45th Reconnaissance Squadron The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force unit . It is assigned to the 55th Operations Group and stationed at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska . Overview . The mission of the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron is to maintain , operate , and support OC / RC / TC / EC / WC - 135 aircraft providing worldwide reconnaissance and treaty support to the National Command Authorities , warfighters , and international treaty members . Squadron personnel fly world - wide reconnaissance and treaty missions on demand , often on extremely short notice . The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron provides data for the National Command Authorities , theater CINCs , and international treaty members . History . World War II . Organized on 17 August 1943 as the 423d Night Fighter Squadron , the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the most colorful units in the Air Force , with a battle record composed of the great campaigns of three wars , and a peacetime record of vital contributions to world - wide reconnaissance , treaty monitoring , and pilot proficiency training . The squadron was organized at Orlando Army Air Base , Florida , and was stationed at Kern County Airport , California , before heading overseas in January 1944 . On 22 June 1944 , the 423d was redesignated the 155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron . On 3 December 1945 , the 155th was redesignated the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron , Night Photographic . The 155th participated in the Normandy invasion in June 1944 , landed in France in August 1944 , and fought its way across northern France into the Low Countries that winter . In December 1944 , the 155th was involved in the Battle of the Bulge . The most notable geographic names associated with the 155th were Chormy Down and Chalgrove , England ; Rennes , Chateaudun , and St . Dizier , France ; LeCulot , Belgium ; and Maastricht , Holland . The squadron crossed into Germany at Kassel / Rothwestern in early July 1945 , and was later stationed at Darmstadt , Furth , and Furstenfeldbruck . On 1 July 1948 , the unit was redesignated the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron , Night Photographic and inactivated on 25 March 1949 . Cold War . As the focus of world attention shifted to the growing crisis in the Orient in 1950 , the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron , Night Photographic was redesignated the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 19 September 1950 and activated on 26 September 1950 at Itazuke , Japan . When hostilities erupted 27 December 1950 , the 45th was deployed to Taegu , Korea , and served in every major campaign throughout the war . In mid - summer 1951 , the squadron shifted its base of operations to Kimpo AB ( K - 14 ) , Korea . On 1 January 1953 , the 45th was redesignated the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron , Photographic - Jet . The 45th remained at Kimpo until March 1955 when it relocated to Misawa Air Base , Japan . The 45th remained at Misawa until the overthrow of President Diem of South Vietnam in November 1962 . A detachment of the 45th had earlier been deployed to Thailand due to the turmoil in South Vietnam . In December 1962 , the unit deployed to Tan Son Nhut Airfield , Saigon , recalling the detachment deployed to Thailand . The unit was redesignated the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 January 1967 . During its nine years in Vietnam , the 45th was involved in most major operations of the war . On 31 May 1971 , the unit was inactivated at Tan Son Nhut . On 5 October 1971 , the unit was activated at Bergstrom AFB , Texas , replacing the 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron . The 45th participated in various training exercises while at Bergstrom , including a 1973 deployment to RAF Alconbury , England for a NATO exercise dubbed CREEK BEE II . Later , the unit transferred its aircraft to Shaw AFB , South Carolina , and was inactivated on 31 October 1975 . The squadron was activated again on 8 September 1981 as the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron . It received the RF - 4C aircraft from the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB , South Carolina and began operations at Bergstrom AFB , Texas on 1 April 1982 . The unit trained over 600 students and supported numerous operational deployments and exercises until it was inactivated on 30 September 1989 , a result of national budgetary reductions . Modern era . On 1 July 1994 , the squadron was reactivated at Offutt AFB , Nebraska , as the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron . It assumed the mission of the former 24th Reconnaissance Squadron , which was inactivated on 30 June 1994 . 45th Reconnaissance Squadron personnel are members of a professional team dedicated to the maintenance , operation , and support of the RC / OC / WC / EC / TC - 135 aircraft .