US Reconnaissance Aircraft

USAAF Reconnaissance & Observation Aircraft

	The F-7 was a photographic reconnaissance version of the B24 Liberator, most of the reconnaissance versions were J, L and M types. The first of these conversions were called F-7A, which had a trimetrogon camera located in the nose, and a pair of vertical cameras installed in the aft bomb bay. The F-7B differed from the F-7A in carrying all five cameras only in the aft bomb bay, with the nose camera installation being deleted. Most F-7Bs were conversioned from B-24Ms. However, a few B-24Js and Ls became F-7Bs.
	F-10 was the designation given to 45 B-25Ds 'Mitchell' that were modified for photographic reconnaissance work. All armament, armor, and bombing equipment was removed. Three cameras were installed in the lower part of the nose. Often, a downward-pointing camera was fitted in the aft fuselage. The crew of the F-10 was five -- two pilots, a navigator, a radio operator, and a photographer.
	F-9 Flying Fortress: This was the photo-reconnaissance version of the B-17. The first of these were B-17F conversions which had the weapons bay modified to hold cameras and other survailance equipment. A camera was installed in the nose and some of the defensive armament was retained. This became the F-9A and the F-9B (which had a different camera installed) of which there were a final 25 conversions completed.
	The twin-engine B-18 Bolo was the first Douglas medium bomber. It was a combat version of the DC-2 commercial transport, absorbed punishment well and was especially useful during the early days of World War II.
	The Lockheed F5 was the photo reconnaissance vesion of the more familiar P38 Lightning. There were about 1400 examples of the usually unarmed Lockheed F5 built. The basis of the conversion was the removal of the guns and replacing them with cameras with the appropriate clear view panels. The Lightning was designated either F4 or F5 depending upon which version of the P38 on which the conversion was based.
	The photo-recon version of the P-51 was called the F6. There were a number of versions, the F-6A fitted with two K24 cameras in fuselage, the F-6B again fitted with two K24 cameras, the F-6C was a tactical reconnaissance version of P-51 B/C with two K24 or one K17 and one K22 camera. The F-6D which was a P-51D with fuselage camera. The F-6K was a converted P-51K.
	The L-1 liaison aircraft, originally designated O-49, was the miltary version of the civilian Stinson Model 74. It marked the transition between heavier and larger observation aircraft used by the Air Corps in the 1930s
	At the time American ground forces went into combat around the world during WW II, the AAF began using the L-2 in much the same manner as the observation balloon was used in France during WW I--spotting enemy troop and supply concentrations and directing artillery fire on them. It was also used for other types of liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance which required airplanes that could land and take off in minimum distances from unprepared landing strips.
	High-wing monoplane, a widely used as liaison and artillery spotting aircraft. The military version of the Piper Cub, the L-4 was produced in large numbers for the then-new role of airborne artillery spotting and liaison.
	The O-47As were powered by a 975-horsepower engine, while the subsequent O-47Bs carried more fuel and were powered by a 1,060-horsepower engine. The O-47 used a downward firing gun, and because the observer was stationed in a special compartment in the lower fuselage, the airplane had a swollen appearance.
	In the 1930s the US Army notified Curtiss Wright of its requirements for a two-seat observation aircraft. Ordered into production in 1939, some 203 Owls were built for the US Army under the designation O-52, with deliveries beginning in 1940. None, however, were used in first-line service, all being directed for use in training roles.
	Low-level photorecon was not glamorous duty, but the Mustang Mk.I was well suited to it. Behind the cockpit of the Mustang was a large, transparent rear quarter-light which, because of the shape and position of the pilot's seat, was almost useless for rear vision but was perfect for the installation of a large, oblique camera.
	The P-39 was one of America's first-line pursuit planes in December 1941. 27 of were converted into P-39F-2 sub-variants which were equipped for the ground-attack and reconnaissance role.
	Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XI, an unarmed photo-recce variant of F Mk IX (fighter) 21 transferred to USAAF