91st Air Division

91st Air Division
Active 1943–1946; 1946-1949
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Command of reconnaissance forces
Part of Continental Air Command
Nickname(s)
Engagements Southwest Pacific Theater
Decorations Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]
"91st Reconnaissance Wing" redirects here. For the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, see 91st Missile Wing.

The 91st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Forces, assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at Newark Municipal Airport, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 24 June 1949.

History

During World War II, the 91st Photographic Wing was the primary source of aerial photography and visual intelligence and mapping for Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theater. Its assigned units flying unarmed over enemy territory, "photographing Japanese airfields, harbors, beach defenses, and personnel areas in New Guinea, the Bismarcks, Borneo, and the southern Philippines. They also reconnoitered target areas and enemy troop positions to provide intelligence for Air Force and Army units."[1]

"Liaison aircraft assigned to the wing rescued Allied fliers forced down in Pacific jungles, and evacuated wounded personnel from forward areas. Frequently fighters, assigned to subordinate units, attacked gun emplacements, bridges, supply dumps, and other installations in support of ground troops."[1]

"In 1945, as the war with Japan came to a close, the subordinate units flew photographic missions over Kyūshū. After hostilities ceased, these flights continued, and the aerial photographs obtained helped to locate prisoner of war (POW) camps and in assessing damage done to the Japanese communications system."[1] Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.[1]

"Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Newark Airport, New Jersey in late 1946 controlling tactical reconnaissance units. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949."[1]

Lineage

Activated on 20 October 1943
Redesignated 91 Reconnaissance Wing on 20 June 1945.
Inactivated on 27 January 1946
Redesignated 91 Air Division, Reconnaissance on 16 April 1948
Inactivated on 27 June 1949[1]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Factsheet 91 Air Division, Reconnaissance". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

Bibliography=

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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