1st Photographic Group
Encyclopedia
The 1st Photographic Group is an inactive 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. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

. It was inactivated on 5 October 1944.

History

Established in mid-1941 as a GHQ Air Force aerial mapping and reconnaissance group based at Bolling Field. Mission was to conduct long-range photo reconnaissance after the pattern developed by the British. Each of the four initial assigned squadrons of the group (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th) was assigned to one of the four continental air forces (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th).

The unit almost no opportunity for training because each of its squadrons was busily engaged in carrying out mapping missions for hemisphere defense. The Photographic Squadrons were largely equipped with short-range second-line aircraft from the 1930s. Not until the end of 1942 were the first modern aircraft, B-25 (F-10) Mitchells, were assigned to observation groups

Long-range reconnaissance squadrons were established as part of combat bombardment groups in the Continental United States as well as the Caribbean and in Hawaii. These squadrons were associated with the 1st Photographic Group for crew training in aerial photography and reconnaissance. These bomber reconnaissance squadrons were designed to provide a long-range reconnaissance capability with each group. However with the entry of the United States into World War II after the Pearl Harbor Attack, these units could no longer serve as both reconnaissance training and photo-mapping squadrons. The bombers were needed for combat bombing missions more than for reconnaissance. In April 1942 these squadrons were absorbed by those groups and were redesignated as bombardment squadrons.

During World War II, the group charted and mapped areas of the United States and sent detachments to perform similar functions in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

, Mexico, Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and South America, and the Kurils. Inactivated in late 1944.

Lineage

  • Constituted as 1st Photographic Group on 15 May 1941
Activated on 10 June 1941
Redesignated 1st Mapping Group in January 1942
Redesignated 1st Photographic Charting Group in August 1943
Disbanded on 5 October 1944

Assignments

  • General Headquarters Air Force, 10 Jun 1941
Redesignated Air Force Combat Command, 20 Jun 1941
  • Second Air Force
    Second Air Force
    The 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....

    , 13 Oct 1942
  • 311th Photographic Wing, 5 Mar – 5 Oct 1944

Squadrons

Assigned Photographic Squadrons
  • 1st Photographic Squadron
    1st Reconnaissance Squadron (World War II)
    The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force. It was inactivated at Clark Field, Philippines on 10 March 1947.-History:...

    : 10 Jun 1941 – 1 Dec 1943
Attached to Headquarters, 1st (later First) Air Force, 10 Jun 1941 – 13 Oct 1942
  • 2d Photographic Squadron: 10 Jun 1941 – 5 Oct 1944
Attached to Headquarters, 2d (later Second) Air Force, 10 Jun 1941 – 13 Oct 1942
  • 3d Photographic Squadron: 10 Jun 1941 – 1 Dec 1943
Attached to Headquarters, 3d (later Third) Air Force, 10 Jun 1941 – 13 Oct 1942
  • 4th Photographic Squadron
    4th Space Operations Squadron
    The United States Air Force's 4th Space Operations Squadron is a satellite operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado...

    : 10 Jun 1941 – 5 Oct 1944.
Attached to Headquarters, 4th (later Fourth) Air Force, 10 Jun 1941 – 13 Oct 1942

  • 6th Photographic Squadron
    6th Photographic Squadron
    The 6th Photographic Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing. It was inactivated at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on 1 January 1945.-History:...

    : 13 Nov 1943 – 5 Oct 1944
  • 19th Photographic Squadron
    19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
    The 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. During World War II and the Cold War, its primary mission was aerial reconnaissance and photo mapping, later it performed electronic warfare missions during the Vietnam War.-World War II:The 19th...

    : 11 Aug – 1 Dec 1943
  • 91st Photographic Squadron
    91st Network Warfare Squadron
    The 91st Network Warfare Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, currently assigned to the 67th Network Warfare Wing at Kelly Annex, part of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.-Overview:...

    : 9 Oct 1943 – 5 Oct 1944


Associated 1st Air Force (later I Bomber Command) Reconnaissance Squadrons (all stationed at Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

)

  • 1st Reconnaissance (later 391st Bombardment) Squadron
B-17D Flying Fortress
34th Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 13th Reconnaissance (later 403d Bombardment) Squadron
B-17D Flying Fortress; B-18 Bolo; A-29 Hudson
43d Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942


  • 18th Reconnaissance (later 408th Bombardment) Squadron
Martin B-10 (1936); B-18 Bolo (1937); B-25 Mitchell (1941); B-26 Marauder (1941)
22d Bombardment Group, 1 Sep 1936 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 41st Reconnaissance (later 429th Bombardment) Squadron
Martin B-10; B-17D Flying Fortress; B-18 Bolo
2d Bombardment Group, 1 Feb 1940 – 22 Apr 1942


These units were assigned to antisubmarine patrols along the Atlantic coast and convoy patrol duty over the North Atlantic shipping lanes in the immediate months after the Pearl Harbor Attack.

Associated 2d Air Force (later II Bomber Command) Reconnaissance Squadrons

  • 12th Reconnaissance (later 402d Bombardment) Squadron
    402d Bombardment Squadron
    The 402d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 502d Bombardment Group. It was last stationed at Northwest Field, Guam, and was inactivated on 15 April 1946.-History:...

B-17D Flying Fortress
39th Bombardment Group, Fort Douglas
Fort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...

, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942


  • 16th Reconnaissance (later 406th Bombardment) Squadron
    906th Air Refueling Squadron
    The 906th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.-Mission:The 906 ARS operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...

B-17D Flying Fortress
42d Bombardment Group, Fort Douglas
Fort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...

, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942


  • Established as bomber reconnaissance squadrons in early 1942, but not activated or trained:


9th Reconnaissance (later 399th Bombardment) Squadron
99th Air Refueling Squadron
The 99th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at Birmingham Air National Guard Base, Alabama. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...

23d Reconnaissance (later 413th Bombardment) Squadron
413th Flight Test Squadron
The 413th Flight Test Squadron is part of the 46th Test Wing and is based at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It performs flight testing on C-130 Hercules, MH-53 Pave Low, UH-1 Iroquois, and HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft.-Overview:...

29th Reconnaissance (later 419th Bombardment) Squadron
419th Flight Test Squadron
The 419th Flight Test Squadron is part of the 412th Test Wing and is based at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It performs flight testing on B-1 Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and EA-6B Prowler aircraft as well as Advanced Cruise Missiles.-History:Established as...

30th Reconnaissance (later 420th Bombardment) Squadron
420th Bombardment Squadron
The 420th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 382d Bombardment Group stationed at Camp Anza, California. It was inactivated on 4 January 1946.-History:...


33d Reconnaissance (later 422d Bombardment) Squadron
422d Bombardment Squadron
The 422d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 305th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. It was inactivated on 15 February 1961-History:...

34th Reconnaissance (later 423d Bombardment) Squadron
423d Bombardment Squadron
The 423d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 306th Bombardment Wing stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.-History:Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb group in early 1942...

35th Reconnaissance (later 424th Bombardment) Squadron
424th Bombardment Squadron
The 424th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 307th Bombardment Wing, based at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska. It was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...

36th Reconnaissance (later 425th Bombardment) Squadron
425th Bombardment Squadron
The 375th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 308th Bombardment Wing stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.-History:...


Associated 3d Air Force (later III Bomber Command) Reconnaissance Squadrons

  • 14th Reconnaissance (later 404th Bombardment) Squadron
B-24A/LB-30B Liberator
44th Bombardment Group, MacDill Field, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 15th Reconnaissance (later 405th Bombardment) Squadron
B-18 Bolo; B-26 Marauder
38th Bombardment Group
38th Bombardment Group
The 38th Bombardment Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was most recently assigned as the operational component of the 38th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, where it was inactivated on 8 December 1957.During World War II the 38th Bomb Group...

, Jackson Army Air Base, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942


  • 21st Reconnaissance (later 411th Bombardment) Squadron
    911th Air Refueling Squadron
    The 911th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The squadron is geographically separated from the 6th AMW and operates as the active duty associate to the 916th Air Refueling Wing from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North...

B-18 Bolo (1937); B-17C/D Flying Fortress (1939)
29th Bombardment Group
29th Bombardment Group
The 29th Flying Training Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit last based at Craig AFB, Alabama. It was inactivated when Craig AFB was closed as a budget reduction action after the Vietnam War....

, MacDill Field, 1 Sep 1936 – 22 Apr 1942


These units were assigned to antisubmarine patrols along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico s in the immediate months after the Pearl Harbor Attack.
  • Established as bomber reconnaissance squadrons in early 1942, but not activated or trained:


8th Reconnaissance (later 398th Bombardment) Squadron
98th Air Refueling Squadron
The 98th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 92d Operations Group, based at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. It was inactivated on 1 July 1998.-History:...

10th Reconnaissance (later 400th Bombardment) Squadron
400th Missile Squadron
The 400th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 90th Space Wing, based at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and inactivated on 19 September 2005.-History:...

11th Reconnaissance (later 401st Bombardment) Squadron
401st Bombardment Squadron
The 401st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida...

17th Reconnaissance (later 407th Bombardment) Squadron
407th Air Refueling Squadron
The 407th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 42d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. It was inactivated on 1 October 1990-History:...

19th Reconnaissance (later 409th Bombardment) Squadron
909th Air Refueling Squadron
The 909th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-Mission:...

20th Reconnaissance (later 410th Bombardment) Squadron
410th Bombardment Squadron
The 410th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 94th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated at Marietta Air Force Base, Georgia on 20 March 1951-History:...


22d Reconnaissance (later 412th Bombardment) Squadron
912th Air Refueling Squadron
The 912th Air Refueling Squadron is an "Active Associate" organization, a full-time active duty Regular Air Force squadron located with and assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California, while administrative control is maintained by the...

24th Reconnaissance (later 414th Bombardment) Squadron
414th Bombardment Squadron
The 414th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group, stationed at Marcianise Airfield, Italy. It was inactivated on 29 October 1945-History:...

25th Reconnaissance (later 415th Bombardment) Squadron
415th Flight Test Flight
The 415th Flight Test Flight is a squadron of the United States Air Force Reserves. It has been stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, since 1 October 2001....

26th Reconnaissance (later 416th Bombardment) Squadron
416th Flight Test Squadron
The 416th Flight Test Squadron is part of the 412th Test Wing and is based at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It performs flight testing on F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.-History:...

28th Reconnaissance (later 418th Bombardment) Squadron
418th Flight Test Squadron
The 418th Flight Test Squadron is part of the 412th Test Wing and is based at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It performs flight testing on MC-130H Combat Talon II and AC-130U Spooky aircraft.-History:...


Associated 4th Air Force (later IV Bomber Command) Reconnaissance Squadrons

  • 2d Reconnaissance (later 392d Bombardment) Squadron
    92d Air Refueling Squadron
    The 92d Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 92d Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.-Mission:The squadron operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...

B-18 Bolo; B-17C/D Flying Fortress; LB-30B Liberator
30th Bombardment Group, March Field, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942

B-18 Bolo; A-29 Hudson; LB-30B Liberator
41st Bombardment Group
41st Bombardment Group
The 41st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Seventh Air Force stationed at Manila, Philippines. It was inactivated on 27 January 1946....

, March Field, Davis-Monthan Field, 15 Jan 1941 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 19th Reconnaissance (later 434th Bombardment) Squadron
    434th Bombardment Squadron
    The 434th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 12th Bombardment Group, stationed at Fort Lawton, Washington. It was inactivated on 22 January 1946-History:...

B-18 Bolo; B-23 Dragon
12th Bombardment Group, McChord Field, 15 Jan – 14 Aug 1941


  • 38th Reconnaissance (later 427th Bombardment) Squadron
    427th Bombardment Squadron
    The 427th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 303d Bombardment Wing, based at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The unit was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...


Martin B-10; B-18 Bolo; B-17C/D Flying Fortress
19th Bombardment Group, March Field, 1 Sep 1936 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 88th Reconnaissance (later 436th Bombardment) Squadron
Martin B-10; B-18 Bolo; B-17C/D Flying Fortress
7th Bombardment Group, Hamilton Field
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...

; Fort Douglas
Fort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...

, Salt Lake City Army Air Base, 1 Sep 1936 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 89th Reconnaissance (later 432d Bombardment) Squadron
    432d Bombardment Squadron
    The 432d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Group, stationed at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 26 November 1945.-History:Activated during World War I...

B-18 Bolo; B-23 Dragon; B-25 Mitchell
17th Bombardment Group, March Field, McChord Field, Pendleton Army Airfield, 1 Feb 1940 – 22 Apr 1942


  • Established as bomber reconnaissance squadrons in early 1942, but not activated or trained:
37th Reconnaissance (later 426th Bombardment) Squadron
426th Bombardment Squadron
The 426th Bombardment Squadronn is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 309th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 1 May 1944.-History:...

39th Reconnaissance (later 428th Bombardment) Squadron
428th Bombardment Squadron
The 428th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 310th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Shilling Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...



Associated Panama Canal/Puerto Rican Department (later Caribbean Air Force) Reconnaissance Squadrons

  • 5th Reconnaissance (later 395th Bombardment) Squadron
B-18 Bolo
40th Bombardment Group, Borinquen Field, 1 Apr 1941 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 7th Reconnaissance (later 397th Bombardment) Squadron
    397th Bombardment Squadron
    The 397th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the VI Bomber Command, based at Rio Hato Army Air Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1946.-Heraldry:...

Martin B-10; B-18 Bolo; B-17B Flying Fortess
6th Bombardment Group, France Field, Howard Field, 1 Sep 1937 – 22 Apr 1942


B-18 Bolo
25th Bombardment Group, Borinquen Field, 16 Sep 1939 – 22 Apr 1942

  • 44th Reconnaissance (later 430th Bombardment) Squadron
    430th Bombardment Squadron
    The 430th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 502d Bombardment Group, based at Northwest Field, Guam. It was inactivated on 15 April 1946.-History:...

B-18 Bolo
6th Bombardment Group, France Field, Howard Field, 1 Sep 1937 – 22 Apr 1942

Associated Hawaiian Air Force (later 7th Air Force) Reconnaissance Squadrons
  • 4th Reconnaissance (later 394th Bombardment) Squadron
B-18 Bolo; B-17C/D Flying Fortress; Re-equipped with LB-30B Liberators after Pearl Harbor Attack
5th Composite (later Bombardment) Group, Hickam Field, 25 Jan 1938 – 22 Apr 1942

Martin B-12; B-18 Bolo; B-17C/D Flying Fortress; Re-equipped with B-17E Flying Fortresses after Pearl Harbor Attack
11th Bombardment Group, Hickam Field, 25 Jan 1938 – 22 Apr 1942

Stations

  • Bolling Field
    Bolling Air Force Base
    Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...

    , Washington, D.C., 10 Jun 1941
  • Peterson Field
    Peterson Field
    Peterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...

    , Colorado
    Colorado
    Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

    , 23 Dec 1943
  • Buckley Field, Colorado
    Colorado
    Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

    , 2 July – 5 Oct 1944.

Aircraft

  • B-18 Bolo
    B-18 Bolo
    The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....

     (1941–1943)
  • A-29 Hudson (1941–1943)
  • B-17 Flying Fortress (1941–1942)
  • B-24 Liberator
    B-24 Liberator
    The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...

     (1941–1942)
  • A-20/F-3A Havoc (1941–1944)
  • B-25/F-10 Mitchell (1943–1944)

Heraldry

Per pale, vert and azure, a pile or debruised by a barrulet arched of the field upon and over the pile a camera lens proper rimmed sable. Motto: FIDELITER ET DILIGENTER —Faithfully and Diligently. (Approved 24 October 1942)
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