17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron - WWII w PAC SVC Mug

The 17th Photo Recon Squadron departed overseas bound for the South Pacific. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force, 4th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (4th PRG). On January 16, 1942 transfered to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The squadron flew its first combat missions on February 5, 1943 and the next day was redesignated the 17th Photographic Squadron (Light) and began operating from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal. In early 1943, the the squadron flew photographic missions over the Central Solomons, Northern Solomons and Bougainville, photographing Japanese airfields and bases.