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The 65th Reconnaissance Group went through two incarnations during the Second World War, the first as a home based observation unit and the second as a training unit.
The group was formed as the 65th Observation Group in August 1941 and activated in September. It was given a number of observation types, and was a short-range army co-operation unit. In that role it took part in the Carolina Manoeuvres of 1941. The group's only operational experience came after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the group was used to fly antisubmarine patrols off the US East Coast. The first incarnation of the unit was inactivated on 18 October 1942.
The group was reactivated on 1 March 1943 and in the following month became the 65th Reconnaissance Group. This time the group was used as a training organization, taking crews who had trained on the light observation aircraft and training them to use the B-25 Mitchell. This second version of the group was also short-lived and was disbanded on 15 August 1943.
Pending
North American O-47, Douglas O-48, Curtiss O-52 Owl
| 21 August 1941 | Constituted as 65th Observation Group |
| 1 September 1941 | Activated |
| 18 October 1942 | Inactivated |
| 1 March 1943 | Activated |
| April 1943 | Redesignated as 65th Reconnaissance Group |
| 15 Augyst 1943 | Disbanded |
Col Dache M Reeves:
1941
Lt Col Walter M Williams: c. 21
Feb-18 Oct 1942
Lt Col Blaine B Campbell:
1943.
Columbia, SC: 1 Sep 1941
Langley Field, Va: Dec 1941-18 Oct 1942
Columbia AAB, SC: 1 Mar 1943
Florence
AAFld, SC: c. 15 Apr-15 Aug 1943
18th: 1942, 1943
105th: 1941-42, 1943
112th: 1941-1942
121st: 1941-1942
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