4th Reconnaissance Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 RQ-4 Global Hawk in the rain at Andersen AFB | |
| Active | 1941–1949; 1966–1971; 2005; 2009–2014; 2020–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Reconnaissance |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Andersen AFB, Guam |
| Nickname(s) | Crows[1] |
| Engagements | Iraq War War in Afghanistan[2] |
| Decorations | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 4th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[note 1][2] |  |
| 4th Observation Squadron emblem[note 2][3] | _emblem.png) |
The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 319th Operations Group and stationed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from which it operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned vehicles. It was activated there in July 2020.
The squadron was first activated as the 4th Observation Squadron in Puerto Rico in 1941. During World War II it served from island bases in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It moved to Panama and remained active after the war as the 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, becoming one of the first jet equipped reconnaissance squadrons in the Air Force before being inactivated in 1949's military budget reductions.
The squadron was active again from 1966 to 1971, primarily training crews for the Vietnam War until 1969, when it became an operational unit.
In 2005, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Flight and flew missions in Iraq until July of that year. It was again activated in Afghanistan as the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron in 2009, operating Beechcraft MC-12W Liberty aircraft until 2014. It was withdrawn from provisional status shortly before activating in 2020.
- ^ Jefferson, TSG Oshawn (8 March 2010). "Liberty Airmen watch over Afghan". US Air Force Central Public Affairs. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Ream, Margaret (20 April 2012). "Factsheet 4 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 30–31
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