page_title: 27th Intelligence Squadron
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: 27th Intelligence Squadron / History / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: Lockheed F-5 (P-38) of the 7th Recon Group RAF Mount Farm England (World War II) Source: National Archives via the United States Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB Alabama This aircraft is not a photographic recon version of the p38 although it was flown by pilots of the 7th PG. It is a two seat'Droopsnoot' based on a P38J for use in the electronic intelligence role and operated from RAF Foulsham alongside No 192 (Bomber Support) Squadron. Indeed, these four aircraft were the very first US 'ferret' (ELINT) aircraft on which today's massive effort is based. John Rees
context_page_description: The 27th Intelligence Squadron is an active squadron of the United States Air Force, stationed at Langley Air Force Base, part of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, near Hampton, Virginia. It is assigned to the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.
  The squadron was first organized in February 1943 as the 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron moved to the European Theater of Operations, where it engaged in combat until V-E Day. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its work during Operation Overlord, the invasion of France, in the spring of 1944. It remained in Europe until late fall of 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated.
context_section_description: The squadron was activated as the 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron at Peterson Field, Colorado in February 1943 and equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and two reconnaissance models of the Lightning, the F-4 and the F-5.  It was one of the original squadrons of the 6th Photographic Group.  The squadron trained with the 6th Group until September 1943, when the 6th moved overseas to the Southwest Pacific Theater.  The 27th moved overseas in November, but to England, where it was attached to the 7th Photographic Group.
  The squadron flew missions supporting Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign by photographing potential targets and flying over recently struck areas to provide bomb damage assessment.  It also provided information on enemy forces disposition and movements.  In preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, the unit concentrated on providing photographic information on airfields, cities, factories and seaports in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.  Pre-invasion coverage was extended to the Low Countries to mask the intended invasion location. Its reconnaissance of marshalling yards, canals, highways and other transportation routes contributed to the success of the Normandy campaign, earning the 27th a Distinguished Unit Citation.
  In July 1944, the unit provided coverage of launch sites for V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets.  From late August, the 27th provided coverage for advancing Allied forces.  The squadron provided photo coverage for Operation Market Garden, the airborne attacks in the Netherlands.  In November the squadron moved to France for closer cooperation with VIII Fighter Command, and flew missions supporting ground forces engaged in the Battle of the Bulge from Denain/Prouvy Airfield.  In 1945, as losses mounted among reconnaissance aircraft operating over the Continent, it began to fly North American P-51 Mustangs to provide fighter cover for the 7th Group's unarmed Lightnings.  The squadron also flew a few F-6 reconnaissance models of the Mustang.  After V-E Day, the squadron participated in the final bomb damage assessment of Germany.  Most, if not all, aircraft were disposed of to depots by September, and the squadron returned to the United States in December and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in December.
caption: F-5 Lightning at Mount Farm
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