74th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

History - Books - Aircraft - Time Line - Commanders - Main Bases - Component Units - Assigned To

History

The 74th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was a home based training group that both trained air crews and operated in support of army units that were training in the United States.

The group was activated in February 1942 and equipped with a wide range of aircraft types. As a training unit it provided training in aerial reconnaissance skills, but also in the medium bombardment and fighter roles, using some of its more varied aircraft.

When operating in support of army units the group provided artillery spotting, reconnaissance, bombing, dive-bombing and ground attack aircraft to support normal training and larger manoeuvres.

The group survived for rather longer than most similar units, and wasn't inactivated until November 1945.

Books

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Aircraft

Curtiss O-52 Owl, Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Piper L-4 Grasshopper, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, North American B-25 Mitchell, Douglas A-20 Boston/ Havoc, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American P-51 Mustang

Timeline

5 Feb 1942 Constituted as 74th Observation Group
27 Feb 1942 Activated
April 1943 Redesignated 74th Reconnaissance Group
August 1943 Redesignated 74th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
7 Nov 1945 Inactivated

Commanders (with date of appointment)

Capt Austin H Burleigh: 1942
Maj George G Finch: c. 27 Mar 1942
Col Clarence D Wheeler: c. 7 Apr 1942
Lt Col James R Gunn Jr: 26 Oct 1943
Lt Col Herbert A Bott: c. 10 Nov 1943
Maj Woodrow Ramsey: 23 Apr 1944
Lt Col Richard A Morehouse: 22 Sep 1944
Col Yancey S Tarrant: Aug 1945
Col John T Shields: 26 Sep-7 Nov 1945.

Main Bases

Lawson Field, Ga: 27 Feb 1942
DeRidder, La: c. 10 Apr 1942
Esler Field, La: c. 13 Dec 1942
Desert Center, Calif: c. 28 Dec 1942
Morris Field, NC: Sep 1943
Camp Campbell AAFld, Ky: Nov 1943
DeRidder AAB, La: Apr 1944
Stuttgart AAFld, Ark: Feb-7 Nov 1945

Component Units

5th: 1943
8th: 1945
11th: 1942-45
13th: 1942-45
22nd Tactical Reconnaissance: 1942-45
36th: 1943-44
101st: 1945

Assigned To

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (3 March 2015), 74th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) , http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/74th_Reconnaissance_Group.html

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