Not showing any fatigue, Lt. Charles E. Kerlee, USNR, steps down from the wing of a TBF after photographing the raid on Wake.  Using two K-20 cameras, Kerlee squeezed in behind the pilot and stood for four hours as the airplane bombed and jostled and Kerlee got his pictures.  (October 6, 1943). Kerlee was a successful photographer with a comfortable life photographing glamorous movie starts, like Ingrid Bergman, before volunteering to "Tell the Sailor's Story" in combat with the US Navy, once war broke out.  

 

 The US Navy's most decorated photographer of World War Two is Chief Photographer's Mate Robert C. Wagner, who went ashore with the first wave of US soldiers on Attu, armed only with a camera and facing enemy bullets. He provided valuable photographs for the brass to show how well the Army could face frozen conditions.  He was reassigned to carrier duty where he flew more combat missions than any pilot.  He was awarded the Air Medal for his photographic accomplishments while flying with Naval Aviators as they raided Truk in 1944.

 

 

 

Lt. Cdr. C.F. Jacobs, as a civilian, a leading magazine illustrative photographer, with his F-16 camera aboard the USS Iowa (BB-61).  (December 1944).

 

 

 

 

 

"Memo to US Navy Photographers Mates:  Don't photograph the war, photograph the man...the heartaches, plus the dreams of this guy.  Photograph the sailor!"

With these words Edward Steichen sent the men of his special photographic unit out to document the United States Navy in World War II. At the age of sixty-two, Steichen was awarded a navy commission after the army refused to recall him to active duty. A successful commercial and portrait photographer (photos by our fellow Photographers Mate Steichen sold at auction in 2006 for nearly $3 million) and highly decorated World War I army veteran, Steichen convinced the Navy that he could tell the story of naval aviation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

click here to see more pictures of US Navy Photographers Steichen and Kerlee

 

 

Commander in Chief George Herbert Walker Bush was once "one of us" a member of the US Navy Photographic corps.

 After finishing U.S. Navy flight training, future President George H. W. Bush  was assigned to Torpedo Squadron (VT-51) as photographic officer in September 1943.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     "don't photograph the war...photograph the sailor"

National Association of Naval PhotographyKeep the Photographer's Mate rate alive. Remember and Honor your service to the US Navy. Join the National Association of Naval Photography  Click here See the greatest pictures of the "new" Navy Photographers, post your favorite pictures of Navy Photography and discuss with your old photographer shipmates click here

Photographer's Mates have a "sense of humor", really!  

Do you have an addition to tribute to Photographer's Mates? Send an email to Photographer's Mate Daniel Bernath ussyorktowncvs10@juno.com