However, the 38th's Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses arrived at Hickam Field while it was under attack by the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service.

The squadron was reactivated in 2019 at Beale and is reported to operate the Northrop Grumman RQ-180 stealth unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance aircraft.

A few weeks later, the squadron moved to Chanute Field, Illinois, where it served as a training unit, equipped with Curtiss JN-4 and DH-4 single engined biplanes.

The squadron was demobilized in December 1918 as Chanute prepared to transition from a pilot training field into a temporary storage depot following the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

Along with the 19th Group, the squadron's primary aircraft was upgraded to the Douglas B-18A Bolo, then to early models of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

[2][8] In June 1941, the squadron departed March along with the 19th Group for the newly constructed Army Air Base Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[2][8] As tensions with the Japanese Empire rose, the 19th Group was ordered to reinforce the Philippine Department Air Force.

Group headquarters and the 30th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons left Albuquerque for Clark Air Base in September and October 1941.

[2][12] In March the squadron moved to Gowen Field, Idaho, where it was attached to the 303d Bombardment Group, which had been organized the previous month,[13] for training and expansion with a new air echelon.

Shortly after its arrival at Gowen, the 303d Group's 31st Reconnaissance Squadron was inactivated[14] and its planes and personnel were used to bring the 38th up to strength.

As a unit of one of only four Flying Fortress groups in VIII Bomber Command during late 1942 and early 1943, the squadron participated in the development of the tactics that would be used throughout the air campaign against Germany.

[13] Although a strategic bombing unit, the squadron was diverted on occasion to close air support and interdiction for ground forces.

However, the two B-17 groups moved to Casablanca proved surplus to Air Transport Command's needs and the squadron was inactivated in late July 1945 and its planes ferried back to the United States.

[2][20] The 427th Reconnaissance Squadron was activated at Beale Air Force Base, California, in May 2012 to manage combat readiness training for the MC-12W Liberty.

It organized, trained, equipped and deployed MC-12W aircraft and aircrew in support of combat commander directed operational requirements.

[22] According to an October 2019 report by Aviation Week & Space Technology the squadron operates the Northrop Grumman RQ-180 stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance aircraft.