What Aircraft Type(s) Were Assigned to 18th Recon Sq 1938-1939?

[Old MacDonald]

The 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, AC, was assigned to Mitchel Field, NY, during the late 1930s. I cannot find any information about the aircraft type(s) the unit flew in 1938-39. Maurer's Combat Squadrons of the Air Force covers only WW II unit histories, so does not help. Got any info or leads?

I realize this request could have been posted in the Interwar forum, but suspect more eyes will see it here.

TIA

 

[fubar57]

I'm see one photo of a B-18 Bolo and then scroll down to see a bunch of other aircraft where the caption says, "Below are some extremely rare pre-war photographs of aircraft, buildings and personnel from Mitchel Field circa late 1930s......"

Period Photos

Control Tower and Ops Building circa 1955: Added March 16, 2019

mitchelfield.weebly.com

 

[Old MacDonald]

Thanks--interesting, although taken a year after my narrow timeframe. I believe the 18th was designated the "18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium)," so B-18s seem likely candidates as opposed to any aircraft in the "O" category.

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/OrderofBattle3.pdf page 1385

Constituted in the Regular Army on 1 March 1935 as the 18th Observation Squadron (Long Range, Light Bombardment), and allotted to the Second Corps Area. Redesignated as the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 September 1936 and assigned to the 2nd Wing. Concurrently organized at Mitchel Field, NY. Concurrently attached to the 9th Bombardment Group. Redesignated as the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium Range) on 6 December 1939.

CHARTS: OPERATIONS REPORTS OF AIRPLANES AFHRA Reel A2215 gives numbers by base, unfortunately they are big pages and the microfilm reproduction is not only poor but uses 6 images per page, making it very hard to understand the various columns and rows, so take the following as best effort, with no attempt to go beyond the attack, bomber and observation types

Mitchell Field

31 August 1936, 3 B-6A, 30 B-10B, 11 O-10, 4 O-39, 1 O-43
31 December 1936, 26 B-10B, 9 O-46 AC, 4 O-46A ACR, 2 O-19 AC, 2 O-29?
30 June 1937, 2 A-17, 25 B-10B, 9 O-46 AC, 4 O-46A ACR, 2 O-19 AC, 1 O-15? ACR

15 January 1938, 4 A-17, 24 B-10B, 5 B-18, 7 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
31 January 1938, 4 A-17, 24 B-10B, 5 B-18, 7 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
15 February 1938, 4 A-17, 24 B-10B, 5 B-18, 7 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
28 February 1938, 4 A-17, 24 B-10B, 5 B-18, 7 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
15 March 1938, 4 A-17, 24 B-10B, 5 B-18, 6 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
31 March 1938, 4 A-17, 23 B-10B, 5 B-18, 6 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
15 April 1938, 4 A-17, 23 B-10B, 5 B-18, 6 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
30 April 1938, 4 A-17, 23 B-10B, 6 B-18, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
15 May 1938, 4 A-17, 23 B-10B, 6 B-18, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
31 May 1938, 4 A-17, 22 B-10B, 6 B-18, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-39
15 June 1938, 3 A-17, 20 B-10B, 8 B-18, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 1 O-39
30 June 1938, 3 A-17, 19 B-10B, 9 B-18, 6 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 1 O-39
15 July 1938, 3 A-17, 19 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 6 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 1 O-39
31 July 1938, 3 A-17, 19 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 1 O-39
15 August 1938, 3 A-17, 18 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 5 O-46A, 4 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 1 O-39
31 August 1938, 3 A-17, 1 B-10, 16 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 5 O-46A, 4 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A
15 September 1938, 2 A-17, 1 B-10, 16 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 5 O-46A, 4 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A
30 September 1938, 1 B-10, 15 B-10B, 9 B-18, 1 B-18A, 5 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 2 O-47A
15 October 1938, 1 B-10, 12 B-10B, 8 B-18, 7 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A
31 October 1938, 1 B-10, 12 B-10B, 7 B-18, 14 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A
15 November 1938, 1 B-10, 4 B-10B, 6 B-18, 19 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A
30 November 1938, 1 B-10, 4 B-10B, 6 B-18, 18 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A
15 December 1938, 1 B-10, 6 B-18, 18 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A
31 December 1938, 1 B-10, 6 B-18, 18 B-18A, 4 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 5 O-47A

There are 1939 reports but not on A2215,
15 November 1939, 6 A-17, 2 B-10B, 1 B-18, 38 B-18A, 7 O-46A, 3 O-46A ACR, 1 O-47A, 6 O-47B

There is clearly more than 1 squadron resident at Mitchel.

In theory the footnotes can give the serial numbers of the transfers. Like the first two weeks of October 1938, 7 B-18A 37-469 to 475 to Mitchel from Douglas Co, last 2 maybe via Wright Field.

 

[Old MacDonald]

Hi Geoffrey

Wow. That is amazing information, and precisely what I seek. Thanks for the link, and I'll try to get the 1939 reel from AFHRC when they open back up. Great job--and great memory to recall you have this esoteric info!

Am looking for this info because I'm writing a short bio of the 18 RS' Squadron Engineering Officer, who submitted and had approved a US patent for an "improved" navigation device in 1939. Presumably this work was accomplished while he was with the 18th during 1938-39, and I'm interested in what aircraft type(s) he was flying at the time he invented the new device. His Army 201 File (personnel record) states he was checked out in the A-17 and B-18, but none of the other types included in this list. As the engineering officer it would have been unthinkable he didn't fly every type ship the squadron possessed, so perhaps he didn't fly the other unlisted types often enough to bother having the type certificates added to his official record.

 

[DDonSS3]

I'm see one photo of a B-18 Bolo and then scroll down to see a bunch of other aircraft where the caption says, "Below are some extremely rare pre-war photographs of aircraft, buildings and personnel from Mitchel Field circa late 1930s......"

Period Photos

Control Tower and Ops Building circa 1955: Added March 16, 2019

mitchelfield.weebly.com

Lots of great photos, I really enjoyed seeing the inflight B-10 photos.