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7th Photo Group History Photograph Album

Online Media

Catalog Data

Creator:
7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group  Search this
Names:
Crosby, Bing, 1904-1977  Search this
Extent:
0.24 Cubic feet (1 flat box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photograph albums
Date:
1943-1945
Summary:
The 7th Photographic Group (variously known as 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7th Photographic Group ((Reconnaissance)), and 7th Reconnaissance Group) was activated on 1 May 1943 and assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 July 1943. The group was tasked to obtain information about bombardment targets and damage inflicted by bombardment operations; provide mapping service for air and ground units; observe and report on enemy transportation, installations, and positions; and obtain data on weather conditions. This collection consists of a photo album documenting the history and activities of the unit.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a 90 page photo album (unbound); each page is assembled from a montage of photographs, drawings (usually charcoal sketches), and/or typed text labels, with professionally hand-drawn graphic titles. The completed page setup was photographed and printed as a 9 x 9 inch copy photograph which was then mounted onto a 9.4 x 12.4 inch black paper album page. Mounts have been removed from the first 12 pages. Pages are numbered 1 through 91; page 80 is missing from the set. The first portion of the album presents an overview of the reconnaissance unit's activities, showing bombardment damage to German industrial targets, airfields, and V-2 rocket launch sites, and reconnaissance support for the US Army advance across France following D-Day. Also depicted are the dangers faced by reconnaissance pilots (shown flying the Lockheed F-5 Lightning) from "Weather, Fighters, and Flak!" Later portions of the album show assorted views of England, including unidentified rural areas as well as noted landmarks in London, Oxford, Windsor, and Stratford-upon-Avon. There are several pages showing visits by celebrities including Bing Crosby. A couple of pages show assorted aircraft in flight, including the North American P-51 Mustang, Boeing B-17 Superfortress, and Supermarine Spitfire in USAAF markings.
Arrangement:
Collection is a single item which is in page number order.
Biographical / Historical:
The 7th Photographic Group (variously known as 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7th Photographic Group ((Reconnaissance)), and 7th Reconnaissance Group) was activated on 1 May 1943 and assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 July 1943. Stationed initially at Mount Farm, England, in March 1945 they moved to Chalgrove, England, and then from October 21 through November 1945 were stationed in Hitcham, England; they were inactivated in England on 21 November 1945. The group was tasked to obtain information about bombardment targets and damage inflicted by bombardment operations; provide mapping service for air and ground units; observe and report on enemy transportation, installations, and positions; and obtain data on weather conditions. 7th Photo Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for operations during the Normandy campaign of June 1944; later that year they covered missile sites in France, carried out photographic mapping missions for ground forces advancing across France, and provided reconnaissance support for the airborne attack on Holland and for the Battle of the Bulge.
Provenance:
Unknown, material found in collection, NASM.XXXX.0669
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
V-2 rocket  Search this
Aerial reconnaissance  Search this
North American P-51 Mustang Family  Search this
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family  Search this
Supermarine Spitfire Family  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photograph albums
Citation:
7th Photo Group History Photograph Album, NASM.XXXX.0669, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.0669
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg24d4dd657-a381-498f-8784-5e77d90b7f7f
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0669