[katweasle]

Hi guys just found your forum, looks good. I have been trying to find out about the exploits of US 9th Air Force 10th photo recon group based at RAF Chalgrove USAAF Airfield 465 in particular 22 Squadron 1944.Long shot I know but can anyone help Thanks Katweasle:coffee:

[McCoy]

Welcome to the Zone! I don't sit on any answer to your question but I'm sure that someone do that.

[cyberia]

Greetings and welcome to The Zone.

[vitara]

welcome aboard there mate
you will enjoy your time here .. nodout someone will be able to help you in what you seek .. vitara

[Wustenfuchs]

Welcome to the Zone Katweasle!

[tgalx3]

I hope you find what you are looking for.

[Tom Houlihan]

C'mon in, Katweasle! I'm sure someone can at least point you in the right direction!

[Whiterook]

Welcome to the Zone....glad you signed onboard with us!!!

[Jim O]

Welcome to the site!

[TRDG]

Where's Matt (air Challanged) or maybe some others as well?? He is the one to ask here who might know or some of the other plane guys.

Cheers, welcome to The Zone and I hope you find the info you seek here fairly soon.

TRDG

Tom

[Geek44]

Welcome aboard katweasel. Great name mate...are you anything like him?
What types of aircraft did the 10th use? I might be able to help.
Peace.

[Trish]

katweasle said:

Hi guys just found your forum, looks good. I have been trying to find out about the exploits of US 9th Air Force 10th photo recon group based at RAF Chalgrove USAAF Airfield 465 in particular 22 Squadron 1944.Long shot I know but can anyone help Thanks Katweasle:coffee:

Hi Katweasle - Welcom to the Zone. I am also a new member but have already discovered so much. I've been researching some info on my great Uncle who was shot down in WW 2. Looking into his aircraft, I found a website about the Great Escape - a very worthwhile site written. There is a link to send email & there are some very great searching tips on this site as to where you can look for info. Here it is & I hope it helps.

finding

Regards,

Trishæ

[Airchallenged]

TRDG said:

Where's Matt (air Challanged) or maybe some others as well?? He is the one to ask here who might know or some of the other plane guys.

Cheers, welcome to The Zone and I hope you find the info you seek here fairly soon.

TRDG

Tom

I do the guys that jump out of the planes... not the planes



Welcome to the Zone Katweasle

[katweasle]

Hello

Thanks for your greetings. My life is as complicated and chaotic yet filled with mischief and magic as Katweasle, I need a haircut so looks at this time resemble him somewhat, and in the military have slept under a bush many times like him.

I have an interest in finding out about 22 Squadron 10 Recon Group, as I have a family connection with someone who served in it. Some of the information I have is as follows
RAF Chalgrove was built in 1943 and finished in January 1944 designated USAAF Airfield 465.
First residence 10th Recon Group who arrived from their base in Key Field Mississippi.
They had crossed the Atlantic in the Queen Elizabeth and had arrived near Glasgow on the Clyde at Greenock where they boarded barges and were taken ashore, it was raining at the time. They were then taken by train to Oxford and on to their new base RAF Chalgrove.
They were equipped with Lockheed F5 Lightning's, Douglas F3, and Havoc F3.
There mission was to Photograph everything along the northern coast of France and Belgian and inland to find enemy troop movements, railway marshalling yards and other worthy targets. Their main task however, was to photograph the D Day landing sites to look for obstructions, mines and other hazards that would affect the troops as they landed.
All this had to be frown at high speed and extremely low level to avoid enemy radar. Because of the skill involved in this task the Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation GO 475 on the 9th August 1944. It represented their activities between the 6th / 20th May 1944.
It is said that by taking these risks countless lives were saved during the D day landings.
An interesting note, the group completed the first operation on D day and later the last operation on VE day.
D day was in June 1944 during which time the squadrons were very busy probing deeper into France and Northern Europe to gather intelligence for the 9th Air Force. As the Germans were pushed back the 10th Recon group started to be based in France the first leaving RAF Chalgrove in August, and all by October.
The Group operated from their bases in France all over occupied territory in Northern Europe. By the end on the war they became part on the occupying Force in Germany, being sent home in 1947.
Thank for your interest

Katweasle

[MAGNA]

Hi Katweasle. I hope you find out a lot here as you go. Thanks for the info you have posted already. I'll keep a look out for more.

[Trish]

Katweasle, buddy - I have a contact who is very good at military research - I have told him a bit about your search. I'm going to give him more info & maybe he can help me lead you in the right direction. Great bit of history there.



Cheers,

TrishÆ

[Geek44]

katweasle said:

Hello

Thanks for your greetings. My life is as complicated and chaotic yet filled with mischief and magic as Katweasle, I need a haircut so looks at this time resemble him somewhat, and in the military have slept under a bush many times like him.

I have an interest in finding out about 22 Squadron 10 Recon Group, as I have a family connection with someone who served in it. Some of the information I have is as follows
RAF Chalgrove was built in 1943 and finished in January 1944 designated USAAF Airfield 465.
First residence 10th Recon Group who arrived from their base in Key Field Mississippi.
They had crossed the Atlantic in the Queen Elizabeth and had arrived near Glasgow on the Clyde at Greenock where they boarded barges and were taken ashore, it was raining at the time. They were then taken by train to Oxford and on to their new base RAF Chalgrove.
They were equipped with Lockheed F5 Lightning's, Douglas F3, and Havoc F3.
There mission was to Photograph everything along the northern coast of France and Belgian and inland to find enemy troop movements, railway marshalling yards and other worthy targets. Their main task however, was to photograph the D Day landing sites to look for obstructions, mines and other hazards that would affect the troops as they landed.
All this had to be frown at high speed and extremely low level to avoid enemy radar. Because of the skill involved in this task the Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation GO 475 on the 9th August 1944. It represented their activities between the 6th / 20th May 1944.
It is said that by taking these risks countless lives were saved during the D day landings.
An interesting note, the group completed the first operation on D day and later the last operation on VE day.
D day was in June 1944 during which time the squadrons were very busy probing deeper into France and Northern Europe to gather intelligence for the 9th Air Force. As the Germans were pushed back the 10th Recon group started to be based in France the first leaving RAF Chalgrove in August, and all by October.
The Group operated from their bases in France all over occupied territory in Northern Europe. By the end on the war they became part on the occupying Force in Germany, being sent home in 1947.
Thank for your interest

Katweasle

Thanks for the info mate. Sadly, I know less about Anglo/American use of the F-5 Lightning than I know of French use of it. I have however seen photos taken by the 10th featured in an article about D-Day in National Geographic from a few years ago...I think I have it. I'll try to find it and see if it has any useful info for you.
Peace.

[katweasle]

Good morning Trish Buddy Thank you for the information I will use it to continue my search. I read you great uncle was buried in Europe, I went over to Belgium earlier this year to visit my uncles grave, he was gassed in the first war. The reason I mention this is to let you know how well and with great care the war grave commission look after all the many thousands of graves there, I appreciate your uncle was from the last war but his resting place will be looked after with as much care as earlier war causalities.
You might find it interesting to know that my Son and I visited the battle site at Vimy Ridge, amongst others, where the Canadians stormed the ridge suffering many casualties but they won the day and gained a deserved reputation as great warriors. The battlefield has been given to Canada by the French in gratitude and a great Memorial erected in memory of the fallen.

Katweasle

[Trish]

Hi Katweasle - Thank you for your kind words about the gravesites of war dead in Europe. I lived in Germany for 4 yrs & sadly never went to any of the memorials or gravesites - wasn't so much into it then, I guess. I've seen a Canadian Remembrance Day Ceremony from Vimy a couple of years ago - it is just beautiful. That must have been a very moving experience for you & your son to visit. I know my Dad's Uncle is buried in Groesbeek.

I have some info for you which I hope will help you in your search for 22 Sqn, 10 Recon Group. Try Googling in quotes "22 Squadron RAF" or "10 Recon Group" or perhaps a combination of those. It has become a Search & rescue Unit now. See Unit Association: 22 squadron Association
There are some email contacts there.

Also try The National Archives of the United Kingdom

Good luck in your search & keep me posted on how you make out with this.

Cheers

Trish.

[katweasle]

Thanks trishfor the info however, the Squadron I seek information about was USAAF which was absed at the RAF station near Oxford, thanks for the American link I will look into it

Ta much
Katweasle