106th Reconnaissance Squadron (106th RS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force (13th AF), 42nd Bomb Group (42nd BG)

Background
On August 27, 1917 organized as the 106th Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army. On February 1, 1918 redesignated as 800th Aero Squadron and assigned to the 2nd Artillery Aerial Observation School with B flight with the 1st Artillery Aerial Observation School with a detachment with the 4th Artillery Aerial Observation School and C flight with the 5th Artillery Aerial Observation School. On May 9, 1919 both A flight and B flight were demobilized. On July 2, 1919 C flight was demobilized at the conclusion of World War I.

On January 21, 1922 assigned to the Alabama National Guard as Corps air service then divisional aviation with the 39th Infantry Division until 1924 then with the 31st Infantry Division. During 1936, reconstituted and consolidated with the 135th Squadron. On January 25, 1923 redesignated 135th Observation Squadron. On May 1, 1923 redesignated 114th Observation Squadron. On January 16, 1924 redesignated 106th Observation Squadron.

On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On November 25, 1940 ordered to active service with the 4th Corps Area. During December 1940 with IV Army Corps. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On September 1, 1941 assigned to the 66th Observation Group.

Wartime History
On January 13, 1942 redesignated 106th Observation Squadron (Medium) then redesignated 106th Observation Squadron. On April 2, 1943 redesignated 106th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment). On June 20, 1943 assigned to the 76th Reconnaissance Group (76th RG). On July 13, 1943 assigned to the 3rd Air Force (3rd AF). On August 23, 1943 assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Command.

On November 19, 1943 assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF) in the South Pacific (SoPAC). During January 1944 attached to the 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG) "The Crusaders". On January 25, 1944 transfers from Henderson Field to Stirling Airfield. On February 1, 1944 assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG) "The Crusaders".

On March 8, 1944 the squadron took off on a bombing mission against Rabual. Returning, damaged B-25D Mitchell 42-87320 pilot Captain Edwin M. Shanks ditched into Saint Georges Channel with the entire crew rescued by RNZAF Catalina NZ4015.

On May 9, 1944 redesignated 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium).

References
The Crusaders A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) (1946) includes the 106th RS
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 330-331 (100th Bombardment) [PDF pages 342-343]