"Recce Pukes"
 USAFE Tactical Reconnaissance in the Cold War

by Doug Gordan

The primary function of Tactical Reconnaissance is to gather intelligence about the enemy’s disposition, strength and technology in the confines of the battlefield and its environs. It differs from Strategic Reconnaissance which embraces the finding and pinpointing of targets for intercontinental warfare and indications and warnings of possible surprise attack. ‘Recce Pukes’ was a term used to describe the men who flew tactical reconnaissance by the drivers of the fighter and fighter bomber squadrons whose job it was to fight air to air or deliver ordnance. It was a term of derision. Many of the tac recce pilots have taken the name and made it their own. Recce pilots took an enormous pride in their mission and the skills as pilots they had to attain in order to achieve it. In the hot wars in Korea and SE Asia they truly did fly alone and unarmed into the very heart of the enemy’s territory. Most will tell you that they were never unafraid and many died.  For the most part, the story of Cold War tactical reconnaissance in USAFE is the story of men and machines at the front line constantly practicing and honing their skills; knowing that at any moment they may be called to exercise those skills in a hot war situation. There were also those whose missions took them over the other side, sometimes by accident and sometimes by design.

In the early 1950s, the first tactical reconnaissance unit to come to Europe to join USAFE was an Air National Guard unit: the 117^th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) which arrived in the theater in early 1952. The 117^th had three squadrons assigned: the 160^th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) and the 157^th TRS both of which were photo jet squadrons, flying the Lockheed RF-80A; and the 112^th TRS which flew the Douglas RB-26 in the Night photo role. It was originally intended that the entire wing should base at Toul Rosiere in France. In the event Toul was not ready to receive aircraft and the squadrons dispersed to other locations in Germany. The 157^th went to Furstenfeldbruck, the 160^th to Neubiberg and the 112^th to Weisbaden.

Operations for the wing began in earnest in March 1952; although they were somewhat restricted by the acute shortage of spare parts for cameras and aircraft. For this reason the first mission of the 157^th TRS in late March was for visual recce in support of a 7^th army maneuver. Exercise June Primer in July, 1952 was the first real test of the units readiness; demanding, as it did, a variety of different missions to be flown: vertical photography of paratroop drop zones; oblique photos of the Rhine and Danube rivers and their bridges; vertical stereo coverage of the airfields at Jever, Fassburg, Celle, Sinsdorf and Gutersloh; night flash photos of the Siegenburg range; and various visual missions on behalf of the 7^th Army including artillery adjustment on behalf of the 816^th Field Artillery.

In December 1952 a visual reconnaissance role was given to a non recce wing in USAFE. Tthe 48^th Fighter Bomber Wing based at Chaumont in France and flying F-84Gs. acquired the mission alongside it’s many other responsibilities. The visual reconnaissance mission was taken very seriously by the 48^th and regular training and practice sorties were flown. The role was relinquished in mid 1953. One of the last missions involved a flight of 16 aircraft in two ship formations covering eight airfields: Zweibrucken, Strasbourg, Lahr, Colna, Frieburg, Friedrichstrafen, Kaufburen and Erding.

On July 10^th, 1953 the 117^th TRW was returned to the United States and its assets were taken over by the newly activated 10^th TRW.  The two jet photo squadrons became the 32^nd and 38^th TRS’ and the RB-26 squadron, the 1^st TRS. The 10^th TRW was not new to Europe. It had flown successfully throughout WW2 and in the immediate post war period, between 1945 and 1947 the 10^th Reconnaissance Group had flown extensive photographic and mapping missions over the occupied areas. There is also a possibility that they flew probing missions into the Eastern Bloc countries; but this cannot be substantiated at this time.

Coincidental with the redesignation of the wing, the RB-26s were moved to Toul Rosiere; which became known, without affection, as ‘Mud City’. Fortunately for some of the 1^st TRS pilots and aircraft Operation Longstep took them to Italy to photograph the ‘aggressive’ US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. On this occasion the ‘hell roarer’ magnesium illuminator system was being used experimentally in one of the aircraft in conjunction with the split vertical night camera. The system was demonstrated of the coast of Naples at night and caused much excitement! Many people reported sightings of a ‘disco volante’

On the 19^th July 1953 the second of USAFE’s Tac Recce wings came to Europe. The 66^th TRW landed at Sembach in Germany. Like the 10^th TRW the 66^th had two photo jet squadrons of  RF-80s: the 302^nd and 303^rd TRS’; and an RB-26 squadron, the 30^th TRS. The 66^th was manned almost exclusively by Korean veterans; many of whom had also flown tactical reconnaissance in WW2. The operations flown by the 66^th squadrons were similar to those of the 10^th; the army being the most regular requesting agency. However, USAFE decided to concentrate the 10^th TRW in the allied zone of Germany; while the 66^th occupied itself with the allied zones of Austria. The weather proved to be the largest impediment to mission success. The winter of 1953/54 was particularly bad and affected the RB-26 squadrons more than the RF-80 units. In Exercise Harvest Moon in October, 1953 the 30^th could not complete one of it’s assigned missions of visual reconnaissance, photo confirmation or simulated atomic bombing missions because the aircraft could not get off the ground; the problems of severe icing being acute. In Harvest Moon and Power Play, which followed it, the 302^nd and 303^rd fared a little better; but all photo missions had to be flown at low level. It was at this time that both the reconnaissance wings began regular deployments to North Africa. Missions could be flown without being compromised by the weather.

The belligerence of the Soviet Union and it’s allies was exemplified in the shooting down of a USAF  F-84 in March of 1953.  Re-equipment of tactical units of USAFE was becoming an imperative. This was important for the Fighter Bomber Squadrons of course; but no less for the reconnaissance units; whose aircraft would have to operate in the same hostile environment; without the benefit of defensive armament. The RB-26 squadrons were to be the first to be converted to new aircraft; being destined to receive the Martin RB-57A Canberra. As 1953 drew to a close, pilots from the 1^st and 30^th TRS were temporarily detached to Shaw AFB for transition training.

However, before the new aircraft arrived, another squadron joined the 10^th TRW. This was the 42^nd TRS and was equipped with the RB-26. The 42^nd had a mission which encompassed instrumented weather reconnaissance and providing the ground, air and naval forces with information concerning the location and character of electronic emissions. Two flights were formed, A and B, to cover each of these roles. B Flight (Weather) was the first to receive their aircraft. A Flight did not receive the first of their specially configured RB-26s until December, 1954.

On the 24^th October, 1954 the first RB-57 arrived for the 1^st TRS and the 30^th TRS received their first aircraft on the 30^th of that month. Meanwhile, plans had been laid for the photo jet squadrons to relinquish their RF-80s for the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash. The RF-80s had served with distinction in the USAF since 1946. But now, eight years later they were beginning to show their age; and in the front line of the Cold War in Europe a more state of the art aircraft was needed.

However, the intensity of routine work continued in spite of the demands made by the transition training for the new aircraft. The 302^nd TRS took part in Operation Blue Danube, flying 28 sorties. Four RF-80s from the 302^nd TRS detached to Vaerlose in Denmark for a joint exercise with the Royal Danish Air Force. At the same time the 1^st TRS sent six RB-26 aircraft to the Danish base to commence the formidable task of photographing all of Denmark! A detachment to Geibelstadt in May, 1954 involved the 303^rd TRS in a reconnaissance competition with other NATO units. In later years, under the name of Royal Flush, these competitions were to become a regular event. In addition to photographing some 21 army required targets and 15 weather reconnaissance missions, the squadron was officially detailed to take some ‘happy snaps’ of castles and other places of interest in Germany for publicity purposes.

1955 was the year in which the RB-57 and the RF-84 began to arrive in the theatre for the 10^th and 66^th TRWs. It was also the year when other units concerned with reconnaissance arrived. In May three RF-100A aircraft arrived at Bitburg AB; home of the 36^th FBW. The RF-100s were assigned to the Rhine-Main based 7407^th Support Squadron as Detachment #1. The aircraft were especially modified from the basic F-100A; configured to carry five cameras. These modifications altered the basic shape of the aircraft quite considerably. The 20mm cannon and all the ammunition bays were removed and the sides of the fuselage were bulged to accommodate the right and left oblique K-17 cameras. Six aircraft were so modified: three for Europe and three for Asia. Under Project Slick Chick the mission of  Det.#1 was to cross the border with the Eastern Bloc countries and photograph assigned targets. The Super Sabre was the foremost supersonic fighter at this time and it was believed that it would not be intercepted. The Slick Chick aircraft flew a total of six missions over the border from a variety of bases in West Germany. Targets included cities and airfields. Fighters were scrambled to intercept them but, with the RF-100s operating at speeds approaching Mach 1 at 50,000 feet, they were never a serious threat.

On the 23^rd August, 1955, six RB-57A aircraft touched down at Rhine-Main base in West Germany. These aircraft, however, were not for the 1^st or the 30^th TRS; but were, like the Slick Chick RF-100As, destined for the 7407^th Support Squadron. These were not standard RB-57As such as assigned to the squadrons of USAFE’s tactical reconnaissance units; but were considerably modified. The J-65 engines produced a higher thrust; the navigator seat was removed; the bomb bay was skinned over after the removal of all hydraulics, racks and the rotating door. A pressurised camera compartment was installed and a pressure suit ventilator system. Project Heartthrob had arrived in Europe. The mission of the project was to overfly the countries of the Warsawa Pact and obtain intelligence. These penetrations were relatively shallow. Missions commenced in the November, 1955. Throughout the period of the project some 15 to 19 overflight missions were flown. The aircraft were operated at very high altitudes, hence the need for the pressure suits. A typical mission profile would be an initial climb after take off to 45,000 feet. Continuing to climb, penetration of the border would take place at 55,000 feet. If at this point the aircraft was showing contrails then the mission would be aborted.  The pilot would then steer to his targets while continuing to cruise climb. Each target would be photographed and  when he approached his exit point the aircraft would be at 62 –66,000 feet. Once within friendly skies the pilot would descend and land back at Rhine-Main. Targets included, as with the RF-100 missions, cities and airfields.

Both the Slick Chick and the Heartthrob projects discontinued overflights  in late 1956. The aircraft however remained in Europe, flying more routine missions for some time after this. Although these clandestine missions were motivated by strategic requirements rather than tactical ones they are included here because they used what could be deemed tactical aircraft flown by pilots who had a background in tactical reconnaissance flying single pilot recce missions. Many of those pilots returned to tactical reconnaissance units following their tour with the 7407^th. It should be noted that Heartthrob and Slick Chick  were US "nationally" directed and only administratively and operationally supported by USAFE.  As such they were not in the"USAFE/NATO" force structure, but were National reconnaissance assets supporting US intelligence and strategies.

Meanwhile, the 10^th and 66^th TRWs were grateful for the opportunity to convert to their new aircraft. Exercise Carte Blanche in July of 1955 occupied the 66^th TRW in particular which flew a total of 613 missions; both photo and visual. Because of the ease with which the RF-80s were intercepted and the distance they had to operate from their home bases; which compromised their ability to evade due to critical fuel levels; the exercise underlined just how important replacement of these aircraft was. As it was, new regulations concerning the operation of the RF-80, were established as a result of Carte Blanche. The aircraft would operate in pairs and would have a total combat radius of 400 miles. This would ensure sufficient fuel for evasive manoeuvring if this became necessary. 

The RB-57As of the 1^st and 30^th TRS’ proved troublesome from the start of their time with USAFE. They were grounded in January, 1956 for a period of three weeks; and again in May for two months. However, later in the year, in Exercise Whipsaw which was similar in size and nature to Carte Blanche, the Canberras of the 30^th TRS acquitted themselves well flying bombing sorties against enemy targets at night. For the purposes of Whipsaw the 30^th detached to Echterdingen. The RB-57s were involved in an exercise in Libya with the 11^th Tactical Missile Squadron (TMS). Their responsibilities in Operation Sunflash were to report on weather, range clearance and photograph missile impact.

The RF-84F Thunderflashes  were in service with the 32^nd, 38th, 302^nd and 303^rd TRS’ by mid 1956. The advent of the RF-84F involved the squadrons in gunnery training. The aircraft was fitted with four .5 calibre machine guns. These were primarily to be used for target designation and were not taken seriously as offensive armament. The venue chosen for the gunnery training was Caseaux in France. The 66th first deployed there in November and December 1956. Basically the course entailed familiarisation in low level strafing techniques against mesh nylon targets. The 32nd and 38th TRS’ of the 10th TRW deployed to Caseaux in January 1957. Regrettably high winds wiped out 3 days of their training.

The 42^nd TRS exchanged it’s weather reconnaissance RB-26 aircraft for WT-33s in 1955. The Electronics Flight soldiered on with it’s increasingly sophisticated RB-26s; being destined to replace it with the Douglas RB-66C in 1956. Regular flights were flown by these aircraft; listening for electronic emissions, searching for radar and other sources. Echo route was the Mediterranean; Alpha, the North Sea; Bravo, from Spangdahlem to Marseilles; and Coco Special, the Bay of Biscay. During Exercise Beware for example, in which the squadron was a member of the aggressor team, they flew the Alpha route; probing the UK’s electronic and radar air defence systems. In addition to involvement in exercises the duties of the 42^nd were to respond to the demands of USAF operational orders where their particular expertise was needed. Order 331-5527, for example was to calibrate the Bitburg call sign. A detachment to Sidi Slimane in French Morocco was detailed to pinpoint all American radar sites in the area. A regular deployment of aircraft was made to Pisa, Italy; the purpose being to fly along the Yugoslavian and Albanian borders, searching for Dumbo, Knigerest and Token Soviet radars.

On the 1^st November, 1956 the first RB-66C arrived for the 42^nd TRS. Other squadrons destined to receive the aircraft were the 1^st and 30^th TRS’ in 1957.

Although scheduled for replacement the RB-57 squadrons were kept as busy as ever in the final months of 1956. One operation which is of particular interest required a series of low oblique photographs to be made of training targets for the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS). The recce runs were made at 1,000 and 10,000 feet and resulted in a picture portrayal of the actual bomb run to be made with the terrain features clearly defined. This enabled B-57 crew briefing to be made much more effectively and clearly.

On the 1^st January, 1957 the 19^th TRS was assigned to the 66^th TRW. This unit was based at RAF Sculthorpe and since 1954 had been attached to the 47^th Bombardment Wing. The twelve RB-45s were scheduled to be replaced by the RB-66 and on the 1^st February the first three of these arrived. By the end of March twelve aircraft were assigned. The 19^th did not move to Sembach, remaining at Sculthorpe.

In May, 1957 the last RB-26 left the 42^nd TRS and the last RB-66C arrived on June 25^th. Transition had been problematic, not least because there was a shortage of ECM operators; only twenty three out of a required thirty were assigned. The Weather Flight retained it’s WT-33s for a while longer. One of the regular missions flown by the 42^nd Weather Flight at this time and hereafter was known as Wild Goose. The WT-33 and later the WB-66 would fly a reverse route to that planned by tactical units on deployment to report on the weather. Examples of  Wild Goose in 1957 were from Erding to Adana, Turkey in support of the 490^th FIS and from Soesterberg in the Netherlands to Wheelus in support of the 32nd FDS. The first WB-66 arrived at Spangdahlem for the 42^nd in October, ’57 and by 31^st December, seven of these aircraft had been received.

In June, 1957 the 32^nd and 38^th TRS’ were moved  from Spangdahlem to Phalsbourg in France. On the 6^th December, 1957, HQ USAFE issued general Order 88 which assigned the 32^nd and 38^th TRS, both resident at Phalsbourg, to the 66^th TRW. The 19^th and 30^th TRS’ were assigned to the 10^th TRW; the 30^th moving to Spangdahlem while the 19^th remained, for the time being, at Sculthorpe. The 66^th now became an all RF-84 wing and the 10^th  an all RB-66 wing. The problems for both wings of maintaining different aircraft types was thus solved.

For the 66^th TRW more changes were imminent. It was announced in January, 1958 that the 32^nd and 38^th squadrons were to convert to the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo. In July, the 66^th HQ and the 302^nd and 303^rd TRS were to move to the French base of Laon; displacing the 38^th Bombardment Wing.

If 1958 was a year for much change and the prospect of change; it also marked the most successful period for the Thunderflash in Europe. The decision to utilise Nouasseur in Morocco as a training base for the 66th TRW all the year round had much to do with this successful 'swan song'  for the aircraft. For long the Northern European weather had taken its toll of mission effectiveness. Operation Follow the Sun put an end to much of this. All four squadrons detached to Nouasseur for extended periods throughout 1958. They achieved an incredible peak of combat effectiveness during these detachments. The 32nd TRS detached in January for seven weeks and again in April and May; and reported an average of  700 hours flying time per month for the period January to June. At this time they were also preparing for transition to the RF-101C. The 303rd TRS, during 33 days at Nouasseur flew 70 sorties, accomplished 140 briefings, and 200 rolls of film were interpreted and scored. The 302nd detached in January and again in  April and May. All airfields and seaplane stations and ports in Morocco, and some in Spain were photographed. Other training for all units included low  level navigation, all aspects of photography, instrument flying, formation aerobatics and evasion tactics and night flying. Pilot proficiency in the RF-84F was developed to an extent never before realised. All new pilots were transitioned at the Moroccan base.

At the very time that the 66^th was moving house and changing it’s aircraft there occurred an incident that was to have considerable implications for the units of USAFE.  On the 15th July 1958, President Eisenhower alerted the United States Armed Forces when the Republic of the Lebanon requested assistance from the USA because of  a political crisis. The 10th and 66^th TRWs went into sustained alert status.. Operation Post Card as it was known put the units on standby to deploy to the Lebanon and remain there until relieved by units from the United States. In fact this never occurred as hostilities lessened and the physical move was never necessary. The 42nd TRS flew a number of weather missions in support of surface and air movements of the US Task Force into the area; and the electronics flight flew a round the clock operation during the entire episode monitoring hostile electronic activity.

The RF-101 conversion programme was based primarily at Nouasseur; and by the end of 1958 the 32^nd TRS had completed converted to the aircraft and the 38^th was well under way. The 302^nd and 303^rd TRS’ were destined never to receive the Voodoo. It was decided to deactivate both these units and bring two RF-101 squadrons over from Shaw: the 17^th and 18^th TRS.’ In May 1959 these two squadrons arrived at Laon.

Operation Taxi Cab introduced and developed the pathfinder role for the RB-66, which was to be used with such success in SE Asia. Taxi Cab was initially conceived as an experiment to ascertain whether or not the RB-66 could be used to lead in F-100 fighter bombers to a target in bad weather or at night, ie, when IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) were required. For the purposes of the evaluation exercise RB-66s of the 1^st TRS and F-100Ds of the 49^th TFW deployed to Nouasseur. When the details had been worked out and practised the 1^st TRS aircraft returned to Europe to manoeuvre with the F-100Cs of the 36^th Tactical Fighter Wing. Essentially the form of Taxi Cab was that the F-100s were led to the target area by the RB-66. At a specified distance from the target the fighter bombers broke away and, at a signal from the navigator of the Destroyer, performed their target run. After a successful bombing run had been accomplished, the RB-66 would fly over the target and photograph the damage. The ‘Pathfinder’ concept was tried and successful and was to become part of USAFE’s operations systems from July 1959; when two WB-66Ds of the 42^nd TRS formed the alert force at Bitburg with four F-100Cs.

In July of 1959, General de Gaulle ordered all foreign nuclear forces from French soil. This necessitated a major move for many of USAFE’s assets in Europe. The 49^th TFW moved with their F-100Ds from Etain Rouvres to Spangdahlem; displacing the 10^th TRW which moved to three bases in the United Kingdom: Alconbury, Chelveston and Bruntingthorpe. The 66^th TRW remained at Laon; now being the only USAF recce unit on the mainland.

The move of the 10^th TRW to the UK went smoothly enough but was to have a considerable effect on the missions of the squadrons. Taxi Cab, barely started, was cancelled. The component parts of the Alert force were based too far apart to make it viable. The 19^th TRS, having just moved from Sculthorpe to Spangdahlem, was obliged to move yet again, to RAF Bruntingthorpe. The 1^st and 30^th TRS’ went to Alconbury and the 42^nd to RAF Chelveston. It became necessary for the squadron to plan new ECM routes. The increased distance to the borders of the Soviet zone of Germany and Czechoslovakia, coupled with the air traffic control procedures of the UK, considerably restricted ‘watch time’ over target. From October 15^th, daily KB-50 refuelling exercises were introduced for the RB-66s in an attempt to overcome this problem, and as a result watch time was increased to two hours twenty minutes. However poor weather took it’s toll of some missions and it was estimated that ECM missions were cut by as much as 50% after the move to the UK.

On the 22^nd December 1959  the 42^nd undertook a covert operation against two Soviet radar complexes in East Germany located near the towns of Zerbet and Morseburg. The two radars, codenamed  Barlock and Stonecake were unknown quantities and the object of the exercise was to ascertain whether they were synchronised one with the other. In this mission the 42^nd was aided by F-102s of the 86^th Fighter Interceptor Wing. These aircraft made supersonic incursions into  East German airspace to encourage the Soviets to turn their radars on so that they could be checked out by the 42^nd ECM crews. The mission was successful.

In January, 1960, the Green Dragon mission was assigned to the 10^th TRW.  To implement Green Dragon the 10^th TRW was assigned twelve specially modified B-66Bs These were taken from the 47^th BW and each was fitted with a special pallet in the bomb bay in which was installed a suite of electronic countermeasures equipment including the AN/ALE-1 chaff dispenser, AN/APS-54 radar warning set, and an array of jamming equipment. An ECM tail cone was to be fitted as standard; though not all aircraft had them at the commencement of the programme. After modification the Brown Cradle B-66Bs were assigned to the 42^nd TRS which phased out it’s WB-66Ds during the first half of 1960. Echo Alert went into operation at RAF Alconbury on May 1^st. Toul Rosiere was chosen as the forward operating location for the Echo Alert force. The 10^th, or part of it at least, was going home! 

Meanwhile the pilots of the RF-101s of the 66^th TRW were developing their own particular brand of high speed low level recce. The wing received the accolade of the 7th Army  for it’s commitment to Exercise Fair Play from February 2nd to 7th, 1959; when sixteen day reconnaissance missions were flown every day under  very adverse weather conditions. Exercises close to the border did take place as part of the support for the army. These were strictly controlled: positive radar contact at all times.

A good deal of desert work was scheduled for both wings during 1960. When the Agadir earthquake devastated Morocco, aircraft of the 18^th TRS were dispatched to take photos In February the 42^nd was ordered to detach and maintain on station two WB-66Ds at Wheelus. They were to launch one sortie a day in order to ascertain high altitude wind direction for a minimum period of three weeks. The operation, code named Golf Ball was ordered as a direct result of the French nuclear tests in the Algeria. It was necessary for the USAF to have data relating to the high altitude air currents in order for the B-57 and WB-50 aircraft to efficiently collect fallout samples from the tests. Thirty one missions were flown over uncharted areas of desert. On the 6^th April the 18^th TRS detached four aircraft to Wheelus to photograph and map approximately 8,000 miles of the Libyan desert. The search had been instigated for the ill fated survivors of the World War Two  B-24 ‘Lady B. Good’ which had crashed in that area of desert. This difficult and sensitive mission was completed on the 28^th April, 1960.

The Berlin Crisis of 1961 had implications for all the NATO air forces; USAFE no less than all the rest. The 66^th detached eight RF-101s to Spangdahlem at this time and these aircraft flew single  ship sorties to Berlin. They flew  in one corridor, turned over West Berlin and came out via another corridor. On many of these missions Migs joined up and flew formation with the single RF-101. At this time the 38^th TRS took on a nuclear delivery role. The RF-101C had always had the capability of ‘Special Weapons ‘ delivery. In order to maintain alert the 38^th moved to Ramstein in Germany.

The Cuban Missile Crisis placed all of USAFE and NATO on alert. Fighter Bomber crews sat in their aircraft ready to go at literally a moments notice and deliver their special weapons. The tac recce units too had their targets and the pilots sat alert on first light to last light readiness. Fortunately the Soviets backed down and the world was pulled back from the brink. Many of the pilots who flew the RF-101 missions over Cuba had served with the 66^th TRW in Europe. As a consequence of Cuba USAFE was prompted to maintain the Nuclear delivery role of the 38^th TRS for some time longer.

Exercise Cold Turkey in 1961 involved the 42^nd ‘Brown Cradle’  B-66Bs. These aircraft did not often turn their jamming devices except over the UK and the open ocean. Cold Turkey marked the first time since World War 2 that the USAF had conducted active ECM over the continent of Europe.

In March, 1962 the 10^th TRW took control of Toul Rosieres in France and moved the 19^th and the 42^nd TRS’ there. Both RAF Chelveston and Bruntingthorpe were closed down for military operations.

On March 10^th 1964 an RB-66 of the 19^th TRS took off  from Toul Rosiere on a routine mission navigational training mission. The flight plan was for the Destroyer to fly over the Mosel to Hahn; thence to Bremerhaven and then return to Toul. At approximately 3 pm the aircraft crossed into East German airspace in the vicinity of the Berlin corridor.. It was some 120 miles off course. It’s flight plan should never have taken it more than  70 miles from the border! The aircraft was intercepted by East German air defence fighters and shot down near the East German town of Gardelegen. The Soviets claimed that the aircraft had been on a recce mission to test their air defences and had been caught and destroyed in the act. The USAF stuck by their story that the plane had wandered off course due to a navigational error. The aircraft, however did carry two qualified navigators and it did crash in an area where Russian troops were on manoeuvres. The crew were returned a few weeks after the shoot down.

In 1965 the war in SE Asia was getting hotter and the demand for experienced Voodoo pilots in particular was high. Many of the pilots flying with the squadrons of the 66^th TRW went to SE Asia and flew the aircraft over the north; their experience in Europe holding them in good stead. In the mid ‘60s much occurred which was to anticipate the departure of the Voodoo from Europe. The two most significant events were the imminent entry into service of the F-4 Phantom; and the decision by France to remove all foreign armed forces from the country. The disintegration and redeployment of the 66th TRW was one of the results of both these events. In July 1965 a new Tactical Reconnaissance Wing joined USAFE. Based at Toul Rosiere the 26^th TRW took over the 32^nd and 38^th TRS from the 66^th TRW. The 32^nd had been resident at Toul for a time and remained there. It was joined by a newly activated RF-4C squadron, the 22^nd TRS on 1^st December, 1965. The 38^th remained at Ramstein and was joined there by the wing HQ in September, 1966. Both squadrons converted to the McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom. The 32^nd joined the 10^th TRW at Alconbury in 1966. The 22^nd TRS ceased to be part of the 26^th TRW in September, 1966.

On the 1^st July, 1965 the 25^th TRGp was activated at Chambley, France and took control of the 19th and 42^nd TRS.   The 25^th TRW was activated on 1^st October, 1965. The escalation of the conflict in SE Asia prompted the establishment of Detachment 1 of the 42^nd TRS at Takhli Air base in Thailand. This detachment took five of the ‘Brown Cradle’ aircraft to Thailand. In early 1966 these aircraft were designated EB-66s. So successful were the aircraft in SE Asia that in May, 1966 all the squadron’s  EB-66s were moved to Takhli and the 42^nd was inactivated. In Takhli the EB-66 detachment formed the 6460^th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS).

On September 11th, 1966 the remaining two squadrons of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing landed on United Kingdom soil at RAF Upper Heyford. In 1969 the 17^th TRS converted to the RF-4C  and in 1970 the 18^th TRS returned to Shaw AFB in the US.

The ‘Photo’ Phantom was blooded early in it’s career with the USAF. The aircraft was flown for the first time in August, 1963 and from 1965 was flying missions in SE Asia out of Tan Son Nhut Air base. In USAFE the aircraft served a long career with the 10^th TRW and the 26^th TRW. The 10^th was redesignated a Tactical Fighter Wing in 1987 and the 26^th was deactivated in 1991.

Over the past decade there have been no dedicated tactical reconnaissance units in USAFE. Indeed, throughout the world’s air forces unmanned probes and satellites are taking on the role.