311th Reconnaissance Wing

Constituted as 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) on 31 Jan 1944. Activated on 1 Feb 1944. Assigned directly to AAF. Redesignated 311th Reconnaissance Wing in Jul 1945. Operated in the US and sent detachments to various areas of the world to perform mapping and charting duties. Assigned to Continental Air Forces in Dec 1945. Became the major reconnaissance organization of Strategic Air Command in Mar 1946. Redesignated 311th Air Division (Reconnaissance) in Apr 1948, and 311th Air Division in Jan 1949. Inactivated on 1 Nov 1949.

Components. Groups. 1st: 1944. 11th: 1944. 55th: 1947-1948. 91st: 1947-1948.

Wings. 5th: 1949. 9th: 1949. 55th: 1948-1949. 91st: 1948-1949.

Stations. Bolling Field, DC, 1 Feb 1944; Buckley Field, Colo, c. 24 Nov 1944; MacDill Field, Fla, c. 17 Apr 1946; Andrews Field, Md, c. 1 Jun 1947; Topeka AFB, Kan, c. 20 Jul 1948; Barksdale AFB, La, c. 28 Oct-2 Nov 1949.

Commanders. Col George G Northrup, 1 Feb 1944; Lt Col Roy W Gustafson, 16 Jan 1945; Col Karl L Polifka, 12 Feb 1945; Col James F Setchell, 16 Jul 1945; Col Karl L Polifka, 22 Oct 1945; Lt Col Albert M Welsh, c. 23 Feb 1946; Brig Gen Donald R Hutchinson, 23 May 1946; Brig Gen Paul T Cullen, c. 18 Jun 1947; Maj Gen Joseph H Atkinson, 17 Mar-2 Nov 1949.

Campaigns. American Theater.

Decorations. None.

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986