74th Reconnaissance Group

History

The uniit was first activated at Lawson Field, Georgia in February 1942 as the 74th Observation Group, shortly after the United States entered into World War II. However, the group's first operational squadrons, the 11th, the newly activated 13th, and the 22d Observation Squadrons were not assigned until the following month. The unit flew reconnaissance, mapping, artillery adjustment, bombing, dive bombing, and strafing missions to support ground units in training or on maneuvers. It trained personnel in aerial reconnaissance, medium bombardment, and fighter techniques throughout the war until it was inactivated in November 1945.

The group was reactivated in the reserves in 1946 at Stewart Field (later Stewart Air Force Base), New York. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949

Lineage

Constituted as 74th Observation Group on 5 February 1942

Activated on 27 February 1942Redesignated as 74th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943Redesignated as 74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group oon 11 August 1943Inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Redesignated 74th Reconnaissance Group, allotted to the reserve, and activated, on 27 December 1946

Inactivated on 27 June 1949.

Components

5th Observation Squadron (later 5th Liaison Squadron): 8 Aug 1942 - 25 Jan 1943; 2 Apr 1943 - 11 August 1943 (attached 11 August 1943 - 15 Sep 1943)

8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 July 1945 - 7 November 1945

11th Observation Squadron (later 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 21 March 1942 – 7 November 1945

13th Observation Squadron (later 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, 13th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 2 March 1942 – 7 November 1945

21st Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 October 1947 – 27 June 1949

22d Observation Squadron (later 22d Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 12 March 1942– 29 January 1945

22d Reconnaissance Squadron: 23 October 1947 – 27 June 1949

31st Reconnaissance Squadron (later 33d Reconnaissance Squadron): 13 November 1947– 27 June 1949

28th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 36th Photographic Mapping Squadron): 21 October 1943 – 29 March 1944

101st Bombardment Photographic Squadron: 29 January 1945 - 7 November 1945

Assignments

5th Air Support Command, 27 February 1942

3d Air Support Command (later III Ground Air Support Command, III Air Support Command), ca. April 1942

IV Air Support Command, 28 December 1942

III Reconnaissance Command (later III Tactical Air Command), ca. September 1943

XIX Tactical Air Command, 25 October 1945 - 7 November 1945

91st Reconnaissance Wing (later 91st Air Division), 27 December 1946 – 27 June 1949

Stations

Lawson Field, Georgia, 27 February 1942

DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana, C. 14 April 1942

Esler Field, Louisiana, c. 13 December 1942

Desert Center Army Air Field, California, c. 28 December 1942

Morris Field, North Carolina, September 1943

Camp Campbell AAF, Kentucky, November 1943

DeRidder Army Air Field, Louisiana, April 1944

Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas, February-7 November 1945

Stewart Field, New York, 27 December 1946 – 27 June 1949.

Aircraft

A-26, 1945

B-18, 1942-1943

F-6 (P-51), 1945

F-10 (B-25), 1944-1945

L-1, 1942-1943

L-3, 1942-1943

L-4, 1942-1943

L-5, 1944-1945

L-6, 1942-1943

O-52, 1942-1943

P-39, 1943

P-40, 1943-1944

P-43, 1942-1943

Sources Equipped at various times withA-20's,

Awards

American Theater of World War II