7th Reconnaissance Group
Encyclopedia
The 7th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe
at the Hitcham Air Depot
, England. It was inactivated on 21 November 1945
Prior to June 1944, photographed airfields, cities, industrial establishments, and ports in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Received a DUC for operations during the period, 31 May – 30 June 1944, when its coverage of bridges, marshalling yards, canals, highways, rivers, and other targets contributed much to the success of the Normandy campaign.
Covered missile sites in France during Jul, and in Aug carried out photographic mapping missions for ground forces advancing across France. Provided reconnaissance support for the airborne attack on Holland in Sep and for the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944– January 1945. Used P-51's to escort its own reconnaissance planes during the last months of the war as the group supported the Allied drive across the Rhine and into Germany. Took part in the final bomb- damage assessment following V–E Day
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
at the Hitcham Air Depot
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
, England. It was inactivated on 21 November 1945
History
- Constituted as 7th Photographic Group on 5 February 1943
- Activated on 1 May 1943
- Redesignated 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943
- Redesignated 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in November 1943
- Redesignated 7th Reconnaissance Group in June 1945
- Inactivated in England on 21 November 1945
- Disbanded on 6 March 1947.
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 1 May 1943 - VIII Air Service Command, 7 July 1943
- 325th Photographic Wing, Reconnaissance, 9 August 1944
- Redesignated 325th Reconnaissance Wing325th Air DivisionThe 325th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fourth Air Force, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California...
on 26 June 1945- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 16 July – 21 November 1945
- United States Air Forces in Europe
Components
- 13th Reconnaissance Squadron13th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 13th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 940th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.-Mission:...
: 1943–1945 - 74th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1943–1945
- 22nd Reconnaissance Squadron22nd Reconnaissance SquadronThe 22nd Reconnaissance Squadron was a part of the 8th Air Force 7th Photographic Group that was activated in 1942 and based at Mount Farm England between 1943 and 1945.-Peterson Field:...
: : 1943–1945 - 27th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1943–1945
- 28th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1943
- 29th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1943
- 30th Reconnaissance Squadron30th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 30th Reconnaissance Squadron is reconnaissance test squadron assigned to the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada...
: 1943
Stations
- Peterson FieldPeterson FieldPeterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 1 May – 7 July 1943 - RAF Mount FarmRAF Mount FarmRAF Mount Farm is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located three miles north of Dorchester, Oxfordshire.-USAAF use:Mount Farm was originally a satellite airfield for the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson. The airfield was originally a grass field, but...
, England, 7 July 1943 - RAF Chalgrove, England, March 1945
- Hitcham Air DepotRAF WattishamRAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
, England, October-21 November 1945
Operations
Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to England on 7 July 1943 and assigned to Eighth AF. Used Spitfires and L-5's to obtain information about bombardment targets and damage inflicted by bombardment operations; provide mapping service for air and ground units; observe and report on enemy transportation, installations, and positions; and obtain data on weather conditions.Prior to June 1944, photographed airfields, cities, industrial establishments, and ports in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Received a DUC for operations during the period, 31 May – 30 June 1944, when its coverage of bridges, marshalling yards, canals, highways, rivers, and other targets contributed much to the success of the Normandy campaign.
Covered missile sites in France during Jul, and in Aug carried out photographic mapping missions for ground forces advancing across France. Provided reconnaissance support for the airborne attack on Holland in Sep and for the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944– January 1945. Used P-51's to escort its own reconnaissance planes during the last months of the war as the group supported the Allied drive across the Rhine and into Germany. Took part in the final bomb- damage assessment following V–E Day