List of United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft
Most other nations that have developed reconnaissance aircraft generally used modified versions of standard bomber, fighter, and other types.
The United States has, of course also operated reconnaissance variants of aircraft initially designed for other purposes, as the list below demonstrates.
[32] Several F-5G-6s that survived post-war disposal had their camera nose sections further modified by civilian aerial survey operators.
O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Broncos were Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft of the Vietnam War, retired in the late 1970s, replaced by the OA-10A version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Post-1962 designations This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
RF-4C Phantom II photo of Zweibrücken Air Base, West Germany, photographed on September 18, 1979
O-57 Grasshopper at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
A de Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI (F-8) of the 654th BS,
Eighth Air Force
at RAF Watton, 1944
North American B-25D (F-10) Mitchell photographic reconnaissance and
mapping
aircraft
North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang (F-6C) Serial No 42-103368 of the 15th TRS at St. Dizler Airfield, France, Autumn 1944. This aircraft was flown by Captain John H. Hoefker, who used it to shoot down three enemy aircraft in June 1944.
North American RB-45C-5-NA Tornado 48-033, 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
Boeing RB-47E Stratojet reconnaissance bomber
Boeing RB-50F Serial No 47-144, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
RB-57As of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1954
North American RF-100A-10-NA Super Sabre 53-1551. Used by Detachment 1 of 7407th Support Sqn of 7499th Support Group. Crashed near Neidenbach, West Germany Oct 1, 1956. Pilot ejected safely.
Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer Serial No 54-0419, 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1965
Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F-CF 63-13291, 7407th Combat Support Squadron, Rhein-Main AB, West Germany. Aircraft retired to AMARC as BM0106 on May 30, 1974.
