On the east side of the road.

A quadrilateral stone base in which an aircraft propeller and a square commemorative plaque are affixed. The plaque is inscribed in English in gold lettering, with carved insignia of the 8^th Air Force, the RAF Wings emblem, and fighter airplanes on the corners. The plaque commemorates the members of the 7th Photographic Group of the US Army Air Forces who were based at RAF Mount Farm 1943–45.

The first USAAF unit to use the airfield was the 13th Photographic Squadron of Lockheed F-5 (P-38) Lightning photographic aircraft which moved in for training in March 1943 under the experienced RAF establishment. This was the 13th Photographic Squadron. The need for more photographic reconnaissance of targets by the Eighth Air Force led to other American photo/recon squadrons being assigned to the station and on 7 July 1943, the 7th Photographic Group was established at Mount Farm, the group being transferred from Peterson AAF Colorado and absorbing the assets of the 13th photo squadron.

The group consisted of the following:

• 13th Photographic Squadron (red rudder)
• 14th Photographic Squadron (green rudder)
• 22nd Photographic Squadron (white rudder)
• 27th Photographic Squadron (blue rudder)

The group flew a combination of F-5 (P-38), P-51, and Spitfire XI photo/recon aircraft to obtain information about bombardment targets and damage inflicted by bombardment operations. The group also provided mapping service for air and ground units; observed and reported on enemy transportation, installations, and positions; and obtained data on weather conditions.

Prior to June 1944, the group photographed airfields, cities, industrial establishments, and ports in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Following the Berlin raid in March 1944, Major Walter L Weitner flew the first Eighth Spitfire photo sortie to Berlin on 6 March and by 11 April the Group had chalked up its 1,000th sortie.

The 7th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations during the period, 31 May - 30 June 1944, when its coverage of bridges, marshaling yards, canals, highways, rivers, and other targets contributed much to the success of the Normandy campaign.

The group covered missile sites in France during July, and in August carried out photographic mapping missions for ground forces advancing across France. Provided reconnaissance support for the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September and for the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945.

The 7th used P-51's to escort its reconnaissance planes during the last months of the war as the group supported the Allied drive across the Rhine and into Germany. Took part in the final bomb damage assessment following V-E Day.

The 7th Recon Group took over three million photographs during the course of its 4,251 sorties. It was transferred to RAF Chalgrove in March 1945 and was later inactivated at the 4th Strategic Air Depot (Hitcham) on 21 November 1945.

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org

Source of images: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

IN MEMORY OF

THOSE WHO

SERVED 7th PHOTO GROUP

THE EYES OF 8th U.S.A.A.F.

MOUNT FARM

5693 MISSIONS

1943-1945

DEDICATED 25th MAY 1985