74th Reconnaissance Group

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= 74th Reconnaissance Group

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|dates=1942–1945, 1946-1949

|country={{flag|United States|23px}}

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|branch={{air force|USA}}

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|role=Reconnaissance

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|command_structure=Continental Air Command

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|battle_honours=American Theater of World War II

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The 74th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 91st Air Division at Stewart AFB, New York.

History

The unit 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.{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|origyear= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210115181723/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 January 2021 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|page=140}} 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.[http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9792 AFHRA Factsheet, 11th Reconnaissance Squadron] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001535/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9792 |date=4 March 2016 }} (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)[http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15949 AFHRA Factsheet, 29th Attack Squadron] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226030041/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15949 |date=26 February 2013 }} (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 117-119 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 1942

: Redesignated as 74th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943

: Redesignated as 74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 August 1943

: Inactivated 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):This squadron is not related to the 5th Observation Squadron that is currently the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron 8 Aug 1942 – 25 Jan 1943; 2 Apr 1943 – 11 August 1943 (attached 11 August 1943 – 15 Sep 1943){{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|origyear=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|pages=35–36}}
8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 July 1945 – 7 November 1945Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 49
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 1949Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 111-112
22d Observation Squadron (later 22d Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 12 March 1942– 29 January 1945
22d Reconnaissance Squadron:This squadron is not related to the one previously listed. During World War II it was designated the 22d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 23 October 1947 – 27 June 1949Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 117
31st Reconnaissance Squadron (later 33d Reconnaissance Squadron): 13 November 1947– 27 June 1949Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 184-185
28th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 36th Photographic Mapping Squadron): 21 October 1943 – 29 March 1944[http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=17509 AFHRA Factsheet, 36th Intelligence Squadron] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226081430/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=17509 |date=26 February 2013 }} (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)
101st Bombardment Photographic Squadron: 29 January 1945 – 7 November 1945Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 333

=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[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/099/384.xml Abstract, Final History of 74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group] (retrieved 4 Dec 2012)
91st Reconnaissance Wing (later 91st Air Division), 27 December 1946 – 27 June 1949[http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10120 AFHRA Factsheet, 91st Air Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928235306/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10120 |date=28 September 2012 }} (retrieved 4 Dec 2012)

=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

SourcesAircraft flown are based on the sources cited for individual squadrons. Not all squadrons flew the same aircraft while assigned to the group

Equipped at various times with A-20s,

=Awards=

References

=Notes=

=Bibliography=

{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|origyear= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210115181723/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 January 2021 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1}}
{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|origyear=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6}}

External links

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Category:Military units and formations established in 1942

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