List of United States Army Air Forces reconnaissance units
Encyclopedia
This is a list of United States Army Air Forces
reconnaissance units, primarily operating during World War II. The subsequent United States Air Force
unit lineage is noted where applicable.
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
reconnaissance units, primarily operating during World War II. The subsequent United States Air Force
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 lineage is noted where applicable.
Groups
- 1st Photographic Group1st Photographic GroupThe 1st Photographic Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado. It was inactivated on 5 October 1944.-History:...
- May 1941-Oct 1944
- HQ USAAF; 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....
(ZI) - Operated F-2 (C-45), F-3 (A-20), F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-17), F-10 (B-25), A-29, and B-18
- Squadrons deployed Worldwide Photo-Mapping
- 2d Reconnaissance Group2d Reconnaissance GroupThe 2d Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Third Air Force, being stationed at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944....
- Constituted as 2d Photographic Group
- May 1942-May 1944
- 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....
(ZI); Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-5 (P-38), F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-17)
- Operational Training Unit
- 3d Reconnaissance 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:...
- Constituted as 3d Photographic Group
- Jun 1942-Mar 1947
- Twelfth Air Force (MTO)
- Operated F-4/F-5 (P-38)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 4th Reconnaissance Group4th Reconnaissance GroupThe 4th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Thirteenth Air Force and was stationed at Clark Field, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 January 1946....
- Constituted as 4th Photographic Group
- Jul 1942-Jan 1946
- Thirteenth Air ForceThirteenth Air ForceThe Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
(South, Southwest Pacific) - Operated F-5 (P-38), F-10 (B-25)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 5th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 5th Photographic Group
- Jul 1942-Oct 1945
- Twelfth Air Force; Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
(MTO) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-4 (P-38), F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-17), F-10 (B-25)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 6th Reconnaissance Group6th Reconnaissance GroupThe 6th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force, stationed at Irumagawa Air Base, Japan...
- Constituted as 6th Photographic Group
- Feb 1943-Apr 1946
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
(Southwest Pacific) - Operated F-4/F-5 (P-38), F-7 (B-24), B-26
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 7th Reconnaissance Group7th Reconnaissance GroupThe 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...
- Constituted as 7th Photographic Group
- May 1943-Nov 1945
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
(ETO) - Operated Spitfire PR XI, P-51 (Escorts)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 8th Reconnaissance Group8th Reconnaissance GroupThe 8th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last duty station was at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945....
- Sep 1943-Nov 1945
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(CBI) - Operated F-5 (P-38), F-6 (P-51), F-7 (B-24), P-40 (Escorts)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 9th Reconnaissance Group9th Reconnaissance GroupThe 9th Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 6 May 1944....
- Sep 1943-May 1944
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-4 (P-38), F-5 (P-51) F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-17)
- Operational Training Unit
- 10th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 73d Observation Group
- Sep 1941-Jun 1948
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(ETO) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-5 (P-38), F-6 (P-51)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- Resesignated as USAF 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group10th Tactical Reconnaissance GroupThe 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany...
, Jun 1948
- 11th Photographic Group11th Photographic GroupThe 11th Photographic Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida...
- Nov 1943-Oct 1944
- HQ USAAF (ZI)
- Squadrons deployed Worldwide
- Squadrons deployed Worldwide Photo-Mapping; Combat Photo-Reconnaissance in CBI
- Operated F-2 (C-45), F-3 (A-20), F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-17), F-10 (B-25), F-13 (B-29)
- 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance)
- Jul 1944-Sep 1945
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
(ETO) - Operated Mosquito F-8-DH. Mosquito PR Mk XVI, F-5/P-38, F-7/B-24, F-9/B-17, F-10/B-25, B-26G Marauder (Night Reconnaissance)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance, Weather Reconnaissance, Electronic Counter-Measures
- Established as USAF 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing25th Tactical Reconnaissance WingThe 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
, July 1965
- 26th Reconnaissance Group
- Aug 1941-Nov 1943; Dec 1946-Jun 1949
- 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....
; Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI); Air Force Reserve - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2
- Operational Training Unit
- Established as USAF 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, May 1952
- 59th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 59th Observation Group
- 1941-1942;1943-1944
- 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....
; Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated Light Observation Aircraft, P-39F-2
- Coastal patrols, Operational Training Unit
- 65th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 65th Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Oct 1942; Mar-Aug 1943;Dec 1946-Jun 1949
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI); Air Force Reserve - Operated Light Observation Aircraft, F-10 (B-25)
- Coastal patrols, Operational Training Unit
- 66th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 66th Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Apr 1944; Dec 1946-May 1951
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI); Air Force Reserve - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2, P-40
- Operational Training Unit
- Reactivated as USAF 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group66th Tactical Reconnaissance GroupThe 66th Air Base Group is a non-flying United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Electronic Systems Center. It is stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
, Jan 1953
- 67th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 67th Observation Group
- Sep 1941-Mar 1946
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
; Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(ETO) - Operated F-5 (P-38), F-6 (P-51), P-51 (Escorts)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- Reactivated as USAF 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Jun 1948
- 68th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 68th Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Jun 1944; Mar 1947-Jun 1949
- Twelfth Air Force (MTO); Air Force Reserve
- Operated Spitfire PR XI, F-3 (A-20), F-5 (P-38), F-6 (P-51), F-7 (B-24), F-9 (B-27), A-36, P-39F-2
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- Reactivated as USAF 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Oct 1951
- 69th Reconnaissance Group69th Reconnaissance GroupThe 69th Reconnaissance Group is an active United States Air Force unit. Its a unit which is part of Air Combat Command stationed at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota...
- Constituted as 69th Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Jul 1946
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(ETO) - Operated Mosquito PR Mk XVI, F-3 (A-20), F-5 (P-38), F-6 (P-51), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2, P-40
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 70th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 70th Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Nov 1943; Mar 1947-Jun 1949
- 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....
(ZI); Air Force Reserve - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2
- Operational Training Unit
- 71st Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 71st Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Feb 1946; Feb 1947-Apr 1949
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
(Southwest Pacific); Far East Air Forces (Occ Japan) - Operated F-5 (P-38), F-10 (B-25)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 72d Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 72d Observation Group
- Aug 1941-Nov 1943; May 1947-Jun 1949
- Sixth Air Force (Caribbean); Air Force Reserve
- Operated B-18
- Antisubmarine Patrols, Photo-Mapping
- 74th Reconnaissance Group74th Reconnaissance GroupThe 74th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Continental Air Forces, based at Stewart AFB, New York.-History:...
- Constituted as 74th Observation Group
- Feb 1942-Nov 1945; Dec 1946-Jun 1949
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI); Air Force Reserve - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-6 (P-51), F-10 (B-25), P-40
- Operational Training Unit
- 75th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 75th Observation Group
- Feb 1942-May 1944
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), F-6 (P-51), P-39F-2, P-40
- Operational Training Unit
- Established as 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in May 1966
- 76th Reconnaissance Group76th Reconnaissance GroupThe 76th Reconnaissance Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces organization. It served primarily in the American Theatre.The unit was constituted on 5 February 1942 and activated on 27 February. The group was a Third Air Force training unit for Reconnaissance and Observation...
- Constituted as 76th Observation Group
- Feb 1942-Apr 1944
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2, P-40
- Operational Training Unit
- 77th Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 77th Observation Group
- Feb 1942-Nov 1943
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI); Detachment in India, Feb-Jul 1943 - Operated F-3 (A-20), F-10 (B-25), P-39F-2, P-40
- Operational Training Unit: Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- 308th Reconnaissance Group (Weather)
- Oct 1946-Jan 1951
- Air Weather Service (MATS)
- Operated WB-29
- Weather Reconnaissance
- 363d Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 363d Fighter Group
- Sep 1944-Dec 1945; Jul 1946-Jun 1948
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(ETO) - Operated F-5 (F-5), F-6, (P-51)
- Combat Photo-Reconnaissance
- Redesignated as USAF 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Jun 1951
- 376th Reconnaissance Group
- May 1947-Sep 1948
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
- Operated WB-29
- Weather Reconnaissance
- 423d Reconnaissance Group423d Reconnaissance GroupThe 423d Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at DeRidder Army Airbase, Louisiana. It was inactivated on 15 August 1943....
- Constituted as 423d Observation Group
- Mar-Apr 1943
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Operated F-5 (F-38), F-6, (P-51)
- Operational Training Unit
- 424th Reconnaissance Group424th Reconnaissance GroupThe 424th Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at DeRidder Army Airbase, Louisiana. It was inactivated on 15 August 1943....
- Constituted as 424th Observation Group
- Mar-Apr 1943
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Not fully organized, disbanded
- 426th Reconnaissance Group426th Reconnaissance GroupThe 426th Reconnaissance Groupis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force, based at Gainesville Army Airfield, Texas. It was inactivated on 15 August 1943....
- Jul-Aug 1943
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(ZI) - Not fully organized, disbanded
- 432d Reconnaissance Group
- Constituted as 432d Observation Group
- Feb-Nov 1943
- Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (ZI)
- Operated F-5 (F-5), F-6, (P-51), P-39F-2
- Operational Training Unit
- Reactivated as USAF 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Jan 1954
Wings
- 90th Reconnaissance Wing
- Oct 1943-Oct 1945
- Twelfth Air Force (MTO); Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
(MTO) - Reactivated as USAF 90th Air Division90th Air DivisionThe 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...
(Reconnaissance), Apr 1948-Jun 1949
- 91st Reconnaissance Wing
- Oct 1943-Jan 1946
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
(Southwest Pacific) - Reactivated as USAF 91st Air Division (Reconnaissance), Apr 1948-Jun 1949
- 311th Reconnaissance Wing
- Jan 1944-Apr 1948
- HQ USAAF
- Units deployed Worldwide
- Redesignated as USAF 311th Air Division311th 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...
(Reconnaissance), Apr 1948-Nov 1949
- 325th Reconnaissance Wing
- Aug 1944-Oct 1945
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
(ETO) - Redesignated as USAF 325th Air Division325th 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...
(Reconnaissance), Apr 1948-Jun 1949