17th Reconnaissance Squadron (17th RS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group

Background
On February 5, 1942 constituted as the 17th Observation Squadron (Light) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On March 2, 1942 activated in Air Force Combat Command in Providence, Rhode Island and Salinas Army Airfield. During May 1942 conducts anti-submarine patrols during the next four months.

On July 4, 1942 redesignated 17th Observation Squadron and redesignated as 71st Observation Group and later redesignated 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG). On January 24, 1943 moves to Esler Field in Lousiana. On March 31, 1943 moves to Laurel Army Airfield. On April 2, 1943 redesignated 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment). On September 24, 1943 begins a movement overseas bound for South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 6, 1943 arrives Milne Bay in New Guinea.

On November 22, 1943 moves to Dobodura in New Guinea.

On January 28, 1944 the squadron files their first combat mission.

On February 6, 1944 three B-25s fly an armed reconnaissance mission over Bunabun Harbor on the north coast of New Guinea. Lost is B-25D "Sticky Kitty" 42-87280 pilot Captain Lon F. Brown (MIA).

On February 25, 1944 on a patrol B-25D "Mitch The Witch" 42-87293 piloted by Captain Bert Sill over the Bismarck Sea flying at 3,000' near Kavieng encountered a Ki-21 Sally flying southeast towards Rabaul and engaged in an aerial gun battle with the enemy bomber and shot it down. A series of photographs show the bomber in flight have been highly reproduced.

On March 1, 1944 moves to Finschafen Airfield in New Guinea.

On May 25, 1944 the air echelon begins operating from Wakde Airifeld.

On June 10, 1944 the air echelon returns to Finschafen Airfield.

On June 8, 1944 ten B-25 took off on Mission #160 B-310 led by Commanding Officer (C. O.) Major William G. Tennille, Jr. to attack a Japanese force of two cruisers and six destroyers bound for Biak. During the Battle of Cape Waios the B-25s attack at low level, destroyer Harusame sustained two direct bomb hits and sank. Anti-aircraft fire shot down B-25D pilot Tennille (MIA), B-25D pilot Wood (MIA) and B-25D pilot Lind (MIA). The bombers claimed hits on claimed hits on four destroyers, but only Harusame was hit and sunk. For this mission, the squadron earned the Distinguished Unit Citation.

On June 27, 1944 the air echelon begins operating from Biak. Three days later, the ground echelon begins a movement to Biak.

On July 28, 1944 lost is B-25D 42-87287 pilot 1st Lt. Earl D. Spriggs, Jr. (MIA) on a flight from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield on a courier flight with passengers bound for Mokmer Drome on Biak.

On October 21, 1944 the ground echelon begins a movement from Biak bound for Leyte while the air echelon continues to fly mission from Biak.

On November 2, 1944 moves to Tacloban Airfield on Leyte the Philippines while the air echelon continues to operate from Biak.

On December 23, 1944 the air echelon moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro while the rest of the squadron remains at Tacloban Airfield on Leyte.

On December 26, 1944 the squadron took off on a strike against the Japanese task force in the Mindoro Strait off western Mindoro. Lost is B-25D "The Mad Missourian" 42-87297  pilot 2nd Lt William N. Hatcher (MIA) and returning lost is B-25D "Montana Maid" 42-87296 pilot 1st Lt. Burwell M. Vowell (MIA). For this mission, the squadron earned the Distinguished Unit Citation.

On January 7, 1945 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro in the Philippines. The squadron also operates from Hill Airfield.

On February 11, 1945 the squadron flies a a low level strike mission against Coron Island. Lost is B-25D "Little Joe" 42-87281 pilot 2nd Lt. Walter "Ken" Kenneth Barber (survived) force landed returning from the mission.

On April 7, 1945 moves to Lingayen Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines.

On May, 18, 1945 lost is B-25D "Charmin' Lady" 42-87444 pilot Lt. Frederic E. Kluth on a mission against targets near Divisoria in the Cagayan Valley and hit by anti-aircraft fire that set the right engine on fire and cause the bomber to crash.

On July 29, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa in Japan with a detachment remaining at Lingayen Airfield until September 1945.

On Octber 21, 1945 attached to the 91st Reconnaissance Wing.

On November 10, 1945 attached to V Bomber Command.

On October 26, 1945 moves to Yokota Airfield in Japan.

On April 27, 1946 inactivated.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citations June 8, 1944 (Dutch New Guinea) December 26, 1944 (Mindoro)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Some sources list the squadron as the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (17th TRS), 17th Tac Recon Squadron or 17th Tac Recon.
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 96-97 [PDF pages 108-109]
Rocky Boyer's War: An Unvarnished History of the Air Blitz that Won the War in the Southwest Pacific (2017) by Allen D. Boyer

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