4th Reconnaissance Group

The 4th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group was a World War II United States Army Air Force unit. It was assigned to Thirteenth Air Force in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

History

The unit was constituted as 4th Photographic Group on 14 July 1942 and activated on 23 July. Trained for overseas duty with F-4's (P-38s).

Operational squadrons

* 17th Photographic Reconnaissance (1942-46)
* 18th Photographic Reconnaissance (1942-46)
* 19th Photographic Reconnaissance (1942-46)
* 20th Photographic Reconnaissance (1942-46)
* 38th Photographic Reconnaissance (1942-46)

Stations

* Colorado Springs AAFd., Colorado (July - October 1942)
* New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands (November 1942 - January 1943)
* Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides (January 1943 - May 1944)
* Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands (May - December 1944)
* Morotai, Maluku Islands (December 1944 - September 1945)
* Leyte, Philippines (September 1945 - January 1946)

Operational history

Moved to the South Pacific late in 1942. Assigned to Thirteenth Air Force in January 1943. Redesignated 4thPhotographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Nov 1943, and 4th Reconnaissance Group in May 1945.

From December 1942 to May 1945 the group, based successively on New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, and Morotai, flew reconnaissance missions over enemy territory to supply air force units with target and damage assessment photographs and to provide army and navy units with intelligence on Japanese troop concentrations, installations, shore defenses, supply routes, and shipping. It also produced maps of Allied and enemy-held territory and prepared navigation charts for US units.

During the last three months of the war the group photographed Japanese positions and installations on Mindanao and Borneo to aid US and Australian operations.

Moved to Leyte in September 1945. Inactivated on 15 January 1946. Disbanded on 6 March 1947.

Campaigns: New Guinea, Western Pacific, Leyte, Southern Philippines, Bismarck Archipelago, Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons.

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

See Also