With the end of WWII, the 306th Bomb Group was transferred to the 9th AAF and assigned to complete an aerial mapping project of Europe code named 'Casey Jones.' Beginning in July 1945, many hundreds of men were transferred to the 306th from other bomb groups to help on the Casey Jones project, while those 306th Veteran’s who had accumulated the required time/points were transferred out of the Group to other units on their way back to the States. Special orders during this period, from July 1945 through to December 1946, when the 306th was deactivated, reflect these numerous personnel changes. In April 1946, when the 306th left Thurleigh, England (AAF Station 111) to base out of France, special orders were issued by the 306th Commander under the letterhead 'Headquarters Istres Army Air Base' where the 306th was now stationed.