2nd Troop Carrier Squadron
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active in the reserve with the 65th Troop Carrier Group at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York where it was training with Curtiss C-46 Commandos. It was replaced by another unit, which absorbed its resources on 1 April 1953.
2nd Troop Carrier Squadron | |
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Active | 1941–1946; 1947–1949; 1952–1953 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Aerial mapping |
Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater |
Decorations | Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
Insignia | |
2nd Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 10 October 1942)[1] |
The squadron was first activated as the United States built up its forces before its entry into World War II as the 2nd Photographic Squadron. It was initially equipped with Beechcraft F-2 Expeditors equipped for photographic mapping. The squadron operated primarily in the northern and western United States until 1944, although it flew early missions over Japan in the summer of 1944. Later that year, it deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater, remaining there until returning to the United States and inactivating in March 1946.
The squadron was briefly active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft before inactivating. It was again activated as an airlift unit in 1952 as the reserve began to rebuild following its mobilization for the Korean War.