Constituted as 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated
on 15 Apr 1942. Trained with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Oct 1942, and
assigned to Eighth AF. Operated primarily as a strategic bombardment
organization throughout the war. Entered combat in Nov 1942 and
concentrated its attacks on submarine pens, ship-building yards, harbors,
and dock facilities until mid-1943. During this period, also struck
airdromes, factories, and communications. Attacked the navy yard at
Wilhelmshaven on 27 Jan 1943 when heavy bombers of Eighth AF first
penetrated Germany. Received a DUC for bombing marshalling yards at Hamm
on 4 Mar 1943 in spite of adverse weather and heavy enemy opposition. From
the middle of 1943 until the war ended, engaged chiefly in attacks on
aircraft factories, airdromes, and oil facilities. Specific targets
included airfields at Villacoublay and Oldenburg, aircraft factories in
Oranienburg and Brussels, chemical industries in Leverkusen and
Peenemunde, ball-bearing plants in Schweinfurt, and other industries in
Ludwigshafen, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Wilhelmshaven. On 11 Jan 1944
organizations of Eighth AF went into central Germany to attack vital
aircraft factories; participating in this operation, the 91st group
successfully bombed its targets in spite of bad weather, inadequate
fighter cover, and severe enemy attack, being awarded a DUC for the
performance. Expanding its operations to include interdictory and support
missions, the group contributed to the Normandy invasion by bombing gun
emplacements and troop concentrations near the beachhead area in Jun 1944;
aided the St Lo breakthrough by attacking enemy troop positions, 24-25 Jul
1944; supported troops on the front lines near Caen in Aug 1944; attacked
communications near the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec
1944-Jan 1945; and assisted the push across the Rhine by striking
airfields, bridges, and railroads near the front lines in the spring of
1945. Evacuated prisoners from German camps after the war ended. Returned
to the US, Jun-Jul 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Redesignated 91st Reconnaissance Group. Activated on 1 Jul 1947.
Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Redesignated 91st Strategic
Reconnaissance Group in Nov 1948. Used a variety of aircraft, including
B-17's and RB-17's, B-29's and RB-29's, and B-50's. Redesignated 91st
Strategic Reconnaissance Group (Medium) in Jul 1950. Equipped with
RB-45's. Inactivated on 28 May 1952.
Squadrons. 7th Geodetic: 1949-1950. 91st: 1949-1950. 322d: 1942-1945;
1947-1948, 1949-1952. 324th: 1942-1945; 1947-1952. 401st: 1942-1945.
Stations. Harding Field, La, 15 Apr 1942; MacDill Field, Fla, 16 May
1942; Walla Walla, Wash, c. 26 Jun-24 Aug 1942; Kimbolton, England, Sep
1942; Bassingbourn, England, c. 14 Oct 1942-23 Jun 1945; Drew Field, Fla,
3 Jul-7 Nov 1945. Andrews Field, Md, 1 Jul 1947; McGuire AFB, NJ, 20 Jul
1948; Barksdale AFB, La, 1 Oct 1949; Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, c. 5 Sep 1950-8
May 1952.
Commanders. 1st Lt Edward R Eckert, 15 Apr 1942; Col Stanley T Wray, 15
May 1942; Lt Col Baskin R Lawrence Jr, c. 25 May 1943; Lt Col Clemens L
Wurzbach, 25 Jun 1943; Col Claude E Putnam, Dec 1943; Col Henry W Terry,
17 May 1944; Lt Col Donald E Sheeler, 30 May 1945-unkn. Col Frank L Dunn,
1948; Lt Col Robert S Kittel, 10 Nov 1948; Col Charles R Greening, 24 Jun
1949; Maj James I Cox, 23 Aug 1949; Col Jean R Byerly, 1 Oct 1949; Col
Lewis E Lyle, 25 Nov 1950-c. Aug 1951; Col Joseph A Preston, c. Aug
1951-28 May 1952.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Hamm, Germany, 4 Mar 1943;
Germany, 11 Jan 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure (sky blue), a lightning flash issuing from
dexter base and pointing to an eye proper on a cloud issuing from the
sinister chief, on the flash in dexter base a sphere proper in an orbit
argent; over all a bend azure fimbriated argent. (Approved 23 Dec
1952.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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