38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron The 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force . Its last assignment was with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , stationed at Zweibrücken Air Base , Germany . It was inactivated on 31 July 1991 . History . World War II . Established in 1944 as a photo - reconnaissance squadron , the unit trained under the Third Air Force in Oklahoma . It deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations ( PTO ) , and was assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force in the Central Pacific Area . Using unarmed fighter aircraft ( P - 38s , later P - 51s ) and B - 25 Mitchell medium bombers fitted with aerial mapping cameras , the squadron performed numerous long distance mapping flights over enemy - held territory , primarily in the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines . These flights were extremely hazardous , being flown without escort , they obtained intelligence about enemy fortifications , armored units , infantry concentrations and other tactical intelligence . < br > The squadron was inactivated in January 1946 . United States Air Forces in Europe . Reactivated in 1952 as a NATO tactical reconnaissance squadron , it was designated to be based in France as a result of the United States Cold War military buildup in Europe . The unit was activated as a redesignation of the Alabama Air National Guard 160th TRS , which was federalized and brought to active duty during the Korean War . It was issued with the RF - 80A Shooting Star aircraft , and trained for daylight reconnaissance missions . The squadron , however , was stationed at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base in West Germany due to the uncompleted facilities at Toul - Rosières Air Base . Weather conditions in Germany severely restricted the training operations of the assigned RF - 80As . The squadron frequently deployed to Nouasseur Air Base , Morocco during the winter of 1952 - 53 where the photo conditions were far better . The squadron moved to Spangdahlem Air Base , West Germany in May 1953 where all of the elements of the parent 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing were assembled at one base . It was re - equipped in 1955 with the RF - 84F Thunderstreak , as the RF - 80s were deemed to be no longer mission - capable against the Soviet MiG - 15 . In January 1958 , the squadron was moved to Phalsbourg - Bourscheid AB , France while the runway at Spangdahlem was under repair and renovation . In March 1958 , it was reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , which was moving to Phalsbourg from Sembach AB also due to poor runway conditions . During May , the Thundersteaks were replaced by McDonnell RF - 101C Voodoo s , which were the fastest tactical reconnaissance aircraft ever flown by the USAF . The last reconnaissance Voodoos were withdrawn from ANG service in 1979 . Routine training operations were flown from Laon for over seven years . In 1965 the squadron was again reassigned to the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , which was being formed at Toul Air Base . On 7 March 1966 , French President General Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO ' s military structure but not leave the political organization . He gave NATO forces one year ( until 1 April 1967 ) to depart France . As a result , the 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was relocated to Ramstein Air Base , West Germany and upgraded to the RF - 4C Phantom II . The 38th operated from Ramstein until 1973 , when in a NATO realignment , the 26th was reassigned to Zweibrücken Air Base . It remained at Zweibrücken until being inactivated in 1991 after the end of the Cold War , and the phasing - out of the RF - 4C .