48th Intelligence Squadron

The 48th Intelligence Squadron, originally activated in 1943, has a distinguished legacy in providing critical intelligence support to U.S. military operations. During World War II, the unit contributed to aerial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering in the European Theater. Reactivated and redesignated over the decades, the squadron currently operates out of Beale Air Force Base, California, where it specializes in processing, exploiting, and disseminating intelligence derived from high-altitude reconnaissance platforms such as the U-2 and RQ-4 Global Hawk. The 48th Intelligence Squadron continues to play a vital role in supporting global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions for the United States Air Force.