21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
Squadron RF-4C Phantom II
Active	1942–1944; 1945–1988; 2007–2008
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Reconnaissance
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 20 November 2010)[1]
Patch with 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem
21st Observation Squadron emblem (approved 12 June 1943)[2]

The 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. Its last known location was at Souda Bay, Greece.

The squadron was active as the 21st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, and served as a reconnaissance Replacement Training Unit during World War II until being disbanded in a reorganization of the United States Army Air Forces designed to make the most efficient use of resources to free manpower for overseas assignment.

The 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was formed shortly after the end of the war and served as part of the occupation forces in Germany until 1947, when it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in 1949. The squadron was reactivated in 1952 to replace the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, an Alabama Air National Guard unit. It remained in Europe as an element of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (later 10th Tactical Fighter Wing) until it was inactivated on 15 January 1988.

The two squadrons were consolidated in 1985. In 2007, the consolidated squadron was converted to provisional status as the 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and assigned to United States Air Forces Europe, which activated it at Souda Bay, Greece.