91st Air Division

The 91st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Forces, assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at Newark Municipal Airport, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 24 June 1949.

91st Air Division
Active1943–1946; 1946–1949
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleCommand of reconnaissance forces
Part ofContinental Air Command
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater
DecorationsPhilippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]

History

During World War II, the 91st Photographic Wing was the primary source of aerial photography and visual intelligence and mapping for Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theater. Its assigned units flying unarmed over enemy territory, "photographing Japanese airfields, harbors, beach defenses, and personnel areas in New Guinea, the Bismarcks, Borneo, and the southern Philippines. They also reconnoitered target areas and enemy troop positions to provide intelligence for Air Force and Army units."[1]

"Liaison aircraft assigned to the wing rescued Allied fliers forced down in Pacific jungles, and evacuated wounded personnel from forward areas. Frequently fighters, assigned to subordinate units, attacked gun emplacements, bridges, supply dumps, and other installations in support of ground troops."[1]

"In 1945, as the war with Japan came to a close, the subordinate units flew photographic missions over Kyūshū. After hostilities ceased, these flights continued, and the aerial photographs obtained helped to locate prisoner of war (POW) camps and in assessing damage done to the Japanese communications system."[1] Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.[1]

"Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Newark Airport, New Jersey in late 1946 controlling tactical reconnaissance units. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949."[1]

Lineage

  • Established as the 91 Photographic Wing, Reconnaissance on 9 October 1943
Activated on 20 October 1943
Redesignated 91 Reconnaissance Wing on 20 June 1945.
Inactivated on 27 January 1946
  • Activated in the Reserve on 20 December 1946
Redesignated 91 Air Division, Reconnaissance on 16 April 1948
Inactivated on 27 June 1949[1]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. "Factsheet 91 Air Division, Reconnaissance". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

Bibliography

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

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