5th Photo Reconnaissance Group

[researcher111]

Stig

Once gain ,I am not keen to get into operational org of the recon groups
rather concentrate on area of interest, having said that here is what I would
like to add :

The first recon unit of the 15th AF was 15th CMS , which covered targets
outside of Northern Italy ,once 15th AF reached full combat strenght
in spring of 1944 the 15th CMS no longer could meet increasing target
information demand .The MAPRW supplied additional coverage in the
month of June 1944 mainly and foremost by their Mosquitoes which were
dispatched for target coverage in Silesia and Western Poland.

The 3rd PRG also intially part of MAPRW supplied coverage in Northern Italy
but when it joined the 12th AF upon disolution of MAPRW in Oct '44 the 15th
raised the 5 PRG . The 5th PRG it included also the 15th CMS now redesignated
as 15th PRS which along with two other RSQ's covered the area of Ops of 15th AF .

The Med Allied Photo Intel Center formed in Feb 1944 processed most of the
photo recon from 15th AF supplemented by intel from German targets received
from UK .This Center prepared photos interpretation using photos received after
bombing raids but the accuracy of their estimates on damages inflicted on targets
varied . Post war studies determined that assessments of damage to refinieries
in Romania, Austria, Hungaria and Germany were much more accurate than those
pertinent to the aircraft factories.

Now that we are through with this, the puzzle of our F-5C dispatched to two
Balkan and 6 Romanian targets is not yet solved . The aircraft flew before as
Denver Doll assigned to an other pilot who completed his tour then Hardwick
took over and runned out of luck on Aug 30 while having renamed his
bird as "R & R Express " . Is still not clear who was running the
recon show on that doomed day 15th or 12th AF !

This F-5C must have been with 15th quite a while neither Hardwick nor
previous pilot were with 12th AF

Hope that this will work out for you mate

Alex K

PS : Information picked from N.Twining memories
and scores of 15th AF history books on my library

[Stig Jarlevik]

Yes Mate

Let's call it quits here Alex since we now have left the topic way behind.

My point was that 5 PRS did not belong to 5 PRG (except one flight for a very short period)

Nothing so far said by you changes that fact.

Cheers
Stig

[Fenix78]

[Alex Smart]

OK chaps, this is what I have for the 3rd PRG.

1943
February 1st - F-4 - serial and pilot ?
February 7th - F-4 - serial and pilot ?
March 28th - F-4 - a/c serial ? - Captain Richardson - Detachment of 3rdPRG to 683 Sqn RAF, Malta.
June 26th - F-5 - 42-13109 - 3PRG/5PRS - MACR 14561 - Pilot: 2Lt. Marvin Russell CRANE. O-730391.
August 26th - F-5 - 42-13281 - 3PRG/15PRS - MACR 433 - Pilot: 1Lt. John (nmi) FROST Jr. O-725599.
October 7th - F-5 - 42-13092 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 1260 - Pilot:1Lt. Marion E, LEGENDRE. O-737809.
October 24th - F-5 - 42-13286 - 3PRG - MACR 1009.
October 27th - F-5 - 42-13314 - 3PRG - MACR 1114.
November 6th - F-5 - 42-13304 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 1123 - Pilot: F/O. James R, REINBOLT. T-187411.
November 9th - F-5 - 42-13100 - 3PRG/15CMS - MACR 1310 - Pilot: 2Lt. George(nmi) CASTINGS Jr. O-803336.
November 11th - F-5 - 42-13071 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 1145 - Pilot: 1Lt. Clifford E. KENT. O-737797.
November 17th - F-4 - 41-2371 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 1148 - Pilot:2Lt. John W. FLEMING. O-796114.
December 27th - F-5 - 42-13068 - 3PRG/5PRS - MACR 2578 - Pilot: 1Lt. Robert D, ECKLUND. O-729831.

1944
January 22nd - F-5 - 42-67531 - 3PRG - MACR 3519.
February 14th - F-5 - 42-13319 - 3PRG/5CMS - MACR 2400 - Pilot: 2Lt. John O, ELSTAD. O-795580.
March 20th - F-5 - 42-67355 - 3PRG/5CMS - MACR 3217 - Pilot: 1Lt. Richard M, GORDON. O-796128.
May 10th - F-5 - 42-68279 - 3PRG/5CMS - MACR 4654 - Pilot: 2Lt. Edward V, MARITT. O-753702.
July 31st - F-5 - 42-68223 - 3PRG/GRIII/33 (Attachment) - Pilot: Saint Exubery.
August 16th - F-5 - 42-13310 - 3PRG/5CMS - MACR 8008 - Pilot: 1Lt. Reginald W, FRENCH ( earlier passenger Lt.Patrick F. ROWLES ).
August 20th - F-5 - 42-68251 - 3PRG/5CMS - MACR 8009 - Pilot: 2Lt. Curtis L, WILLIS. O-756775.
August 25th - F-5 - 42-13309 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 7995 - Pilot: 1Lt. Jerald B, JENSEN. O-732259.
September 14th - F-5 - 44-23230 - 3PRG/12PRS - MACR 9669 - Pilot: 2Lt. James F, BABCOCK. O-692637.

1945
April 20th - F-5 - 42-67243 - 3PRG/5PRS - accident - Pilot: SANCHEZ, Butler H.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Alex

All of them fits nicely!

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Stig, I thought that there would have been more.Perhaps they came down in recaptured territory so did not get any macr's and were not accidents ?
I also have some 154 Sqn if required.
Stay safe
Alex

[vathra]

Alex,
did the 154 wrs had more casualties than 5 PRG?
I was surprised to see that I have only 1 F-5E in Yugoslavia, but 5 from the 154 wrs.

[researcher111]

edited

[Alex Smart]

Hi Stig, have sent you a PM
Alex

[Alex Smart]

Here is what I found for the 154th .WRG Sqn.
Hi, here is what I have for the 154 the WRS.

KIA = Killed in Action - 21.
KIT = Killed in Training or other aerial activities - 4.
MIA = Missing in Action - 3.
POW = Prisoner of War - 4.
WIA = wounded in Action = 13.

1942
April 3rd - 2Lt. HAYMAN, George F. Jr - O-421933 - A-20A - 40-3157 - KIS.
April 3rd - 1Lt. DARDEN, Alfred C Jr - O-352476 - A20A - 40-3157 - KIS.
April 3rd - PFC. FISCHER, Charlie D. 20758889 - A20A - 40-3157 - KIS.
November 8th - 2Lt. PARKER, James K - O-725784 - East Coast Memorial, Tablets of the Missing - 122nd Obs Sqn ( But 154th )- KIA.
November 8th - Cpl. PICRAS, Nick G - 14058382 - KIA - East Coast Memorial, Tablets of the Missing.
November 8th - S/Sgt. SMITH, James A - 20758927 - KIA - East Coast Memorial. Tablets of the Missing.
November 8th - S/Sgt. WILLIAMS, Elmer We - 34072298 - KIA - East Coast Memorial. Tablets of the Missing - 122nd Obs Sqn.
ABMC and DPAA has date as the 8th November, instead of the 9th.

1943
January 7th - Captain. KNAPP, Clyde O-328819 - KIA - A-20 - serial ? On an anti submarine patrol.
January 7th - 1Lt. GRAVESTOCK, John H - O-432056 - KIA - A-20 serial ? On an anti submarine patrol.
January 7 th - S/Sgt. POZZI, William F - 18058751 - KIA - A-20 - serial ? On an anti submarine patrol.
January 7th - Pfc. REYNOLDS, Edward H - 34199768 - KIA - A-20 - serial ? On an anti submarine patrol.
January 30th - 2Lt. McCLOSKY, John D - KIA.
January 30th - 2Lt. LAXSON, Mack E, - O-725750 - KIA.
February 2nd - 2Lr. YOST, William R - O-663219 - POW.
February 22nd - 1Lt. HILLIKER, Eugene F - O-429651 - POW.
March 11th - 1Lt. KELSEY, Verne B - WIA.
March 22nd - 2Lt. NUTZEL, William C - KIA.
March 24th - 1Lt. MARQUETTE, Elwyn J - O-429672 - KIA.
March 27th - Sgt. TOSCANO, Elias P - WIA.
March 27th - Cpl. GOLBA, Briney - WIA.
March 27th - Cpl. RUSSELL, Willie E - WIA
March 27th (Probably) - T/Sgt. CLARENCE, Leonard - WIA.
March 28th - 2Lt. UTESCH, Lewis F - 660307 - KIA.
March 28th - 1Lt. WILDER, Robert H - O-379313 - POW.
March 31st - Captain. KILLIAN, Francis M. - O-439692 - KIA
April 1st - 1Lt. BILLUPS, Ralph E - O-663119 - KIA..
April 3rd - 1Lt. KENNER, Howard - KIT
April 23rd - 1Lt. OSBORNE, John F - KIA
May 31st - 1Lt. ANSTINE, Robert M - WIA.
May 31st - 1Lt. ROSEBERRY, William E - WIA.
September 18th - 1Lt. THOMAS, William M, P, - O-799677 - KIT.
October 2nd - 2Lt. EVANS, John K - KIT.
November 7th - 1Lt. KELTNER, James B - KIT

1944
March 29th - F-5 - 42-12892 - MACR 3511 -1Lt. NOEL, Arthur F - O-750670 - KIA
April 27th - F-5 - 42-13026 - MACR 4367 - 1Lt. FOX, Paul E - O-758977 - KIA.
May 2nd - 1Lt. KENNEY, Delphon C - WIA.
June 27th - 1Lt. HORROCKS, Richard J - WIA.
July 27th - Captain. SLAGLE, Harold W - WIA
August 22nd - 2Lt. LEAVENS, Charles W - WIA.
September 15th - 2Lt. HUMPHREY, Walter J - WIA.
October 23rd - F-5 - 43-2330 - 1Lt. FEATHER, Carroll - O-675835 - KIA.
November 17th - F-5 - 44-24065 - MACR 9845 - 1Lt. TOUHY, Edward F - O-758742 - KIA.
November 18th - F-5 - 42-67040 - MACR 9867 - 2Lt. HARRIS, Everett - O-769814 - MIA.E
December 9th - P-38 - 42-67029 - MACR 10786 - 2Lt. HARRISON, Elwen S - O-769815 - MIA.
December 20th - P-38 - 42-104219 - MACR 10634 - 1Lt. JOHNSON, John Clark - O-856904. - POW.

1945
January 2nd - F/O. KYLE, Charles F. - WIA.
January 7th - F-5 - 42-104018 - MACR 10855 - F/O. MARTIN, Carl Lee - T-3012 - MIA.
February 11th - 2Lt. WALKER, Frederick A - O-712062 - KIA.
April 5th - F-5 - 44-25003 - 2Lt. BISHOP, Floyd E - O-857007 - KIA.