6th Reconnaissance Group
Encyclopedia
The 6th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force
. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force
, stationed at Irumagawa Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 27 April 1946.
During World War II
, the group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater and used F-5's and F-7's to photograph Japanese airfields, harbors, beach defenses, and personnel areas in New Guinea
, the Bismarcks, Borneo
, and the southern Philippines
. Reconnoitered target areas and enemy troop positions to provide intelligence for air force and army units. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for unescorted flights to Leyte
during September 1944 when in a minimum period of time the group obtained information about Japanese defenses, such information being necessary for planning the amphibious assault on the Philippines.
After moving to the Philippines
in November 1944, flew missions to Formosa
and China, engaged in mapping parts of Luzon
and Mindanao
, and provided intelligence for US ground forces concerning Japanese movements. Moved to Okinawa in July 1945 and flew some missions over Kyūshū
before the war ended.
(Air Echelon deployed at stations throughout Southwest Pacific)
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...
. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, stationed at Irumagawa Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 27 April 1946.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater and used F-5's and F-7's to photograph Japanese airfields, harbors, beach defenses, and personnel areas in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, the Bismarcks, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, and the southern Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Reconnoitered target areas and enemy troop positions to provide intelligence for air force and army units. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for unescorted flights to Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
during September 1944 when in a minimum period of time the group obtained information about Japanese defenses, such information being necessary for planning the amphibious assault on the Philippines.
After moving to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in November 1944, flew missions to Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
and China, engaged in mapping parts of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, and provided intelligence for US ground forces concerning Japanese movements. Moved to Okinawa in July 1945 and flew some missions over Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
before the war ended.
Lineage
- Constituted as 6th Photographic Group on 5 February 1943 and activated on 9 February
- Redesignated: 6th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943
- Redesignated: 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in August 1943
- Redesignated: 6th Reconnaissance Group in May 1945
- Inactivated on 27 April 1946
- Disbanded on 6 March 1947.
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe 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....
, 9 February–September 1943 - V Bomber CommandV Bomber CommandThe V Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Irumagawa AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946....
, 10 October 1943 - 5212th Reconnaissance Wing (Provisional), 1 March 1944
- 91st Reconnaissance Wing91st Air Division (United States)The 91st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Forces, assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at Newark Municipal Airport, New Jersey...
, 12 April 1944 - Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, 10 November 1945 – 27 April 1946
Stations
Headquarters and Ground Echelon:- Colorado SpringsPeterson Air Force BasePeterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado 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...
, 9 February–September 1943 - Sydney AirportSydney AirportSydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
, Australia, 10 October 1943 - Archerfield Airport (Brisbane)Archerfield AirportArcherfield Airport is a small airport located 7 1/2 miles at Archerfield in the south west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For some time it was the primary airport in Brisbane. During World War II it was used as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Airport traffic peaked in the 1980s...
, Australia, 27 November 1943 - Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome)Wards AirfieldWards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby....
, Port MoresbyPort MoresbyPort Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 10 December 1943 - Nadzab AirfieldLae Nadzab AirportLae Nadzab Airport is a regional airport located in Lae, Papua New Guinea. It is served by regional aircraft with domestic flight.-Airlines and destinations:-History:...
, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 17 February 1944 - Mokmer AirfieldFrans Kaisiepo Airport-History:Mokmer Airfield was part of a complex of airfields built on Biak Island by the Japanese , of which Mokmer was the main USAAF facility after the island was taken by the United States after fierce fighting in late May and June 1944....
, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, August 1944
- Bayug AirfieldBayug AirfieldBayug Airfield is a World War II airfield located in the east of Burauen, Leyte, Philippines, and to the west of San Pablo Airfield, to the north of the Marabong River in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It was closed after the war.-History:...
, LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Philippines, 3 November 1944 - Clark Field, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines, 1 May 1945 - Okinawa, 31 July 1945
- Chofu Airfield, Japan, 27 September 1945
- Irumagawa Air Base, Japan, January-27 April 1946
(Air Echelon deployed at stations throughout Southwest Pacific)
Units assigned
- 8th Reconnaissance Squadron8th Flying Training SquadronThe 8th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the T-6A Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.-History:...
: 13 November 1943 – 27 April 1946
- Attached to: V Bomber CommandV Bomber CommandThe V Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Irumagawa AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946....
, 10 December 1945 – 27 April 1946- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4/F-5), 1943–1946; B-26 (F-6), 1943–1944
- 20th Reconnaissance Squadron20th Special Operations SquadronThe 20th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates CV-22 Osprey aircraft in support of special operations.-Mission:...
: 17 June-5 December 1943 (attached); 5 December 1943 – 10 November 1945
- 20th Reconnaissance Squadron
- Aircraft: B-24 (F-7), 1943–1946
- 25th Reconnaissance Squadron25th Flying Training SquadronThe 25th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.-Overview:...
: 9 February 1943 – 27 April 1946
- 25th Reconnaissance Squadron
- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4/F-5), 1943–1946; B-26 (F-6), 1943–1944
- Detached to: V Fighter CommandV Fighter CommandThe V Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Fukuoka AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946....
, 10 February 1946- Aircraft: P-38 (F-5), 1943–1945; B-25, 1944
- 26th Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 February 1943—21 November 1945
- Aircraft: P-38 (F-5), 1943–1945; B-25, 1944
- Detached to: 308th Bombardment Wing308th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 308th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Far East Air Forces, based at Nagoya, Japan. It was inactivated on 30 June 1948....
, 22 October-21 November 1945- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4), 1943 P-38 (F-5), 1944–1945
- 27th Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 February-9 October 1943
- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4), 1943
- 36th Reconnaissance Squadron: 23 December 1944 – 20 October 1945
- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4), 1944–1945
- Aircraft: P-38 (F-4), 1943 P-38 (F-5), 1944–1945