It was last assigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing at Mather Air Force Base, California, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1986.

Since a reorganization of General Headquarters Air Force in September 1936, each bombardment group of the Army Air Forces (AAF) had an assigned or attached reconnaissance squadron, which operated the same aircraft as that group's assigned bombardment squadrons.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron began to participate in antisubmarine patrols.

These aircraft were assigned to the 404th, although mission tasking was performed directly by the Eleventh Air Force Signal Office.

[8] The squadron continued to fly long-range reconnaissance operations from Shemya Army Air Base until it was inactivated in 1947.

Operating Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, it provided air refueling support to the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers of its parent wing and other USAF units as directed.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency