4080th 

STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE WING

* Never assigned personnel or aircraft.- Later reactivated (Aug 1981) as the 4029th SRTS to train U-2 pilots

By July 1956 the 4025th SRS with the RB-57D was being deployed overseas to Yokato AFB Japan as Flt A Det 1, 3rd Air Division  under Operation Sea Lion and Eielson AFB, Alaska. On Dec 11, 1956 a  mission over and around  Vladivistok (USSR)  was flown early in the morning    Three aircraft were prime and three were spare's. 

Missions flown from Eielson  were ELINT / SIGINT  near / over the Soviet and Chinese borders ( Kamchatka Peninsula) and sea ports gathering information on Naval operations. Missions include Sky Shield, Toy Soldier and Green Hornet which were classified surveillance programs, which later would be performed by the U-2's of the 4028th SRS.

Between March and August 1958 the RB-57D Flew air sampling flights from the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok Proving Ground in conjunction with the USA Nuclear testing program (Code name Hardtack). 

The 4080th SRW then moved to Laughling AFB on the 1st April 1957 and by this time had 20 RB-57D's on strength.  By June of this year the 4028th and the 4029th were re-designated Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron ( SRWS)  and delivery of the  Lockheed U-2 aircraft started in June 1957 to the 4028th SRS. At this time all other U-2 flying was at this time was being performed by the C.I.A  and the 4080th SRW became the first USAF unit to fly the U-2.           

In 1957 both the  4025th and the 4028th were involved with the High Altitude Sampling Program ( HASP) that was designed to sample the radioactive debris in the upper atmosphere following the detonation of Russian, Chinese and French Nuclear weapons. Unofficially this program was called "Crowflight", and missions were initially flown from Ramey AFB Puerto Rico (Det 3), and Plattsburgh AFM New York State (Det 4) , Later missions were flown from Alaska, Argentina, Panama, Guam, Australia, North Dakota, and Hawaii. Some of these missions were also dual purpose in that surveillance mission were also incorporated into the mission profile. An example being Crowflight and Green Hornet               (see patch to the  right- Patch seen on page 74 of the 4080th/100th SRW 20Year History Book )

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	The RB-57D's involvement with Crowflight end in 1959 and when the aircraft returned from Operation Bordertown, which was carried out in Europe they were retired ( due to wing fatigue) and the 4025th SRS was deactivated. Operation Bordertown was the ELINT / SIGINT / Sampling  surveillance of Eastern Germany and the USSR and were flown from the Rhine-Main air base in Germany.
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CUBA

UNITS

4080th SRW 1st April 1956.

Periodic Maintenance Squadron,   Field Maintenance Squadron,   Headquarters Squadron Section,  Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron. 4025th SRS (L), 4028th SRS, 4029th  SRS. 

4080th SW  1st April 1957                       

Periodic Maintenance Squadron , Field Maintenance Squadron,  Headquarters Squadron Section, Armament & Electronic  Maintenance Squadron, 4025th SRS  4028th SRS.    

 

4080th  FMS

Fuel, Electric, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Instruments, Egress, Paint, Oxygen, Tires, Jet Engine Mechanical Accessories.   4080th  OMS Aircraft Documentation

4080th  AES
Radar, Radio, Autopilot, Camera, Neophograph, weather and weather platforms. Red tab patch believed to be worn by a select number(4) of men who worked on an U-2 armament program about 1961.

PATCH?

4080th  HSS