61st Service Squadron SWPA

Hi, I have been looking for references to this group and I can't seem to find anything. This photo was taken in late 1943 in New Guinea. My father-in-law Jerone J. Schrenk was in the 5th AF, 22nd BG, 19th BS and was a photographer, flight engineer. He took photos of many things he wasn't a part of like this 61st Service Squadron SWPA sign. Does anyone know anything about this group? To see more of his photos you can go here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49689796@N00/sets/



Thank you!

Attached Image(s)

This unit was constituted 20 Nov 1940 as the Materiel Squadron, 46th Air Base Group and activated about 15 Jan 1941 at Selfridge Field, MI under the 46th Air Base Group.  on 17 Jan 1941, it became the 61st Materiel Squadron (still assigned to the 46th Air Base Group).  It departed Selfridge Field (for Baer Field, IN?) about Aug 1941, then moved to Paine Field, WA.  It was one of the first support units to deploy to the Pacific, departing Paine Field toward the end of January 1942 and arriving at Brisbane, Australia in February. It served in the East Indies, New Guinea and the Philippines, becoming the 61st Air Service Squadron in 1945.  The only specific Pacific duty station I know of for the 61st was on Owi Island.

Thanks Bernie,
On their sign they list a few stations besides Owi Island but then it could be that was just places they served over time. (2 Years and 8 Months at that point).

I looked through your very impressive photo collection and it would be wonderful to get some amplifying information on those photos.

One that I'm curious about is what pacific airfield this glider photo might be of?

http://www.flickr.com/p...49689796@N00/3231158989/

Historical record of 61st Service Sqdron..book on sale--
http://www.manions.com/bid/bid.aspx~itemid~5957090~pic~20090510
 
Terry T.

I don't know why you refer to this unit as a group and a squadron, as it's not the same.
It's definitely called the 61st Service Squadron and was assigned to the 46th Service Group.

Mark, I think he was using "group" in the broad sense, referring to an organization as opposed to the AAF way such as a Bomb GROUP or Air Depot GROUP :) Dave

Dear Sir:
 
Assignments of the 61st Service Squadron
 
After leaving Paine Field
 
In Australia
 
Camp Ascot
RAAF Station Mt Gambier
Geelong Erection Depot
Hovet Field
 
New Guinea
 
Port Moreby
Horanda Field
Hollandia
Owi
 
Philippines
 
Leyte PI
Mindoro PI
 
Okinawa
 
Alerted for movement to Japan in  September 1945 but deactivated in October 1945