6th Reconnaissance Group | V Bomber Command | 5th AAF | "Hawkeyes" or "Hawkeye Group"

[walika]

6th Reconnaissance Group | V Bomber Command | 5th AAF | "Hawkeyes"

 

Constituted as 6th Photographic Group on 5 Feb 1943 and activated on 9 Feb. Redesignated 6th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943, and 6th Reconnaissance Group in May 1945. Moved to the Southwest Pacific, Sep-Oct 1943, and assigned to Fifth AF. 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 DUC for unescorted flights to Leyte during Sep 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 Nov 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 Jul 1945 and flew some missions over Kyushu before the war ended. Moved to Japan in Sep 1945. Inactivated on 27 Apr 1946. Disbanded on 6 Mar 1947.

AIRCRAFT. F-4, F-4A, F-5 & F-7A, F-7B

SQUADRONS. 4th: 1945-1946. 8th: 1943-1946. 20th: 1943-1946. 25th: 1943-1946. 36th: 1943-1946.

STATIONS. Colorado Springs, Colo, 9 Feb-Sep 1943; Sydney, Australia, 10 Oct 1943; Brisbane, Australia, 27 Nov 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 10 Dec 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, 17 Feb 194; Biak, Aug 1944; Leyte, 3 Nov 1944; Clark Field, Luzon, 1 May 1945; Okinawa, 31 Jul 1945.

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Ryukyus; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

Maurer. AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II.

Initially, squadron insignia for the Group was based on a standard "Hawkeyes" design using an assigned squadron color for the background. These apparently existed for all squadrons, except the 4th which was not assigned to the Group until May, 1945. This is reflected in the graphic below.

 

The P-38 silhouette (twin-engined) represents the F-4/F-5 squadrons: the 8th, 25th, 26th, and 36th PRS.

The B-24 silhouette (4-engined) represents the F-7 squadron: the 20th CMS/RS LR-Photo RCM.

 

The first Lightning to see active service was the F-4 version, a P-38E in which the guns were replaced by four K17 cameras. They joined the 8th Photographic Squadron in Australia on 4 April 1942. Subsequently, the F-5A was based on the P-38G, which among other improvements sported more powerful 1400hp Allison engines. The B-24H and J were modified to create the F-7.

 

Accompanying posts will focus on the squadron insignia. Below are the Hawkeyes patches in my collection.

 

20th Reconnaissance Squadron | Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

 

 

25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron | Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

 

 

26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron | Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

 

 

36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron | Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

 

 

 

 

[jpstout]

Very Nice!

[walika]

Very Nice!

 

Thanks.

[walika]

Duty Stations

 

Source: 6thprg



Song: Photo Joe



F-4 Lightning (this one from 3rd PRG)

 

 

 

F-5A Lightning