33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
| 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron | |
|---|---|
|
Emblem of the 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron | |
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch |
 United States Air Force |
| Role | Reconnaissance |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance |
A-20 Havoc B-25 Mitchell DB/RDB-7 Havoc Piper L-4 P-39 Airacobra P-43 Lancer F-6B Mustang P-38/F-5 Lightning |
The 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Corps unit. It was last assigned to the Army Service Forces, stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 4 October 1945.
History
Activated by Third Air Force in early 1942, was reconnaissance/observation training squadron in the Southeast United States flying a mixture of aircraft until the spring of 1944. Re-equipped with long-range F-5 Lightnings, deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO) in the spring of 1944.
Engaged in tactical reconnaissance over the Normandy Beaches of France prior to the Allied invasion on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Afterwards engaged in highly dangerous unarmed reconnaissance of Northern France, the Low Countries and Germany as Allied armies moved west during the Northern France Campaign during the balance of 1944 and the Allied Invasion of Western Germany, spring 1945. Provided battlefield intelligence primarily to the United States Third Army, however also flew reconnaissance missions for the United States First and Ninth Armies as requested.
Assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe after the German Capitation in May 1945, was part of the Army of Occupation in Germany before demobilizing during the summer of 1945; inactivated as a paper unit in October 1945 under Army Service Forces.
Lineage
- Constituted 24th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 Feb 1942.
- Activated on 27 Feb 1942
- Re-designated: 24th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
- Re-designated: 24th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 Apr 1943
- Re-designated: 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943
- Inactivated on 4 Oct 1945.
Assignments
- 76th Observation (later Reconnaissance) Group, 27 Feb 1942
- III Reconnaissance (later Tactical Air) Command, 11 Aug 1943
- 10th Photographic Group, 1 May 1944
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 13 Jun 1944
- Attached to 10th Photographic Group to 11 Aug 1944
- XXIX Tactical Air Command (Prov), 7 Oct 1944
- Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group to 2 Nov 1944
- 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 30 Oct 1944
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance (later Reconnaissance) Group, 17 May 1945
- 363d Reconnaissance Group, c. 5 Jul-20 1945
- Army Service Forces, 21 July-4 October 1945
Stations
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Aircraft
- Included A-20 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, DB/RDB-7 Havoc, Piper L-4, P-39 Airacobra, P-43 Lancer, and F-6B Mustang during period 1942-1944
- P-38/F-5 Lightning, 1944-1945.
References
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of 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.
External links
The 33rd Photo Recon Squadron has an active website at www.33rdPhotoRecon.org.