Photographs of site R-11 in Eschwege, Germany, headquarters of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance after their brief stay at Limburg. Included are photographs of the Officer's Club, hangars and a memorial service held April 13, 1945, commemorating the death of President Roosevelt. R-11 would be the Group's last base in the war.
"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.
Clippings from the Stars and Stripes picturing the Ordensburg Vogelsang before and after American capture. The 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group headquartered here (site Y-51) from March 25-31, 1945.
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.
Clipping from Time magazine highlighting members of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group mentioned in an article about the early days of the Battle of the Bulge.
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.
Photograph of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group headquarters at site Y-83 in Limburg, Germany. Layden notes that the brevity of the group's stay at their last bases reflects how quickly the ground forces were overrunning the Germans.
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.
