3rd Reconnaissance Group

3d Reconnaissance Group
Emblem of the 3d Reconnaissance Group
Active	1942-1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Force
Type	Reconnaissance
Engagements	World War II

The 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

Lineage

• Constituted as 3d Photographic Group on 9 Jun 1942 and activated on zo Jun

Redesignated 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943

Redesignated 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Nov 1943

Redesignated 3d Reconnaissance Group in May 1945

Inactivated in Italy on 12 Sep 1945

Disbanded on 6 Mar 1947.

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 20 Jun 1942
• Eighth Air Force, 8 Sep 1942
• Twelfth Air Force, 10 Dec 1942-12 Sep 1945

Components

• 5rh Reconnaissance Squadron: 1942-1945
• 12th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1942-1945
• 13th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1942-1943
• 14th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1942-1943
• 15th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1942-1944
• 23d Reconnaissance Squadron: 1944-1945.

Stations

• Colorado Springs, Colo, 20 Jun-13 Aug 1942
• RAF Membury, England, 8 Sep 1942
• RAF Steeple Morden, England, 26 Oct-22 Nov 1942
• La Senia, Algeria, 10 Dec 1942
• Algiers, Algeria, 25 Dec 1942
• La Marsa, Tunisia, 13 Jun 1943
• San Severo, Italy, 8 Dec 1943
• Pomigliano, Italy 4 Jan 1944
• Nettuno, Italy, 16 Jun 1944
• Viterbo, Italy, 26 Jun 1944
• Corsica, c. 14 Jul 1944
• Rosia, Italy, C. Sep 1944
• Florence, Italy, 17 Jan 1945
• Pomigliano, Italy, 26 Aug-12 Sep 1945

Aircraft

• F-4 and F-5 Lightning, 1942-1945

Operations

Provided photo¬graphic intelligence that assisted the cam¬paigns for Tunisia, Pantelleria, Sardinia, and Sicily. Reconnoitered airdromes, roads, marshalling yards, and harbors both before and after the Allied landings at Salerno. Covered the Anzio area early in 1944 and continued to support Fifth Army in its drive through Italy by determining troop movements, gun positions, and ter¬rain. Flew reconnaissance missions in connection with the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944. Received a DUC for a mission on 28 Aug 1944 when the group provided photographic intelligence that assisted the rapid advance of Allied ground forces. Also mapped areas in France and the Balkans

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency