361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 MC-12 Liberty lands after a combat sortie | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1966–1971; 1972–1974; 2007; 2010–2014 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Reconnaissance |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Central Command |
| Motto(s) | Find, Fix, Finish |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations[1] Global War on Terror |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 361 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Sq emblem |  |
| World War II squadron fuselage code[2][a] | B |
| Vietnam War Tail Code[3] | AL |
The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It was most recently assigned to the 451st Air Expeditionary Group at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, where it was inactivated on 1 September 2014.
The squadron's first predecessor was the 861st Bombardment Squadron, a United States Army Air Forces unit that was assigned to the 493d Bombardment Group during World War II. It was part of the last bombardment group to be assigned to Eighth Air Force. It flew combat missions until V-E Day, then returned to the United States for inactivation.
The squadron's other predecessor, the 361st Reconnaissance Squadron was formed during the Vietnam War, flying Douglas EC-47 aircraft, performing electronic surveillance in Vietnam and Thailand until inactivating in 1974, when the United States withdrew from Southeast Asia. The squadrons were consolidated in 1985, then converted to provisional status as an expeditionary unit.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 785-786
- ^ Watkins, p. 122
- ^ Martin, Joe (1 June 2017). "The Year of the Offensive Begins". EC47 History Site. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
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