90th Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 90th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with First Air Force
, based at Niagara Falls Airport, New York. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
(MTO).
The 90th's subordinate units reconnoitered airdromes, roads, marshalling yards, and harbors in Italy after the Allied landings at Salerno in September 1943. They also flew missions to Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the Balkans. In addition, these units flew some photographic missions at night using specially equipped B-17 and B-25 aircraft. In January 1944, they covered the Anzio area and continued to support the Fifth Army in its drive through Italy by determining troop movements, gun positions, and terrain. The 90th's units last flew reconnaissance missions in connection with the invasion of southern France in August 1944. After transfer of its tactical groups on 1 October 1944, the wing aided in establishing a photo library for use in the European
and Mediterranean
theaters of operation.
Activated in the Reserves
at Niagara Falls, New York, from December 1946 to June 1949; in April 1948 it was redesignated as a division.
, 1943–1944;
F-5 Lightning (photo-recon)
, 1943–1944;
B-17 Flying Fortress, 1944;
B-25 Mitchell
, 1944;
F-8 Mosquito (photo-recon)
, 1944.
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 First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, based at Niagara Falls Airport, New York. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
History
The 90th Air Division was primarily a World War II Photo-Reconnaissance command and control organization, assigned to the Mediterranean Theater of OperationsMediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
(MTO).
The 90th's subordinate units reconnoitered airdromes, roads, marshalling yards, and harbors in Italy after the Allied landings at Salerno in September 1943. They also flew missions to Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the Balkans. In addition, these units flew some photographic missions at night using specially equipped B-17 and B-25 aircraft. In January 1944, they covered the Anzio area and continued to support the Fifth Army in its drive through Italy by determining troop movements, gun positions, and terrain. The 90th's units last flew reconnaissance missions in connection with the invasion of southern France in August 1944. After transfer of its tactical groups on 1 October 1944, the wing aided in establishing a photo library for use in the European
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
and Mediterranean
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II
The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...
theaters of operation.
Activated in the Reserves
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
at Niagara Falls, New York, from December 1946 to June 1949; in April 1948 it was redesignated as a division.
Lineage
- Established as 90 Photographic Wing, Reconnaissance on 11 October 1943
- Activated on 22 November 1943
- Redesignated 90 Reconnaissance Wing on 23 June 1945
- Inactivated on 23 October 1945
- Activated in the Reserve on 20 December 1946
- Redesignated 90 Air Division, Reconnaissance on 16 April 1948
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Assignments
- Twelfth Air Force, 22 November 1943
- Army Air Forces, 10 April – 23 October 1945
- Attached to: 311 Photographic Wing, Mapping and Charting311th Air DivisionThe 311th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, being stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas...
, 23 April – 1 June 1945- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 20 December 1946 – 27 June 1949
- First Air Force
Components
- 3d Photographic Group3d Reconnaissance GroupThe 3d Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twelfth Air Force, based at Pomigliano, Italy. It was inactivated on 12 September 1945-History:...
, Reconnaissance: c. 15 August 1943 – 1 October 1944 - 5th Photographic Group, Reconnaissance: 22 November 1943 – 1 October 1944
- 26th Reconnaissance Group: 23 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 65th Reconnaissance Group: 17 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron32d Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 32d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , based at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. It was deactivated on 1 January 1976....
, 20 April – 15 November 1944
Stations
- La Marsa Airfield, Tunisia, 22 November 1943
- San Severo Airfield, Italy, 14 December 1943-c. 4 April 1945
- Buckley Field, 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...
, c. 23 April – 23 October 1945 - Niagara Falls Airport, New York, 20 December 1946 – 27 June 1949
Aircraft
F-4 Lightning (photo-recon)P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, 1943–1944;
F-5 Lightning (photo-recon)
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, 1943–1944;
B-17 Flying Fortress, 1944;
B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1944;
F-8 Mosquito (photo-recon)
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, 1944.