4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron

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The 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was a unit of the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command. It flew Lockheed U-2 spy planes from Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas and Davis–Monthan AFB in Arizona during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some references call it the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron. The pilots from this squadron carried out U-2 overflights over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and detachments were sent to Japan and South Vietnam.

The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, to which the 4028th belonged, began at Turner AFB, Georgia, on April 1, 1956. Its first mission used RB-57D aircraft under Project BLACK KNIGHT, with the 4025th SRS joining in May 1956. The wing’s second mission was to fly U-2s under Project Dragon Lady, so the 4028th SRS was created for this purpose. The wing moved to Laughlin AFB in early 1957.

A second U-2 squadron, the 4029th SRS, was formed in case CIA Project Aquatone ended and the aircraft could be turned over to SAC. That transfer never happened, and the 4029th SRS was never equipped.

In 1963 the wing moved to Davis–Monthan AFB. In 1966 the 4080th SRW was renumbered as the 100th SRW at Davis–Monthan, and the 4028th SRS was renamed the 349th SRS. The 100th Wing also controlled the 350th SRS, which operated Ryan RPVs and the DC-130 launch and CH-3 recovery aircraft.