5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

The 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 3d Reconnaissance Group. It was inactivated at Pomigliano Airfield, Italy on 12 September 1945.

5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
F-5A Lightning as flown by the squadron
Active1942–1945
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeReconnaissance and Mapping
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[note 1]
5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[note 2]

History

Established in early 1942; trained under First Air Force as an observation squadron. Equipped with O-59 Grasshoppers and flew observation fights largely over Fort Campbell, Kentucky while Army units were training in ground maneuvers.

Deployed to European Theater of Operations in March 1942; assigned to Eighth Air Force. Trained with RAF reconnaissance units, flying photographic reconnaissance sweeps over France and the Low Countries, obtaining intelligence information about German defenses along the channel coast. Flew reconnaissance over Dieppe, France prior to August 1942 commando raid using modified Lockheed F-4 Lightning aircraft.

Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations, assigned to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria during November 1942, shortly after the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. Provided tactical aerial reconnaissance over Algeria and Tunisia during North African Campaign; over Sicily and Italy in preparation for ground invasions in mid-1943. Received long-range North American F-10 Mitchell medium bombers equipped for aerial reconnaissance in 1944. Remained assigned to Twelfth Air Force in Italy, providing tactical aerial reconnaissance support of Allied ground forces during the Italian Campaign, 1943–1945 also supported Free French units in the liberation of Corsica, 1944.

Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation, summer 1945.

Lineage

Constituted as the 5th Photographic Squadron on 19 January 1942
  • Activated on 1 February 1942
Redesignated: 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 June 1942
Redesignated: 5th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943
Redesignated: 5th Combat Mapping Squadron on 21 January 1944
Redesignated: 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 31 August 1944
Inactivated on 12 September 1945[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

  • O-59 Grasshopper, 1942
  • Lockheed F-4 Lightning, 1942–1943
  • Lockheed F-5 Lightning, 1943–1945
  • Spitfire PR Mk XIII (attached) 1943–1944
  • Spitfire PR Mk IX, 1944–1945
  • North American F-10 Mitchell, 1944–1945[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Unofficial, used in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.
  2. Unofficial, used in the United States.
Citations
  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 36-37

Bibliography

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

  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6.
  • 15th USAAF
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