1st Photographic Group The 1st Photographic Group is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit . It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing , stationed at Buckley Field , Colorado . It was disbanded on 5 October 1944 , but reconstituted in 1985 as the 358th Special Operations Group . History . Established in mid - 1941 as a GHQ Air Force aerial mapping and reconnaissance group based at Bolling Field . Mission was to conduct long - range photo reconnaissance after the pattern developed by the British . Each of the four initial assigned squadrons of the group ( 1st , 2d , 3d , 4th ) was assigned to one of the four continental air forces ( 1st , 2d , 3d , 4th ) . The unit almost no opportunity for training because each of its squadrons was busily engaged in carrying out mapping missions for hemisphere defense . The Photographic Squadrons were largely equipped with short - range second - line aircraft from the 1930s . Not until the end of 1942 were the first modern aircraft , B - 25 ( F - 10 ) Mitchells , were assigned to observation groups Long - range reconnaissance squadrons were established as part of combat bombardment groups in the Continental United States as well as the Caribbean and in Hawaii . These squadrons were associated with the 1st Photographic Group for crew training in aerial photography and reconnaissance . These bomber reconnaissance squadrons were designed to provide a long - range reconnaissance capability with each group . However , with the entry of the United States into World War II after the Pearl Harbor Attack , these units could no longer serve as both reconnaissance training and photo - mapping squadrons . The bombers were needed for combat bombing missions more than for reconnaissance . In April 1942 these squadrons were absorbed by those groups and were redesignated as bombardment squadrons . During World War II , the group charted and mapped areas of the United States and sent detachments to perform similar functions in Alaska , Canada , Africa , the Middle East , India , the Caribbean , Mexico , Central and South America , and the Kurils . Inactivated in late 1944 . Squadrons . Assigned Photographic Squadrons Associated 1st Air Force ( later I Bomber Command ) Reconnaissance Squadrons ( all stationed at Langley Field , Virginia ) These units were assigned to antisubmarine patrols along the Atlantic coast and convoy patrol duty over the North Atlantic shipping lanes in the immediate months after the Pearl Harbor Attack . Associated 2d Air Force ( later II Bomber Command ) Reconnaissance Squadrons Associated 3d Air Force ( later III Bomber Command ) Reconnaissance Squadrons These units were assigned to antisubmarine patrols along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico s in the immediate months after the Pearl Harbor Attack . Associated 4th Air Force ( later IV Bomber Command ) Reconnaissance Squadrons Associated Panama Canal / Puerto Rican Department ( later Caribbean Air Force ) Reconnaissance Squadrons Associated Hawaiian Air Force ( later 7th Air Force ) Reconnaissance Squadrons Heraldry . Per pale , vert and azure , a pile or debruised by a barrulet arched of the field upon and over the pile a camera lens proper rimmed sable . Motto : FIDELITER ET DILIGENTER — Faithfully and Diligently . ( Approved 24 October 1942 )