Happy birthday Mules: 95th RS celebrates their 98th year of service

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kate Thornton
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As stubborn as their mascot, the mule, the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron continues to "kick ass" after nearly a century.

Reaching 98 years of operation, the squadron celebrated its birthday Aug. 20, 2015, with a series of events designed to educate and entertain Airmen and families who attended.

"We're very excited, as we are every year, to celebrate the squadron's heritage," said Lt. Col. Kevin Webster, 95th RS commander. "When people look back at our beginnings - what we've participated in and what we've done - they're inspired."

As one of the oldest units in the Air Force, the 95th RS, formerly the 95th Aero Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Service, was first organized Aug. 20, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entered World War I. They began with almost nothing and had to borrow planes from the French.

After their first aerial victory they chose their mascot: a kicking mule on a blue circular background.

It symbolizes the unit's striking power - swift and accurate.

The 95th started by flying combat missions during WWI, transitioned to an attack squadron in 1935, then became a bombardment squadron in 1939. The unit was flying anti-submarine patrols along the U.S. West coast on the eve of World War II and is credited with sinking the first Japanese submarine of the coast of Oregon.

"For me, our contributions to the Doolittle Raiders is my personal favorite of the 95th history," Webster said.

In addition to operations in Northern Africa and Europe, perhaps the greatest legacy of the 95th from World War II involves the Doolittle Raid in the Pacific, where six of the 16 crews were comprised of members of the 95th Bombardment Squadron. The 95th's wartime total included 601 combat missions in 28 months of operations.

After its first day at Kelly Air Field, Texas, the squadron stayed mostly in Europe and was activated at RAF Mildenhall in 1994, where it remains today. They also operate from Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete.

"The squadron I came from before this didn't have a lot of history," said Staff Sgt. Brittney Yundt, 95th RS material management specialist. "Here we're always talking about our heritage, reflecting on everything we've done and where we came from. Knowing that we've made so many achievements helps us, motivates us and prepares us for the future."

Today's 95th RS and Detachment 1 belong to the 55th Wing headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. The squadron continues to support national and theater commanders, including missions such as Operation Unified Protector, the NATO-led enforcement of UN Resolution 1973 to protect civilians in Libya. The 95th remains today as one of the Air Force's oldest and most decorated squadrons still in existence.