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15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

Squadron

  • Two F-6C Mustangs of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force fly together over countryside. In the foreground is 44-10900 5M-J

    Two F-6C Mustangs of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force fly together over countryside. In the foreground is 44-10900 5M-J "Jerry", assigned to Lt. Merlin Reed and in the background, 42-103355 5M-U "Alma" of Lt. Raymond Montes Jr. Image via Tom Ivie. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Aircraft of the 15th TRS, 10th PRG. "Not for publication".'

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  • An airman of the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group with his F-6 Mustang. Image via R Woolner.

    An airman of the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group with his F-6 Mustang. Image via R Woolner. "Major John Florence, CO of the 12th TRS, poses with the 15th TRS's F-6C, 5MX, 'The Eyes of the World / Nanki-Poo' at St. Dizier." s/n 43-12467 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. - p. 108 & 127 Patton's Eyes in the Sky by Tom Ivie 2003 ISBN 1-903223-26-1

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  • An F-6 Mustang of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in flight. Handwritten on reverse: 'P-51C, 15th TRS, 10th PRG.

    An F-6 Mustang of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in flight. Handwritten on reverse: 'P-51C, 15th TRS, 10th PRG. "Not For Publication. Tom Ivie.'

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  • Captain John H. Hoefker, of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang (5M-A, serial number 44-14597). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'John H. Hoefker. 15th TSR, 10th PRG.

    Captain John H. Hoefker, of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang (5M-A, serial number 44-14597). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'John H. Hoefker. 15th TSR, 10th PRG. "Not For Publication".'

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  • A F-6D Mustang (5M-A, serial number 44-14597) (photographic reconnaissance variant of a P-51D Mustang) of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force piloted by Captain John H. Hoefker. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-51D (F6-D), Pilot Capt. John H. Hoefker, 15th TRS, 10th PRG, 9th AF.

    A F-6D Mustang (5M-A, serial number 44-14597) (photographic reconnaissance variant of a P-51D Mustang) of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9th Air Force piloted by Captain John H. Hoefker. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-51D (F6-D), Pilot Capt. John H. Hoefker, 15th TRS, 10th PRG, 9th AF. "Not For Publication".'

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  • North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang (F-6C) Serial 42-103368 of the 15th TRS at St. Dizler Airfield (ALG A-64), France, Autumn 1944. This aircraft was flown by Captain John H Hoefker, who used it to shoot down three enemy aircraft in June 1944. He became the 10th Group's most successful combatant with credits of 8.5 air victories.

    North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang (F-6C) Serial 42-103368 of the 15th TRS at St. Dizler Airfield (ALG A-64), France, Autumn 1944. This aircraft was flown by Captain John H Hoefker, who used it to shoot down three enemy aircraft in June 1944. He became the 10th Group's most successful combatant with credits of 8.5 air victories.

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  • Germany, 8 April -- The Burning Heinkel 111 Was Photographed By a 9th AF Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot, Capt. John H. Hoefker Of Fort Mitchell, Ky., Just After he had shot him out of the sky causing him to belly in several miles south of Juterbog, Germany, as testified by the deep round scars in the photograph. Capt Hoefker was on an early morning armed recon mission in a P-51C with his wingman, 1st Lt Charles D White of Clarksdale, Miss, when he met the Jerry plane. Capt Hoefker said that the He 111 ‘Soaked up plenty bullets before going down’ Lt White stayed up to watch for other Jerries while the Capt finished the job. This victory brought Hoefker’s total of enemy planes destroyed in aerial combat to nine and a half and the total of his squadron for the morning to seven Germans. After the battle Capt Hoefker and Lt White continued their recon and returned safely with valuable photos of German airfields and other military installations as well as this confirming picture of the HE 111.

    Germany, 8 April -- The Burning Heinkel 111 Was Photographed By a 9th AF Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot, Capt. John H. Hoefker Of Fort Mitchell, Ky., Just After he had shot him out of the sky causing him to belly in several miles south of Juterbog, Germany, as testified by the deep round scars in the photograph. Capt Hoefker was on an early morning armed recon mission in a P-51C with his wingman, 1st Lt Charles D White of Clarksdale, Miss, when he met the Jerry plane. Capt Hoefker said that the He 111 ‘Soaked up plenty bullets before going down’ Lt White stayed up to watch for other Jerries while the Capt finished the job. This victory brought Hoefker’s total of enemy planes destroyed in aerial combat to nine and a half and the total of his squadron for the morning to seven Germans. After the battle Capt Hoefker and Lt White continued their recon and returned safely with valuable photos of German airfields and other military installations as well as this confirming picture of the HE 111.

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  • Harris Levey (a.k.a. Leland Harris), photographer

    Harris Levey (a.k.a. Leland Harris), photographer

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  • "A North American P-51 Mustang, fighter plane of the 9th AF, converted into a Photographic Plane, takes off from a base somewhere in France." - F-6C 42-103211 "Phyllis" (coded 5M-M) of the 15th Tac Recon Sq, 10th PRG gets airborne for another recce sortie.

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Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Middle Wallop

Connections

People

  • Clyde East

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | fighter pilot-1055 single engine/squadron commander | 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
    RCAF June 1941 - Jan 1944 ...

  • John Hoefker

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
    Captain John H Hoefker, piloted North American P-51C Mustang 42-103368 to shoot down three enemy aircraft in June 1944. He became the 10th Photo Recon Group's most successful combatant with credits of 8½ air victories.

  • Ralph Knoebel

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
    Ralph served as a pilot in the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 10th Photo Recon Group out of Middle Wallop, England. On 22 June 1944, he was shot down flying F-6 42-103378 fifteen miles west of St Quentin, France and was Killed in Action....

  • Leland Larson

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
    Flight leader 15th TRS Dec. 1944 - July 1945 6 air kills while flying 77 combat missions Scored last AAF kill in the ETO on May 8, 1945.

  • Harris Levey

    Military | Sergeant | Photographer | 446th Bomb Group

  • Salvatore Mecca

    Military | First Lieutenant | 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
    Salvatore Mecca from Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, served with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Europe. He died of wounds on 15 July 1944 and is buried in Normandy American Cemetery.

  • Louis Placek

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot
    Served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe, Air Offensive Europe ...

Aircraft

  • 42-103211 'Phyllis'

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 15TCS, 10PRG, 9AF USAAF. Lost to flak on 24-Dec-44 near Bastogne. 2Lt Alfred R. Tenny was KIA (MACR 11426).

  • 42-103382

    F-6 Mustang
    North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang (F-6C) Serial 42-103382 of the 15th TRS, 10th PRG, XIX TAC. Aircraft shot down by Fw 190A-8 flown bo Oblt Alfred Neumayer of JG 4/1 at Bellheim, E of Landau and crashed 3 km NW of Dahnk SW of Pirmasens, Germany 29th...

  • 42-103368 'Nadine'

    P-51 Mustang
    North American P-51C-5-NT [F-6C] Mustang 42-103368 15th Tactical Recon Squadron (coded 5M-G) 10th Photo Recon Group, 9th AF . Assigned to Capt. John H Hoefker (unnamed) in June 1944 when he shot three enemy aircraft. Capt. Hoefker became the 10th Photo...

  • EP179 'Mary James'

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb EP179 Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • BL243

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire BL243 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • 44-14597

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned 15TRS, 10PRG, 9AF USAAF.

  • 42-103443

    P-51 Mustang

Citations

None

Air Force
8th
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Reconnaissance
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:47 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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