10th Photo Recon Group

Special Thanks to Don McKeton for his reseach assistance

Squadrons of the 10th Photo Recon

SQUADRONS.

1st: I945-1949 ; 1952-
12th: 1941-1942;1944-1946
14th: 1943-
15th (formerly Observation): 1942-1943, 1944-1945 1947-1949
15th (formerly Photographic): 1947.
16th: 1941-1942.
22d: 1941-1942.
3oth: 1944
31st: 1944-1945
32d: 1952-.
33d: 1944
34th: 1944 1945
36th (formerly 28th): 1942-1943
38th: 1952-.
39th: 1945
42d: 1952-.
91st: 1941-1942, 1942-1943
111th: 1945.
152d: 1943.
155th (formerly 423d, later 45th): 1944-1945, 1945-1947
160th: 1945-1947-
162d: 1945

Assigned 9th AAF:

Wing/Command Assignment


Combat Aircraft:

F-3, F-5, F-6, ;L-1, L-4, and L-5

Stations

Harrisburg, Pa, 1 Sep 1941
Godman Field, Ky, c. 7 Nov 1941
Camp Campbell AAFld, Ky, c. 23 Jun 1943
Key Field, Miss, Nov 1943-Jan 1944
Chalgrove, England, Feb 1944
Rennes/StJacques, France, c. 11 Aug 1944
Chateaudun, France,c. 24 Aug 1944
St-Dizier/ Robinson, France, Sep 1944
Conflans/ Doncourt, France, Nov 1944
Trier/Evren, Germany, Mar 1945
Ober Olm, Germany, c. 5 Apr 1945;
Furth,.Germany, c. 28 Apr 1945

Group COs

Maj Edgar M Scattergood Jr, 1 Sep 1941;
Lt Col John C Kennedy, c.6 Nov 1941;
Capt Phil lip H Hatch, c. 24 Jan 1942;
Lt Col Robert M Lee, c. 9 Feb 1942;
Maj Burton L Austin, c. 26 Dec 1942;
Lt Col Bernard C Rose, c. 19 Jan 1943;
Lt Col Crawford H Hollidge, C. 28 Jan 1943;
Maj William A Daniel,c. 4 Aug 1943;
Col William B Reed, 9 Sep 1943;
Col Russell A Berg, 20 Jun 1944-unkn;
Lt Col W D Hayes Jr, 1945;

CAMPAIGNS

American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

 

Major Awards

Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 6-20 May 1944

INSIGNE

Shield: Azure a sphere or, latitude and longitude lines sable, in chief the head and arms of the Greek mythical god Argus, head facing base, arms fesswise both hands toward dexter of the second, outlined of the field. Motto: ARGUS

 

Early History:

Constituted as 73rd Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941 Engaged in training activities, participating in the Tennessee Maneuvers in 1943. Redesignated 73rd Reconnaissance Group in Apr 1943, 73rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943, and 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Dec 1943- Moved to the European theater, Jan-Feb 1944, for duty with Ninth AF. Used F-3, F-5, F-6, ;L-1, L-4, and L-5 aircraft for operations, Feb 1944 toMay1945, Photographed airfields, coastal defenses, and ports, and made bomb-damage assessment photographs of airfields, marshalling yards, bridges, and other targets, in preparation for the Normandy invasion; Supported the invasion in Jun by making visual and photographic reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road ,and railroad junctions, traffic centers, airfields, and other targets. Assisted the Allied drive toward the German border during the summer and early fall of 1944 by flying daylight and night photographic missions; also performed tactical reconnaissance for ground and air units, directing artillery to enemy positions and fighter-bombers to opportune targets. Aided Third Army and other Allied organizations in the battle to breach the Siegfried Line, Sep-Dec 1944. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by flying reconnaissance missions in the combat zone. From Feb 1945 to V-E Day, assisted the advance of Third Army across the Rhine, to Czechoslovakia, and into Austria. DUC for flying at low altitude to photograph the coast from Blankenberghe to Dunkirk and from Le Touquet to St- Vaast-la-Hougue, 6-20 May 1944.

Subsequent History:

Remained in Germany after the war as part of the army of occupation, being assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Redesignated the l0th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945. Transferred, Without personnel and equipment, to the US in Jun 1947. Remanned and equipped with RF-51's. Redesignated l0th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1948. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949. Activated in Germany on 10 Jul 1952. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Equipped with RB-26, RB-57, RF-80, and RF-84 aircraft.


Stations: Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, Apr Jun 1947
Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947
Lawson Field, Ga, c. 8 Sep 1947
Pope Field, NC, c. 27 Sep 1947-1 Apr 1949.
Furstenfeldbruck AB, Germany, 10 Jul 1952
Toul f Rosiere AB, France, Nov 1952
Spangdahlem AB, Germany, May 1953-


Commanders: Col Marvin S Zipp, 11 Jan 1946-19 Jun 1947;
Lt Col James L Rose, 1 Oct 1947;
Lt Col Harrison R Christy Jr, 16 Dec 1947;
Lt Col Edward O McComas, 6 Jan 1948;
Col William A Daniel, 26 Jan 1948-unkn.
Lt Col Barnie B McEntire Jr, 10 Jul 1952;
Col Willie O Jackson Jr, Dec 1952;
Lt Col Steven R Wilkerson, c. 22 Sep 1953;
Col Howard J Withycombe, 23 Feb 1954;
Col Arthur E Smith, 13 Jul 1954;
Col Fred W Dyer, c. 23 Jun 1955