50th Attack Squadron under the 432d Wing and assigned to Shaw AFB, SC. The Wildcats began flying the MQ-9 for persistent attack and reconnaissance in support of American and Allied interests shortly after reactivation. They continue to do so today, providing 24/7 operations all across the globe 365 days a year.
You may also like
-
A-10C Thunderbolt II, 163th FS Squadron Print
82-0661 '163 FS'163 FS, 122 FWBaer Field, Fort Wayne IAP Indiana