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Constituted as 73rd Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Engaged in training activities, participating in the Tennessee Maneuvers in 1943. Redesignated 73rd Reconnaissance Group in Apr 1943, 73rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943, and 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Dec 1943. Moved to the European theater, Jan-Feb 1944, for duty with Ninth AF. Used F-3, F-5, F-6, L-1, L-4, and L-5 aircraft for operations, Feb 1944-May 1945. Photographed airfields, coastal defenses, and ports, and made bomb-damage assessment photographs of airfields, marshalling yards, bridges, and other targets, in preparation for the Normandy invasion; received a DUC for flying at low altitude to photograph the coast from Blankenberghe to Dunkirk and from Le Touquet to St-Vaast-la-Hougue, 6-20 May 1944. Supported the invasion in Jun by making visual and photographic reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road and railroad junctions, traffic centers, airfields, and other targets. Assisted the Allied drive toward the German border during the summer and early fall of 1944 by flying daylight and night photographic missions; also performed tactical reconnaissance for ground and air units, directing artillery to enemy positions and fighter-bombers to opportune targets. Aided Third Army and other Allied organizations in the battle to breach the Siegfried Line, Sep-Dec 1944. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by flying reconnaissance missions in the combat zone. From Feb 1945 to V-E Day, assisted the advance of Third Army across the Rhine, to Czechoslovakia, and into Austria. Remained in Germany after the war as part of the army of occupation, being assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Redesignated 10th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Jun 1947. Remanned and equipped with RF-51's. Redesignated 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1948. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949.
Activated in Germany on 10 Jul 1952. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Equipped with RB-26, RB-57, RF-80, and RF-84 aircraft.
Squadrons. 1st: 1945-1949; 1952-. 12th: 1941-1942, 1944-1946. 14th: 1943. 15th (formerly Observation): 1942-1943, 1944-1945, 1947-1949. 15th (formerly Photographic): 1947. 16th: 1941-1942. 22d: 1941-1942. 30th: 1944. 31st: 1944-1945. 32d: 1952-. 33d: 1944. 34th: 1944, 1945. 36th (formerly 28th): 1942-1943. 38th: 1952-. 39th: 1945. 42d: 1952-. 91st: 1941-1942, 1942-1943. 111th: 1945. 152d: 1943. 155th (formerly 423rd, later 45th): 1944-1945, 1945-1947. 160th: 1945-1947. 162d: 1945.
Stations. Harrisburg, Pa, 1 Sep 1941; Godman Field, Ky, c. 7 Nov 1941; Camp Campbell AAFld Ky c. 23 Jun 1943; Key Field, Miss, Nov 1943-Jan 1944; Chalgrove, England, Feb 1944; Rennes/St-Jacques, France, c. 11 Aug 1944; Chateau-dun, France, c. 24 Aug 1944; St-Dizier/Robinson, France Sep 1944; Conflans/Doncourt, France, Nov 1944; Trier/Evren, Germany, Mar 1945; Ober Olm, Germany, c. 5 Apr 1945; Furth, Germany, c. 28 Apr 1945; Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, Apr-Jun 1947; Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947; Lawson Field, Ga, c. 8 Sep 1947; Pope Field, NC, 27 Sep 1947-1 Apr 1949. Furstenfeldbruck AB, Germany, 10 Jul 1952; Toul/Rosiere AB, France, Nov 1952; Spangdahlem AB, Germany, May 1953-.
Commanders. Maj Edgar M Scattergood Jr, 1 Sep 1941; Lt Col John C Kennedy, c. 6 Nov 1941; Capt Phillip H Hatch, c. 24 Jan 1942; Lt Col Robert M Lee, c. 9 Feb 1942; Maj Burton L Austin, c. 26 Dec 1942; Lt Col Bernard C Rose, c. 19 Jan 1943; Lt Col Crawford H Hollidge, c. 28 Jan 1943; Maj William A Daniel, c. 4 Aug 1943; Col William B Reed, 9 Sep 1943; Col Russell A Berg, 20 Jun 1944-unkn; Lt Col W D Hayes Jr, 1945; Col Marvin S Zipp, 11 Jan 1946-19 Jun 1947; Lt Col James L Rose, 1 Oct 1947; Lt Col Harrison R Christy Jr, 16 Dec 1947; Lt Col Edward O McComas, 6 Jan 1948; Col William A Daniel, 26 Jan 1948-unkn. Lt Col Barnie B McEntire Jr, 10 Jul 1952; Col Willie O Jackson Jr, Dec 1952; Lt Col Steven R Wilkerson, c. 22 Sep 1953; Col Howard Withycombe, 23 Feb 1954; Col Arthur E Smith, 13 Jul 1954; Col Fred W Dyer, c. 23 Jun 1955-.
Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 6-20 May 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure a sphere or, latitude and longitude lines sable, in chief the head and arms of the Greek mythical god Argus, head facing base, arms fesswise both hands toward dexter of the second, outlined of the field. Motto: Argus - Ceaseless Watch. (Approved 29 Dec 1942.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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