19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron The 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron ( 1942 – 1970 ) is an inactive United States Air Force unit . During World War II and the Cold War ; its primary mission was aerial reconnaissance and photo mapping , it subsequently carried out electronic warfare missions during the Vietnam War . History . World War II . The 19th Photographic Mapping Squadron was activated at Colorado Springs AAF on July 14 , 1942 as part of the 4th Reconnaissance Group . It was equipped with F - 4 Lightnings ( P - 38Es ) , the group trained for overseas duty . Reassigned to the 1st Photographic Group , the squadron transferred to Bradley Field , Connecticut . It deployed to Mexico to perform photographic mapping over Central and South America with long range F - 9 and F - 7 ( B - 17 F / B - 24 D ) aircraft . It also performed photographic mapping of the United States while assigned to the 11th Photographic Group . Reassigned to the 311th Reconnaissance Wing , the squadron moved overseas , being attached to the Royal Air Force . It was first deployed to Africa , the squadron photographed airfields and created maps of western and central Africa in support of Air Transport Command , developing logistical supply routes across the dark continent . It was later assigned to Egypt , mapping the Middle East with long - range aircraft including some Navy PBY - 5s ( OA - 10 ) s , photographing airfields , coastal defenses and ports . Reassigned to England in April 1945 , the squadron took bomb - damage assessment photographs of airfields , marshalling yards , bridges and other targets . It remained in the theater after combat ended , performing photo - mapping of Western Europe . It was inactivated at Foggia Airfield , Italy in December 1945 . Postwar Years . It was activated in the reserve at Newark Airport , New Jersey as part of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in November 1947 . Equipped with RB - 26Cs , it performed night photographic missions until being inactivated in June 1949 . Cold War . The 19th was reactivated at Shaw AFB , South Carolina in July 1953 as the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron , assigned to the Tactical Air Command , part of the Ninth Air Force . It was attached to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , equipped with R B - 26Cs . It trained in the United States until it was deployed to RAF Sculthorpe , England in May 1954 . It was assigned to the USAFE ( United States Air Force in Europe ) ' s Third Air Force and attached to the 47th Tactical Bombardment Wing . It re - equipped with RB - 45C Tornado jets and performed tactical reconnaissance and photo - mapping missions over Western Europe and North Africa . It also conducted classified deep penetration and reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union . The squadron upgraded to RB - 66B Destroyers and replaced the obsolescent RB - 45s in 1957 . It became the primary night photographic reconnaissance squadron of the USAFE , being assigned to bases in West Germany , England and France . It returned to the United States after the French withdrawal from the NATO military alliance in 1966 and became a replacement training unit for RB - 66 aircrews . In 1968 , the squadron was re - equipped with EB - 66C electronic countermeasures aircraft . The reconnaissance equipment was removed and replaced by electronic jamming equipment . The tail turret was also removed , automatic jamming equipment was fitted in its place . Numerous antennae protruded from the aircraft , and chaff dispensing pods were carried . Redesignated the 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron and deployed to the Pacific Air Forces ( PACAF ) , it was assigned to the 18 TFW first in Japan , later in Okinawa . The unit flew missions over North Vietnam as electronic warfare aircraft , joining strike missions to jam enemy radar installations . The squadron was inactivated in 1970 at Kadena AB , Okinawa as part of the draw - down of USAF forces in Southeast Asia .