350th SRS

The Drone operations in Vietnam were deployed to Bien Hoa in 1964 and originally assigned to the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron ( SRS) of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing ( SRW). The 4025th SRS was then reactivated under SAC General Order 115 on 1st July 1965 with Col D Rafferty in Command and operation transferred to the unit but they were not permitted to use the RB-57D Squadrons previous name of the" Black Knights" , although they did. Initial Drone recovery was by the Army Sikorsky H-37's but the search had already started for a more advanced heavy lift helicopter.
				Hut at OL-20 Carrying 4025th emblem ( with helmet plume) on door

In February 1966 the 4080th SRW became the 100th SRW and the 4025th SRS was renumbered the 350th SRS (Red Falcons)
At the start the OL-20 operations were based at two locations in Vietnam with the two DC-130A's being based at Bien Hoa and the two CH-3 helicopter recovery ops at DaNang. Both of these operation locations being designated OL-20. The DC-130A's were later replaced by DC-130E's

The operations resulted in some very important Reconnaissance/ ELINT gathering operations during the Vietnam war. First Photos of SA-2 Missiles , Mig 21-D's and E's, intercepts of SA-2 arming and proximity fusing signals. The Drones also accurately launched Maverick and other smart bombs long before the present day Predator/ Reaper came on the scene. Also drop leaflets, these were nicknamed the "Bullshit Bombers"


SON TAY
The reconnaissance for the attempt to rescue American POWs at Son Tay was conducted by the 350th SRS drones. Bob Jeffries who had been a prisoner there. He said every time they heard one coming, everybody would look up hoping to have their picture taken, proving they were alive. They were beaten unmercifully for that, but they still would go out and do it again every time they could





TOMCAT After launch


MARS

MID AIR RECOVERY SYSTEM MARS "LIGHTNING BUG" DRONE
I HAVE IT
Going Fishing - CH-3 with capture gear deployed

				GOTCAH!!


Not all Drones made it back home, some were shot down and others nearly made it home.

jan04350 SRS-P05 - NEED.jpg (23274 bytes)

BUFFALO HUNTERS

99th SRS

BUFFALO HUNTERS

OL-NB

NAKHON PHANON R.T.A.B THAILAND

350th SRS

350th SRS

350th SRS

"LIGHTNING BUG"

RYAN 147

Patch Image Courtesy of

Past Our Prime

Web Site

I HAVE IT

J COOK

WANTED

	350th STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON
350th SRS	DC-130 / CH-3 / DRONE OPERATIONS
I HAVE IT	DC-130 / CH-3 / DRONE OPERATIONS

STATISTICS
First Drone Flight at an OL	20th August 1964
Last Done flight at an OL	6th June 1975
Number of Operational sorties by the 100th SRW	3,435	Excluding Training,, Test and Stateside flights.
Mid Air Recoveries
Attempts	2,745
Catches	2,655
Operational success rate	96.7%

Top Drones
L-229 TOMCAT	68 FLIGHTS	Shot down
L-225 BUDWEISER	63 FLIGHTS
L-235 RYAN'S DAUGHTER	52 FLIGHTS
L-223 BABY BUCK	46 FLIGHTS

ENDURANCE FLIGHT	34R - 7.8 hours- Recovered

Most Launches in a
7 DAY PERIOD	27	20th through 26th Dec 1972 - Support Of Linebacker II
30 DAY PERIOD	91	19th Dec 1972 through 17th Jan 1973

Operational Launches per Year
1964	20	4080th SRW
1965	77	4080th SRW
1966	105	408Oth SRW / Feb 1966- 100th SRW
1967	153	100th SRW
1968	340	100th SRW
1969	437	100th SRW
1970	365	100th SRW
1971	406	100th SRW
1972	570	100th SRW
1973	440	100th SRW
1974	388	100th SRW
1975	161	100th SRW

Total Operational time flown by 100th SRW Drones
Captive	2,699.02 hours
Free	5,315.86 hours

100th A.M.M.S. Web Site

Past Our Prime The 100th A.M.M.S. Website
MISSION NAMES
COMPASS COOKIE	BUMBIE BUG
LIGHTNING BUG	BUFFALO HUNTER
BLUE SPRING	LITTERBUG

DRONE NUMBERS AND NAMES