The 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) flew the RF-4C Phantom II aircraft primarily during the Vietnam War era, from April 1966 to January 1971. They were based at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand for most of this period.
The squadron was organized with the RF-4C on April 1, 1966, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, before deploying to Southeast Asia later that year. Their service with the aircraft ended when the unit was inactivated on January 24, 1971.
The primary operational base during the Vietnam War was Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand, where the squadron was assigned to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The 11th TRS conducted tactical reconnaissance missions, flying primarily over North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They provided critical aerial photographic intelligence for the Seventh Air Force, often flying daily weather reconnaissance and combat missions.
The RF-4C was an unarmed version of the F-4 Phantom II, equipped with a bulged nose to accommodate various film-based cameras and sensors for both high- and low-altitude, day and night photography. The aircraft did not carry offensive weaponry, though some were later fitted with defensive AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
The 11th and 14th TRS together conducted a significant majority (80%) of all reconnaissance flights over Vietnam. The 11th TRS flew 26,493 combat missions in Southeast Asia before ceasing operations in October 1970.
While no RF-4Cs from the 11th TRS were lost to MiGs, several were shot down by Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) or anti-aircraft artillery (AAA).The era included the loss of crew members who became prisoners of war. For example, Captains Edwin Atterberry and Thomas Parrott were captured after being hit by a SAM in August 1967; Atterberry died in captivity.
After their inactivation in 1971, the squadron was reactivated later that year as the 11th Tactical Drone Squadron, transitioning to the use of unmanned reconnaissance drones.
11th TRS Photos
11 TRS Patches
