Lineage. Established as 7 Photographic Group on 5 Feb 1943. Activated on 1 May 1943. Redesignated as: 7 Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group on 15 May 1943; 7 Photographic Group, Reconnaissance on 13 Nov 1943; 7 Reconnaissance Group by Jul 1945. Inactivated on 21 Nov 1945. Disestablished on 6 Mar 1947. Reconstituted, and redesignated as 373 Electronic Warfare Group, on 31 Jul 1985. Redesignated as 373 Intelligence Group on 17 Jul 2000. Activated on 7 Sep 2000. Redesignated as 373 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group on 1 Jan 2009.
Assignments. Third Air Force, 1 May 1943; Eighth Air Force, 21 Jun 1943; 325 Photographic (later, 325 Reconnaissance) Wing, c. Aug 1944; VIII Fighter Command, c. 18 Oct-21 Nov 1945. 70 Intelligence (later, 70 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Wing, 7 Sep 2000-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 13 Photographic (later, 13 Photographic Reconnaissance): 7 Jul 1943-21 Nov 1945. 14 Photographic (later, 14 Photographic Reconnaissance): 7 Jul 1943-21 Nov 1945. 22 Photographic (later, 22 Photographic Reconnaissance): 7 Jul 1943-21 Nov 1945. 27 Photographic Reconnaissance: attached c. 4 Nov 1943, assigned 9 Dec 1943-21 Nov 1945 (detached 9 Nov 1944-22 Apr 1945). 28 Photographic: 1 May-21 Jun 1943. 29 Photographic: 1 May-21 Jun 1943. 30 Photographic: 1 May-21 Jun 1943. 653 Bombardment: attached 6 Aug-Nov 1945.
Stations. Peterson AAFld, CO, 1 May-7 Jul 1943; Mount Farm, England, 7 Jul 1943; Chalgrove, England, c. 8 Apr 1945; Hitcham, England, Oct-21 Nov 1945. Misawa AB, Japan, 7 Sep 2000-.
Commanders. Unkn, 1 May-7 Jul 1943; Col James G. Hall, 7 Jul 1943; Col Homer L. Sanders, 14 Sep 1943; unkn, Nov 1943; Col Homer L. Sanders, 30 Nov 1943; Col Paul T. Cullen, 1 Jan 1944; Lt Col George A. Lawson, 17 Feb 1944; Lt Col Norris E. Hartwell Jr., 7 May 1944; Lt Col Clarence A. Shoop, 5 Jun 1944; Lt Col Norris E. Hartwell Jr., 24 Jun 1944; Lt Col Clarence A. Shoop, 9 Aug 1944; Maj George W. Humbrecht, c. 26 Oct 1944; unkn, Nov 1944; Lt Col George W. Humbrecht, 4 Dec 1944; Maj Carl J. Chapman, 19 Jan 1945; Lt Col George W. Humbrecht, 28 Jan 1945; Capt John J. Anderson, 29 Mar 1945; Col George W. Humbrecht, 31 Mar 1945; Maj Hubert M. Childress, 19 Jun 1945; Maj Kermit E. Bliss, Sep 1945-unkn.
Aircraft. P-38/F-5, Spitfire, L-5, 1943-1945; P-51, 1945.
Operations. Activated in Colorado on 1 May 1943; assigned to Eighth Air Force, and transferred, without personnel and equipment, to England on 7 Jul 1943. Flew P-38 and F-5 (photographic version of P-38), Spitfire, and L-5 aircraft to obtain information about bombardment targets and damage inflicted by bombardment operations; provide mapping service for air and ground units; observe and report on enemy transportation, installations, and positions; and obtain data on weather conditions. Prior to Jun 1944, photographed airfields, cities, industrial establishments, and ports in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Received a DUC for operations during the period 31 May-30 Jun 1944, when its coverage of bridges, marshalling yards, canals, highways, rivers, and other targets contributed much to the success of the Normandy campaign. Photographed missile sites in France during Jul, and in Aug carried out photographic mapping sorties for ground forces advancing across France. Provided reconnaissance support for the airborne attack on Holland in Sep and for the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Beginning in Jan 1945, operated P-51s to escort its own reconnaissance planes as the group supported the Allied drive toward and into Germany. Took part in the final bomb-damage assessment following V-E Day. Inactivated in England on 21 Nov 1945. Activated on 7 Sep 2000 as an intelligence group at Misawa AB, Japan.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: ETO, 31 May-30 Jun 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2005; 1 Jun 2006-31 Dec 2007, 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2010; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2011.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through Nov 2010.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Aug 1945.
Supersedes statement prepared on 21 Nov 2000.
Emblem. Approved on 18 Jul 2007; modified on 1 Dec 2010.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.
Reviewed by Patsy Robertson.