76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group

The 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group is a disbanded United States Army Air Forces organization. It was last active in 1944 as part of the Desert Training Center at Thermal Army Air Field, California.

76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
Emblem of the 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
Active1942–1944
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Air Forces
RoleReconnaissance
Part ofThird Air Force
Motto(s)Our Observation, Your Security
EngagementsAmerican Theater of World War II

History

The group was constituted and activated in early 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida as the 76th Observation Group shortly after the United States entered World War II.[1] Its original squadron was the 24th Observation Squadron,[2] which was joined a few days later by the 23d Observation Squadron when the group moved to Key Field, Mississippi.[3]

The group trained in aerial reconnaissance and air support techniques until March 1943 under Third Air Force.[1] It participated in maneuvers with Second Army until September 1943 when it moved to Thermal AAF and began participating in desert training in California and Arizona.[1] In anticipation of this move, its existing squadrons were reassigned[2][4][5][6] and replaced by new units.[7][8][9] It was disbanded on 15 April 1944.[1]

Lineage
  • Constituted on 5 February 1942 as the 76th Observation Group
Activated on 27 February 1942
Redesignated as the 76th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943
Redesignated as the 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 August 1943
  • Disbanded on 15 April 1944

Subordinate Units

Assignments

Stations Assigned
  • MacDill Field, Florida, 27 February 1942
  • Key Field, Mississippi, c. 3 March 1942
  • Pope Field, North Carolina, 28 March 1942[12]
  • Vichy Army Air Field, Missouri, 10 December 1942[12]
  • Morris Field, North Carolina, 10 May 1943[13]
  • Thermal Army Air Field, California ca. 20 September 1943 – 15 April 1944

Aircraft Flown

Awards

References

Notes
  1. Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1.
  2. Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 161–162. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
  3. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 124
  4. AFHRA Factsheet, 20th Special Operations Squadron Archived 25 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)
  5. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 330-331
  6. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 348-349
  7. AFHRA Factsheet, 91st Network Warfare Squadron Archived 20 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)
  8. AFHRA Factsheet, 97th Intelligence Squadron Archived 13 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)
  9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 184-185
  10. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 154-155
  11. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 334-335
  12. Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 483. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
  13. Abstract, History of Morris Field Nov 1940-Jul 1944 (retrieved 3 Dec 2012)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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