U.S. Air Force squadron celebrates historic anniversary at RAF Mildenhall

  • Published
  • By Jonathan M. Beha
  • 95th Reconnaissance Squadron
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom is celebrating 95 years of service the weekend prior to Aug. 20, 2012.

"It's truly an honor to command such a distinguished unit" said Lt. Col. Eric Paulson, 95th RS commander. "Every day I see firsthand the fine work the Airmen of the 95th accomplish and I know they're the latest in a 95 year tradition of excellence. Celebrating this historic occasion is a once in a lifetime event!"

"We have an exciting weekend of celebrations planned," said Capt. Nick Phillips, the chairman of the anniversary weekend. "We're going to start with a golf scramble Friday afternoon followed by a formal dinner celebration Saturday evening. There we will premiere a recent interview with 95th alum and Doolittle Raider, Mr. David Thatcher. Sunday we will have a cookout in our hangar to give our families a chance to celebrate with us."

First activated as the 95th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas on Aug. 20, 1917, the 95th began by flying the French Nieuport 28 biplane. After completing training, the 95th departed for France in 1918 and earned honors as the first squadron to fly combat missions, leading to the squadron motto at the time, "First to the Front." It was during this period that the 95th adopted the emblem of the kicking mule on a blue surround to mark their aircraft. The blue represented the unit's arena of operations, while the kicking mule symbolized the unit's striking power, "swift and accurate."

The 95th made great contributions in North Africa and throughout the European Theater after the start of WWII flying the B-26 Marauder in bombing missions against the Germans. The squadron's greatest WWII legacy however, came from the Pacific Theater for the part they played in the Doolittle Raid. The 95 Bomb Squadron made up six of 16 B-25 crews.

The unit began a full-time reconnaissance role at RAF Alconbury in 1982 flying the U-2/TR-1. In 1993, the 922d Reconnaissance Squadron at RAF Mildenhall was renamed the 95th when operations at RAF Alconbury ceased.

Today's 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and Detachment 1 belong to the 55th Wing headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska supporting national and theater commanders with near real time intelligence data.

For more information on the events celebrating the squadron's anniversary contact Capt. Nick Phillips at 01638 542744 or email him at nicholas.phillips@mildenhall.af.mil