Naval Aerial Photography School

On June 30, 1923 the Navy Department sent orders for the Transfer of Photographic School from NAS Anacostia, DC to NAS, Pensacola, FL. 

Thomas Doughty started school at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. in the middle of August, 1935.  He was a student in the Naval Aerial Photography class 1-36.

The staff of the Photography School are as follows: The officer in charge and chief pilot was USMC Lt. P. A. Putnam.  The chief instructor was Shuford and the assistant instructor was Pelter.  The station personnel were Dominick, Mueller, Chamblin, Abrame and Roach.

Class 1-36 consisted of the following students.  Sigvaldsen, Sanders, Doughty T. F., Koser, Hairr, Beannatyne, Murphy, Ruthaven F. W., George, Campbell C. R., Haas H. M., Bradt, Schmitt, Newhouse, Peters, and Fortenberry.

To see Thomas Doughty's photographs of the Naval Aerial Photography school and sites at NAS Pensacola, Fl click here.

Insturctors and staff who made history.

Lt. P. A. Putnam was later promoted to Major and left the aerial photography staff.  On December 4, 1941 Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF 211) flies in to Wake Island from USS Enterprise.  The commanding officer is Maj. Paul A. Putnam.  This was a couple of days before Peral Harbor. 

The Hyper War Project website has a great narative of Maj. Putnam and Fighter Squadron 211 at Wake Island.

Lt. P. A. Putnam in flight suit.

The assistant instructor Joseph A. Pelter, photographer first class, U.S.N. was selected by Admiral Byrd to accompany the expedition (Byrd Antarctic Expedition II 1933-35) as the aerial cameraman on the survey flights from Little America.  After Pelter returned from the Antarctic he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and assigned as an insturctor in the Photographic School at NAS Pensacola, FL.  Mixed within this photographic collection are many photographs taken at Little America.

Photo - Joseph Pelter on left and Admiral Byrd on right.

If you want to read more about Joseph Pelter in Antarctica visit US Navy Photographic Community (navyphoto.org) and look for the link to "Eyes of the Navy" by George Carroll.

To see Thomas Doughty's photographs of the Naval Aerial Photography school and sites at NAS Pensacola, Fl click here.