71ST RECONNAISSANCE GROUP
LATER 71ST TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE GROUP
THEN 71ST RECONNAISSANCE GROUP

The 71st Observation Group was activated at Birmingham, Alabama on 1 October 1941 and moved to Salinas California in December 1941. For the first eight months of the war, the Group's duty was patrolling the California coast. Some personnel were sent to the Pacific theatre in January 1942. In January 1943, the Group transferred to Esler Field, Louisiana, where it remained until 31 March 1943. From 1 April 1943 until 24 September 1943, the Group was stationed at Laurel, Mississippi. In April 1943, the Group was re-designated from an Observation to a Reconnaissance Group. The Group travelled to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia in September 1943, where they boarded the USS General John Pope on 5 October 1943 for duty overseas. Their destination was Milne Bay, New Guinea. The Group arrived at Milne Bay on 3 November 1943 and established its headquarters at Port Moresby. The Group participated in various battles near New Guinea in 1944 and attacked Japanese shipping.

The 71st Reconnaissance Group, which was re-designated as the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group in May 1944, and then the 71st Reconnaissance Group in May 1945, consisted of the following three squadrons:-

• 25th Liaison Squadron
• 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter)
• 110th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter)

REFERENCES

Air Force History Index

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank James Gray for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 22 January 2024

This page last updated 14 May 2024