8th Reconnaissance Group

8th Reconnaissance Group
Active	1943-1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Force
Role	Reconnaissance
Part of	Tenth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	China Burma India Theater of World War II
Engagements	Burma Campaign 1944-1945

The 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.

History

Lineage

• Constituted as 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 15 Sep 1943

Activated on 1 Oct 1943

Redesignated 8th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945

Inactivated on 5 Nov 1945

Disbanded on 6 Mar 1947

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 1 Oct 1943-12 Feb 1944
• Tenth Air Force, 31 Mar 1944-7 Oct 1945
• Army Service Forces, 3-5 Nov 1945

Components

• 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 25 Apr 1944-7 Oct 1945

Karachi Airport, India, 24 Jul 1942

Flight at Kunming Airport, China, Nov 1942-12 Jul 1943

Detachment thereof operating from Kweilin Airfield, China, c. Feb-12 Jul 1943

Chakulia Airfield, India, 30 Nov 1942

Detachment operated from Dinjan Airfield, India, 18 Mar-Jul 1943

Pandaveswar Airfield, India, 3 Jan 1943

Detachment operated from Dinjan Airfield, India, Sep 1943-20 May 1944

Barrackpore Airfield, India, 29 Oct 1943

Detachment operated from Tingkawk Sakan Airfield, Burma, 16 Aug-30 Nov 1944

Detachment operated from Myitkyina Airfield, Burma, 27 Nov-c. 5 Dec 1944

Detachment Operated from Chittagong Airfield, India, c. 9 Oct-21 Dec 1944

Myitkyina Airfield, Burma, c. 5 Dec 1944

Piardoba Airfield, India, c. 1 May 1945

Malir Airfield, India, Oct-c. 14 Nov 1945

• 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 25 Apr 1944-7 Oct 1945

Guskhara Airfield, India, 5 Jan 1944

Flight operated from Kisselbari Airfield, India, after 6 Mar 1944

Kisselbari Airfield, India, 26 Mar 1944

Operated from Dinjan Airfield, India, 1 May-20 Jun 1944

Detachment thereof operating from Tingkawk Sakan Airfield, Burma, after 21 May 1944

Operated primarily from Tingkawk Sakan Airfield, Burma, 21 Jun-c. l0 Nov 1944

Detachment thereof operating from Myitkyina Airfield, Burma, 10 Jul-c. 25 Aug 1944

Operated primarily from Myitkyina Airfield, Burma, c. 9 Nov 1944

Flight operated from Akyab Airfield, Burma, 12 Apr-22 May 1945

Nagaghuli Airfield, India, C. 20 Apr 1945

Dergaon Airfield, India, 9 Jul 1945

Piardoba Airfield, India, Sep-Nov 1945

• 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 25 Apr 1944-7 Oct 1945

• 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 18 Jul 1944-7 Oct 1945

Stations

Headquarters:

• Peterson Field, Colorado, 1 Oct 1943
• Gainesville Army Airfield, Texas, 26 Oct 1943-12 Feb 1944
• Bally Airfield, India, 31 Mar 1944-7 Oct 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 3-5 Nov 1945

Component Squadrons and Flights were stationed at numerous airfields in India, Burma and China (See above)

Aircraft

• F-4 (P-38 Lightning), 1944-1945
• F-5 (P-51 Mustang), 1944-1945
• F-7 B-25 Mitchell, 1945
• P-40 Warhawk

Operational history

Organized at Peterson Field, Colorado in October 1943, then trained to provide photographic intelligence for air and ground forces at Gainesville AAF, Texas.

Moved to India, Feb-Mar 1944 and assigned to Tenth Air Force. Equipped with F-5, F-6, and F7aircraft. Conducted photographic reconnaissance, photographic - mapping, and visual-reconnaissance missions. Produced maps, mosaics, terrain models, and target charts of areas in Burma, China French Indochina, and Thailand. Also bombed and strafed enemy installations and provided escort for bombardment units. Redesignated 8th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945.

Returned to the US, Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on 5 Nov 1945

References

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

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