"Mementoes of Days in Service" details Lawrence Layden's service in World War II from his induction in June 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor, until his formal discharge in December, 1945. Part of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Layden's squadron provided aerial reconnaissance for Operation Overlord and the assault on Nazi Germany. Through photos and text, Layden's scrapbook follows him from his initial assignment in Louisville, Kentucky to bases in England and continental Europe. The album contains reconnaissance photos used in the assault on Europe, photographs of Layden at various bases throughout the war and several photographs of Buchenwald concentration camp, visited by Layden six days after its liberation.
End of Layden's history of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and photographs of P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings flown by various squadrons in the 67th.
To stay close to the front lines the Reconnaissance Group moved to site "A-46" on the west border of Paris. Page includes a stock postcard of their headquarters, Le Chateau d'Ors, and a photograph of the Eiffel Tower. Lawrence Layden and friends were able to visit Paris shortly after its liberation.
Photograph of Lawrence Layden, Phil Reverman, Charlie Kofler and others at the PX after transfer of Fifth Air Support Command to New Orleans in January 1942. Included is a postcard of Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans.
Special order transferring Layden to the 67th Observation Group (later re-named 67th Tactical Reconnaissance) at Esler Field, Alexandria, La. Layden would be attached to this group throughout the war.
Photograph of colleagues welcoming Layden back after officer candidate school. Layden would command the same squadron he served with as an enlisted man in the 67th Observation Group. Page also notes a week long furlough taken by Layden in London and includes a flyer from the Holy Trinity Gazette in Louisville mentioning Layden's promotion to 2nd Lieutenant.
Memo from the Ninth Air Force Public Relations Office to Mary Layden, wife of Lawrence Layden, concerning the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.
Photographs of Lawrence Layden and a postcard of group headquarters at Charleroi, Belgium. The 67th Tactical Reconnaissance moved here in September, 1944, to set up site A-87.
Photographs of "Site A-9" in Le Molay, France, where the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group established their first base on the continent. Includes a map showing the various headquarters of the group as it advanced through Europe.
Article from the Star-Telegram touting the success of air reconnaissance based artillery adjustments, "Arty/R". The 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group took part in this technique.
Reconnaissance photograph of a glider landing field used on D-day and 3 photographs of Omaha Beach after a post D-day storm destroyed the artificial "Mulberry" harbor built by the Americans.
Photographs of Layden at Membury Air Base and the base barracks. Page also includes his Red Cross Washington Club card, his "home" during trips to London.
Photograph of Layden's squadron during a "Presentation of Awards" ceremony at Membury Air Base. Layden also describes in captions the unit's move to Middle Wallop Air Base in November and includes a map of southern England.
Reconnaissance photographs taken over Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944. Photos include pictures of gliders and a crash-landed C-47 near Bastogne, a crash-landed B-24 near Namur, a tank battle southwest of Stavelot and a picture of the crossroads of Malmedy where German soldiers gun downed captured American soldiers.
Photograph of Lawrence Layden in an LST en route to Omaha Beach 24 days after D-Day and a photograph of an unnamed Normandy town (possibly Cherbourg, France).
Layden's first military security pass from Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky, issued June 26, 1941 and another card enabling him entry to the local Service Club.
Certificate detailing Layden's promotion to corporal. Layden comments in the boxed caption that the promotion certificate is signed by a brigadier general, indicating the (small) size of the U.S. army prior to Pearl Harbor.
Low altitude reconnaissance photograph taken by a P-38 Lightning of a Normandy beach on May 19, 1944. Photograph shows obstacles erected by the Germans.
Low altitude reconnaissance photograph taken by a P-38 Lightning of a Normandy beach on May 19, 1944. Photograph shows obstacles erected by the Germans.
Visitor tag for Fort Dix, New Jersey, assumedly used by his wife Kay during a quick visit. The 67th Observation Group was sent here for processing for overseas shipment and left August 29, 1942 on a five day "zig-zag" journey across the Atlantic (on the original "Queen Elizabeth") to Membury Air Base, England. His "official" note home to Kay telling her of his arrival overseas does not explicitly tell her where he is.
Reconnaissance photograph showing the destruction of St. Lo, France. Included are two photographs of General Eisenhower, who visited the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at site A-9 to witness the saturation bombing of the German line from St. Lo westward to the Atlantic that permitted the Allies to breakout across France.
Map of southern England highlighting several locations Layden was stationed. Page also includes a postcard of "Compton Beauchamp" and an estate Layden dined at Christmas day, 1942.
Photographs of Lawrence Layden and others at Esler Field, Louisiana, February - June, 1942. In his caption he mentions his marriage to "Kay" on June 3, 1942 and his subsequent move off base.
Aerial photographs of the palace at Versailles. According to the caption, one of the pilots returning from a reconnaissance mission had some leftover film and took these images of the palace.
Photographs of Paris including the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River with the Eiffel Tower in the background and a close-up of Napoleon's tomb. Layden was able to briefly visit Paris shortly after its liberation.
Oblique reconnaissance photograph with Merton grid of Stolberg, Germany October 28th, 1944. Photograph was used the following day for artillery adjustments during the assault on Stolberg.
Newspaper clipping from the Louisville Times about Louisville residents, including Lawrence Layden, who were members of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Unit that received the Presidential Unit Citation. Included are three reconnaissance photographs showing pill boxes and dragons teeth in the Siegfried Line near Aachen and the Hurtgen Forest in Germany.
Shoulder patches worn by Layden's unit from 1941-1943. In October 1943, Layden's group was assigned to the IX Air Force. Page also includes an article from the Stars and Stripes about the not-so secret arrival of the IX Air Force in England.
