12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron | 67th TRG | 8th & 9th AAF

[walika]

12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron | 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group | 8th & 9th AAF

 

LINEAGE. Organized as 12th Aero Squadron on 2 Jun 1917. Redesignated: 12th Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 12th Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 12th Observation Squadron ( Medium) on 13 Jan 1942; 12th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 31 May 1943; 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 Nov 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946.

 

ASSIGNMENT. 73d Observation Group, 1 Sep 194-1; V Air Support Command, 21 Jan 194.2; 67th Observation (later Reconnaissance; Tactical Reconnaissance ) Group, 29 Mar 1942; loth Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Group, 13 Jun 1944 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group to c. 11 Aug 1944.

 

STATIONS. Esler Field, La, 20 Mar-12 Aug 1942; Membury, England, 7 Sep 1942; Greenham Common, England, 16 Dec 194.3; Aldermaston, England, 9 Jan 1944; Chilbolton, England, 1 Mar 1944; Middle Wallop, England, 14 Mar 1944; Le Molay, France, c. 5 Jul 1944; Rennes, France, 11 Aug 1944; Chateaudun, France, 24 Aug 1944; St Dizier, France, 12 Sep 1944; Giraumont, France, 30 Nov 1944; Euren, Germany, 29 Mar 1945; Ober Olm, Germany, 2 Apr 1945; Furth, Germany, 28 Apr 1945-15 Feb 1946.

 

CAMPAIGNS. (WWII) Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

 

EMBLEM. On an orange disc a flying hawk in dark color holding in its claws a black projectile. (Approved 2 Feb 1924 from World War I emblem.)

Years ago I acquired a scrapbook attributed to a captain serving in the unit. Among the many photos and mementos were the chenille patch and photograph below.

 

Type I | Chenille.

 

 

Squadron Photo

 

 

 

Type II | Painted leather.

 

 

F-6C Mustang of the 12th TRS

 

 

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the squadron left Godman Field on 17 March 1942 to join the 67th Observation Group at Esler Field, Louisiana. There it received extensive training in combat aircraft under Third Air Force. In England, the squadron went through an intensive training program with the Royal Air Force. On 17 October 1942, it was assigned Spitfire PR Mk XIs, and late in January 1943, it received its first A-20 Havoc. During those months the squadron participated in several maneuvers and became a very efficient organization. On 8 July, the unit was re-designated the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter). A little later, on 13 July, a reorganization took place and the A-20s, gunners, liaison pilots, and most of the observers of the squadron were transferred to the 153rd Liaison Squadron. The 12th was then equipped with North American P-51 Mustangs and F-6 reconnaissance Mustangs. Late in October, the 12th Squadron was transferred from the VIII Air Support Command to the IX Fighter Command. The unit became highly mobile and proficient at changing airfields on short notice. It would fly from eight English bases before moving to the Continent.

On 13 November, the squadron was re-designated again, to the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. Although the pilots of the 12th engaged in operations against the enemy while on detached service with the Royal Air Force, it was not until 2 January 1944 that the squadron began operations as a unit when Capt James L. Rose flew its first operational mission, a weather reconnaissance over France. On 4 January, the squadron, as part of the 67th Group, was assigned to the IX Air Support Command (re-designated IX Tactical Air Command in April 1944). After its first operational mission, the 12th helped to photograph 160 miles (260 km) of French coast and two inshore strips, each 120 miles (190 km) long using the Merton Oblique camera. On 20 March, after 19 days of extremely hazardous operation, the task was completed. Eighty-three missions were flown; 18 were aborted, 14 due to weather. The maps and photographs were an important contribution to the success of Operation Overlord, the invasion of the continent of Europe. The 12th shared a Distinguished Unit Citation with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group for the "most extensive low altitude oblique photographic assignment ever undertaken over enemy territory." Now the 12th TRS turned to photographing targets over Belgium and France – targets from Le Havre to Luxembourg, and from Leige to Lorient. One day it was marshalling yards in Belgium, another day bridges along the Seine River, then gun emplacements on the "Rocket Coast" plus targets in the Pas-de-Calais area. In May 1944, 66 out of 75 missions were successful.

On 6 June 1944, D-Day, and for days afterwards, the 12th TRS performed area and route reconnaissance missions as well as artillery adjustment missions over and immediately behind the front lines. The squadron flew 250 missions during the month and operated around the clock. Reconnaissance was a major factor in allied strategy, and the 12th TRS kept higher echelons informed of enemy convoy and troop movements, and the location of troop concentrations. Effective 13 June, the 12th was transferred to the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. However, about 5 July 1944, the squadron moved with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group to ALG A-9 Le Molay-Littry – the first of five airfields from which it would operate in France – and began supporting the United States First Army, which was massing for a breakthrough near Saint-Lô. After the breakthrough, the 12th followed General George S. Patton's Third Army in its drive across France and supported him for the rest of the war.

On 1 August 1944, the squadron was assigned to the XIX Tactical Air Command. Since no French airfield was ready for the 10th Group, the 12th had to handle the reconnaissance load for the first several days, flying 26 missions in five days with a 100 percent success rate. Although bad weather hampered its operations during the rest of the year, several outstanding missions were flown. On the 11th, the squadron was the first from the 10th Reconnaissance Group to move onto the newly captured Rennes Airfield (A-27). During September, in addition to its regular missions, the 12th flew 170 missions in nineteen days reconnoitering the area along and beyond the Siegfried Line where German armies were building up reserves. The pilots also spotted and photographed areas the Germans were strengthening and reconnoitered marshalling yards to see if reinforcements were being sent in from other parts of Germany. During November and December, missions were flown over the Ruhr and Rhine valleys and over such cities as Frankfurt, Mannheim, Wiesbaden, Koblenz, and Ludwigshafen, many of which were heavily defended.

During the German retreat after the Battle of the Bulge, the 12th kept its planes in the air, spotting enemy vehicles, troops, and supplies. Medium bombers had knocked out so many roads and bridges that thousands of German vehicles were trying to escape, but had no way to move. On 26 January, 12th TRS pilots spotted 4,000 vehicles and called in P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers in to finish the job. The 12th Squadron was commended by Generals Carl Spaatz and Weyland for its work during the German withdrawal.

The 12th moved to Vogelsang Airfield (Y-61) Euren, Germany on 2 March 1945. During March, 320 missions were flown in support of the Third Army's break through of the Siegfried Line. At this point, the squadron received an order stressing the fact that the 12th was a reconnaissance squadron and that engagements with the enemy should not be encouraged. Reconnaissance areas changed rapidly in keeping pace with Patton. During the first part of April, targets included Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Würzburg, and Kassel. Later they were farther east – Gotha, Erfurt, Leipzig, and Chemnitz. Then the 12th moved south to Munich, Regensburg, and Nuremberg, and it finished the month by making long flights (with wing tanks) into Austria and Czechoslovakia, reconnoitering Prague, Pilsen, Linz, and Vienna. Although hostilities in general ceased in Europe on 7 May 1945, the 12th Squadron continued to fly photographic missions in support of Allied forces in Czechoslovakia, where the fighting did not stop until 10 May.

The 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron made a very impressive record during World War II. The unit's historian reported that 2,732 missions were flown, 26 enemy planes destroyed, three probably destroyed, and ten damaged. The 12th Squadron lost nine planes. After the war, the 12th became part of the occupation air force in Europe.

References:

Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II.

Wikipedia.

 

12 trs 67 trg 8aaf

12th TRS 67th TRG 8th AAF 9th AAF