A website for those who served/are serving in Combat Camera, AAVS, 600th Photo Sq. and 601st Photo Flt.
Honor Our Heroes and Our AAVS Personnel To all my fellow veterans of AAVS, and Combat Camera; ten years ago, we came together to celebrate our contribution to Air Force history by installing our commemorative “bench” at the Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB. We now have another opportunity to Read More …
Daniel (Dan) Christopher Doherty passed away in Sumter SC on May 13, 2024. Dan was born on April 17,1939 in Montreal Canada. He and his family moved to Philadelphia when Dan was 12 years old. Dan was a proud member of the United States Air Force for 20 years. He was a 1975 graduate of Read More …
Roger H. Kramer, 79, of San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully on May 13, 2024. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, educator, and a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. Roger was born on March 30, 1945 in New York, NY and lived a remarkable life dedicated to service, education and his Read More …
Our annual Combat Camera Mini Reunion will be held September 20-22, 2024, in Studio City, California, so mark you calendars! You’ll be glad you attended! Friday, September 20th Check into hotel. Leisure time on your own, Dinner together TBA Saturday, September 21st Party at Ken’s Hackman’s house. The time will be announced later(probably around noon). The Read More …
Recent inductee into the AFPAA Hall of Fame, Jack H. Oswald, age 90, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., passed away on November 17, 2023. Fresh off a degree in Radio and Television at Northwestern University’s School of Speech, a stint as the manager of the University’s radio station, and a commission through AFROTC, 2Lt. Jack Read More …
Garfield Fred Jones was born in Michigan on May 20, 1927. His parents were Garfield Hartley and Millicent Jones. His grandfather given name was also Garfield. Like Fred they all used their middle name as their given name. His parents were Canadian and lived in Canada their entire lives. In 1927 during an extended visit Read More …
“Some of you may already have received this in an email, if so I apologize. I went through my contact file and not sure I included you all, Ken Hackman” Dear Friends, As you all know our friend and coworker Paul Hayashi passed away in hospital on December 27, 2022. He was 75 years old. Read More …
Paul N. Hayashi, MSgt. USAF, RetiredJuly 11, 1947 – December 27, 2022 Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Paul was born in Tokyo, Japan as a U.S. citizen in 1947. He spent most of his youth in Seattle, WA, where he graduated from Rainier Beach High School. Following high school, he attended the University Read More …
It is with a heavy heart that the Purnell family announces the passing of our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend Grover Lee Purnell. On the 24th of November, 2022, Grover left this world peacefully at the age of 58, surrounded by his loving family and friends after a decades-long battle with multiple illnesses. Grover Read More …
April 8, 1964 ~ September 8, 2022 (age 58) Ray was born and raised in Yeadon, PA, where he attended Saint Louis Grammar School. The 1982 Monsignor Bonner High School graduate enlisted the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1984 and served honorably for over 22 years. As a photojournalist, Ray’s Air Force journey included Vandenburg Air Force Read More …
Date of Birth 22 August 1930 Date of Passing 28 May 2022 An amazing man…a cowboy, a United States Air Force fighter pilot, a family man, a true friend to many, an inspiration to many more was welcomed to the gates of Heaven on 28 May 2022. Surely he was first greeted by all of Read More …
by Ken Hackman, The Godfather A mini reunion? It may have been a mini reunion, but it was a maximum celebration of friendships, with the sharing of wonderful stories and memories. (Click on pictures to view full photo and right click to download) The festivities began on Friday when about a dozen of us gathered Read More …
Leland E. Thomas of Sherwood, Arkansas, age 90, was received into his heavenly reward on Saturday, September 3, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. Leland, who went by several nicknames during his lifetime – Lee, Jack, Tom, and Sarge, was born to parents Audrey and Walter Thomas in 1931. He was preceded in death by his Read More …
by Ken Hackman What’s their story? I wonder what my Mother, Dad, Brother, Sister did in their life. What about all the friends you made while serving in the military? I wonder what their story is. As a certified “old” man I have a lot of time to think and question. I’ve met some pretty Read More …
It seems that every time we get a little positive progress against this virus there is another strain or even a new disease to be concerned about.. As you can imagine, due to attendance and safety concerns, it is impractical for anyone to plan an annual reunion. So far, the two small get togethers that Read More …
by Joseph McCabe This is the fascinating true-life story of the man who filmed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki only weeks after the dropping of the atomic bombs. This three-part, highly researched biography tells the full story of how the often harrowing footage we have today was shot and of McGovern’s efforts to save it for Read More …
Harold T. Sentman, resident of Brookline, Missouri, passed away peacefully at his home on July 1, 2022,at the age of 83. Harold was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 26, 1939, to Howard and Ardis (Yoder) Sentman. Aftergrowing up on a farm and graduating third in his class from Ollie High School, he moved Read More …
The MICKEY was awarded to an individual for superior contribution to the mission, morale, welfare and building of the 1352nd Audiovisual Squadron team at Norton Air Force Base, CA. Like the Emmy or the Hollywood Academy Awards, the MICKEY denoted the finest accomplishments. It was the highest and most coveted award that the 1352d Audiovisual Read More …
For our next Mini-Combat Camera Mini-Reunion we plan to gather in Studio City, California so mark your calendars for September 9-11, 2022. September 9th hang out at hotel and its fabulous pool. Early Birds arriving on the 8th we’ll get together and have dinner at the hotel. contact ZIMM with any questions: barb@mycactusproperties.com PARTY AT HACKMAN’S HOUSE Saturday, 10 Read More …
The Board of Officers had a Zoom call March 16. A quorum of Officers participated. There was no formal agenda, it was just time we all touched base on items of interest to the membership. Although no one had requested one, the Board decided to refund the registration fees to those who had prepaid for Read More …
Long-Range Reconnaissance Aircraft [1944] By Jeffrey N. Meyer, 36th Wing Historian The Boeing B-29 Superfortress served as the basis for the late-World War 2 F-13 long-range reconnaissance conversion model. As American involvement in World War 2 (1939-1945) grew, so too did its need for long-range reconnaissance. This need was only partly solved by conversion of Read More …
Published Oct. 25, 2011 By Jeffrey N. Meyer 36th Wing Historian The history of the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (PRS) would begin as they initially formed on May 15, 1941 and then activated on Jun. 10, 1941 at Maxwell Field, AL. From 1941 to 1944 the unit was redesignated several times before becoming the 3d Read More …
Photographic Find in Tyler, Texas By: Pat Nugent I was out attending a photo workshop in Tyler & Longview, Texas photographing MiG 23’s and 17’s and the group stopped by the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, Tyler Pounds Airport, Tyler, Texas the “City of Roses” They had the attached display on Lt. Elmer Dixson a local Read More …
