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 …
“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 …
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 …
“My amazing, wonderful wife, Manola passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 19, 2021. She was such a vibrant loving person and I shall cherish the fifteen years we spent together. We traveled on many occasions including multiple trips to Spain her birth country. I loved her deeply and I shall cherish all the Read More …
A look at the life and career of our leader, Ken Hackman, also known as the Godfather! Settle back and take yourself on a journey through his life! Hackman-Revised-CC-Profile
Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association Chairman Jay DeFrank and Air Force Director of Public Affairs Brigadier General Pat Ryder have announced the first group of inductees for the new Air Force Public Affairs Hall of Fame. Included in the class of 15 enlisted, officers and civilians are our own Mr. Ken Hackman and CMSgt Read More …
by Ken Hackman My friend and author Marc Phillip Yablonka, who prior to the current pandemic would be doing book signings for his book “Vietnam Bao Chi”. He has extra copies that he will autograph and sell for $15.00 postage included. Marc Phillip YablonkaAuthor & Military Journalistmarc.yablonka@gmail.comhttps://warstoriespress.com(818) 554-0756 Vietnam Bao Chi: Warriors of Word and Read More …
by Ken Hackman I was saddened to get the news of Jim Elmer’s passing on July 14, 2020. He was a good man who I remember fondly as our AAVS Commander, he was a caring supportive man with high principles, integrity, a great Leader and a good friend. I had sent him an electronic birthday Read More …
by Ken Hackman The display of portraits from the President, Secretary of the Air Force, etc. down to include the local AAVS commander was prevalent throughout AAVS. In the mid-1980s the Photojournalist Division at Hq. AAVS decided we should have our own series of portraits of the assigned photojournalists. The justification, other than the Read More …
Two outstanding videos from the recent DoD Visual Storytelling Workshop that they were gracious enough to allow us to share. The first is from our own Ken Hackman and the second is the Navy’s Chip Maury! Click on the post to view the videos!
by Ken Hackman My friend Doug Wood would have been a perfect subject for the Readers Digest column; “The Most Unforgettable Character I have ever met”. A native Californian, he was born on December 4, 1922 in Long Beach, CA. His parents were Charles Orson Wood, a butcher, born in New York and Grace May Read More …
We’ve added 17 aerials from Ken Hackmans collection of the 600th Photo Squadron and 601st Photo Flight Units. If you have photos of other units or different that those here that you’d like to share with the website email them to webmaster@usafcombatcamera.org. Click here to view the full gallery!
By Ken Hackman We have added a new section here on our website called Stories at usafcombatcamera.org. What and Why are PROFILES? I will address the WHY first: I personally have known and worked with many fellow combat camera people whose accomplishments in APS/APCS/AAVS and AirCCS are notable and should be documented and not fade Read More …
From the Highland Community News: Thursday, August 31, 2017 Ken “The Godfather” Hackman Retired Chief Photojournalist of the USAF (retired) Ken Hackman shares his history with the USAF Combat Camera when based at Norton Air Force Base during the Norton AFB Museum’s Evening at the Museum, Aug. 23. “Being an Air Force photographer puts you Read More …
Glenn King recorded Ken Hackman’s presentation at the Norton AFB, CA Museum on USAF Combat Camera From Vietnam to Desert Storm 1969-1993, for those of us that weren’t able to attend. Click on Title for video.
By Ken Hackman The drive for old equipment is renewed with the new year. We have received some wonderful items to include in our museum exhibits at the March Air Museum and the Norton Museum. BUT!!! We still need more! We need more “tools of our trade” that accurately depict the variety and diversity of Read More …
All past and present Combat Camera people! We need you help. We are working to put together a permanent Combat Camera exhibit/display at the March Field Museum.We want to include the tools-of-our-trade from the past. For example: Still photo equipment: Speed Graphic, Graflex XL (I have one that I will gladly donate] Rolleiflex, Nikon camera, Read More …
Our own Ken Hackman was one of four outstanding Penn Manor High School graduates who were inducted on April 18, 2015 into the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Honor during the Alumni Banquet at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, PA. “The 2015 Distinguished Alumni are Kenneth Hackman, Class of 1955; Coleen Ortmann Kayden, Class of 1973; Tracy Goodman, Read More …
Col John Ford a lifelong member of the Air Force visual information family is being recognized in a ceremony by having a new American Legion Post bear his name. The official ceremony and swearing in for the Arrowhead/John E. Ford III American Legion Post 144 will take place on Wednesday June 10, 2015. AAVS veteran, Stan Kobojek, Read More …
At our meeting during the Ontario reunion a number of items relevant to our group were discussed. This email is to report our progress. We encourage and welcome your comments. Reunion Locations: The 2015 reunion will be in San Antonio, Texas 15-18 October. The location for 2016 is Charleston, SC. Secure a non-profit status: We Read More …
by Ken Hackman Thank you; thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Memorial Bench project. We are definitely going to have a bench at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH. Since AAVS and Combat Camera people have never been shy or reticent about our professionalism in documenting the Read More …
Dear friends, Thanks to all of you for making the Dayton reunion special. Although our numbers were down, I can’t remember a more convivial group. For that reason alone it was memorable get-together. As I mentioned I would share what I remembered we discussed at our meeting. Please feel free to come back to me Read More …
Joe Ramirez will be unable to provide shuttle service from the airport. I will be driving in on the 18th. Anyone who needs a ride, to avoid paying he $40.00 taxi fee, call me on my cell 818-497-4882. Another option is to rent a car, using AARP, AAA, Costco. I checked their rates and found Read More …