Spitfire Mk V WZ-Y of the USAAF At Membury Airdrome 15th TRS 67th RG England 15 March 1943
67th Reconnaissance Group (Formerly 67th Observation Group) within 8th AF
Assigned to Eighth Air Force:
- Dates: 5 September 1942 – 13 November 1943
- Wing and Command Assignments:
- VIII Ground Air Support Command (GASC): 5 September 1942
- VIII Air Support Command (ASC): 18 September 1942
- VIII ASC, 1st Fighter Division (P): c. June 1943
Component Squadrons:
- 12th Reconnaissance Squadron
- 107th Reconnaissance Squadron
- 109th Reconnaissance Squadron
- 153rd Reconnaissance Squadron
Combat Aircraft:
- Spitfire VB
- L-4 Grasshopper (Liaison Aircraft)
- A-20B Havoc
Station:
- MEMBURY: 6 September 1942 – 12 December 1943
- (The last unit arrived on 6 October 1942)
Group Commanding Officer:
- Col Frederick R. Anderson: 4 May 1942 – 6 December 1943
Operational History:
- No Group-Level Operations: While assigned to the Eighth Air Force, the 67th Reconnaissance Group did not conduct operations as a whole. However, individual sorties were flown in cooperation with the RAF from July 1943 to October 1943 using Spitfires and Bostons. During these operations, at least one Boston crew and two Spitfire pilots were reported missing in action (MIA).
- Training and Early Duties:
- Activated on 1 September 1941 at Esler Field, Louisiana, as the 67th Observation Group.
- The group trained in the United States and conducted anti-submarine patrols along the East Coast, using various aircraft types such as the A-20, B-25, L-1, O-47, O-52, P-40, and P-43.
- The group sailed on the Queen Elizabeth for the UK on 31 August 1942, arriving on 5 September 1942.
- Initially, the group had no aircraft of its own, so the RAF provided Spitfire Vs and Masters. The group supported other Eighth Air Force units, using older Havoc and Boston aircraft for target towing and Spitfires for detached duties at various fighter combat crew replacement centers (CCRC).
- The group and its squadrons were redesignated as Reconnaissance units on 29 June 1943.
- Operations with RAF: During the summer of 1943, the 153rd Reconnaissance Squadron began operating with the RAF, flying Bostons on various missions. On 1 October 1943, the squadron was inactivated, and its Bostons and a few A-20Bs were transferred to the 2911th Bombardment Squadron (Light) Provisional. The group’s aircraft operated with the RAF on coastal sweeps but did not operate at full squadron strength.
Later Assignment:
- Transfer to Ninth Air Force: The group was reassigned to the Ninth Air Force on 13 November 1943 and re-equipped with P-51A and P-51B Mustangs. Some of its squadrons were later transferred to other Ninth Air Force groups, where they flew tactical reconnaissance and photo reconnaissance missions from December 1943.
- Operations in France: The group moved to France in July 1944 and continued operations there.
- Return to the United States: The group returned to the United States in late 1945 and was inactivated in March 1946.
Markings:
Spitfire VA/B (October 1942 – October 1943):
- Color Scheme: RAF day fighter camouflage:
- Upper Surfaces: Ocean Grey and Dark Green.
- Undersurfaces: Medium Sea Grey.
- Recognition Markings:
- Sky Band: 18-inch wide band on the rear fuselage.
- Propeller Spinner: Painted in Sky.
- Wing Leading Edge: 4-inch wide yellow stripe along the outer portion.
- USAAF Cocarade: Retained from previous 31st and 52nd Fighter Group aircraft:
- Fuselage Cocarade: 32-inch diameter centered on the fuselage roundel’s position, often with a 2-inch wide yellow concentric ring.
- Serial Numbers: Repeated on the tail fin in 3-inch black characters.
- Fuselage Letters: Original squadron letters from the 31st and 52nd Fighter Groups (e.g., ZM, AX, VX, DA) were retained initially.
- Squadron Codes: Issued later:
- 12th Observation Squadron: ZM
- 107th Observation Squadron: AX
- 109th Observation Squadron: VX
- 153rd Observation Squadron: DA
- Placement: Codes were 24 inches high in Sky, with squadron codes forward of the cocarde on the left side of the fuselage and aft on the right.
- Insignia Changes: With the introduction of extended national insignia in late June 1943, squadron letters were painted forward of the insignia on both sides, and individual aircraft letters were painted aft. The Sky fuselage band was removed from 109th Reconnaissance Squadron Spitfires.
- Spinner Colors: Yellow and red spinners appeared on some 12th and 107th Reconnaissance Squadron Spitfires in the summer of 1943, but these markings were no longer seen by autumn.
Havoc IIIs and A-20Bs (February – October 1943):
- Havocs: Worn RAF Havocs were received for training, painted in Dark Earth and Dark Green on upper surfaces, with Sky equivalent or black undersurfaces.
- A-20B Havocs: Delivered in Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray factory finish.
- Squadron Codes: The 153rd Reconnaissance Squadron had its aircraft marked with “DA” in 24-inch high Sky letters, positioned forward of the cocarde on both sides of the fuselage, with individual letters aft.
L-4B Cubs (October 1942 – July 1943):
- Color Scheme: Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray.
- Squadron Assignment: Each of the group’s squadrons had eight L-4Bs, marked with squadron codes (ZM, AX, VX, and DA) and individual letters in 24-inch high Sky letters, with squadron codes forward of the cocarde.
- Transfers: Many L-4Bs were transferred to other units in the summer of 1943, often retaining their original code letters.