[billw917]

I have the "yearbook" (The Story of a Squadron") published after the war for the 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. My father was an armorer for the squadron from early 1943 until the end of the war.
The 154th was at Sheitla Landing Ground in Tunisia in early April 1943. That would include April 9, 1943, when Lt. Alfred Schwab took up a P-51 on the first combat mission flown by USAAF flyers in the Mediterranean theater. The next day, Schwab received the Oak Leaf Cluster, according to the book. And that day the squadron transferred to Le Sers Airfield for the next month.
I have attached a couple photos of Schwab's aircraft, a photo of two Mustangs buzzing the airfield and a set of photos showing the squadron's three fighters in North Africa: a P-38, P-51s and a P-39.
The squadron mostly used P-39s in the tactical reconnaissance role in North Africa. After hostilities ended on North Africa, the pilots were transferred out, new pilots arrived and the squadron switched completely to P-38s for use in the new role of weather reconnaissance.
Ultimately, the squadron was stationed at Bari where it served directly for the 15th Air Force, not part of any group.