Cartoon, 1944.  Milton Caniff (1907-1988) was a cartoonist for the New York Daily News, best known for his syndicated comic strip "Terry and the Pirates."  During WWII, he created a spinoff strip, "Male Call."  He continued to do standalone illustrations, including this poignant one.  "Would Y' promise not t' laugh if I showed y' some snaps my wife took of the kid?  They're kinda out o' focus . . . "

Cartoon, 1944.  Another of Caniff's illustrations from 1944, depicting a combat cameraman documenting a Marine amphibious invasion.  "THE SHOT THAT WILL BE SEEN ROUND THE WORLD."

Army Air Corps, Date Unknown.  From a 4X5 negative, this image shows a group of AAC photographers with their Anniversary Speed Graphics and accompanying cases with the "CASE TYPE C-3 CAMERA" nomenclature.  The man standing second from the right holds sleeves of flashbulbs.

Possibly Army Air Corps, Date Unkown.  Dressed similarly to the crew in the previous image, and in a similar setting, these three seem to be getting the hang of their Speed Graphics.  The man at center has an older "Pre-Anniversary" model.  From an 8X10 print.

AAF Air Service, Date Unkown.  The caption on the back of this 8X10 print reads "Wac pictures from Area Commands - Fairfield: Pvt. Elsie P. Boness, 32, of Whiting, Indiana, works in the Photographic Laboratory."

Biographical Sketch, March-April, 1944.  A page from The Press Photographer, the publication of the Press Photographers Association of New York, profiling two of its members, Mike Ackerman (Acme Newspictures) and the legendary Sam Schulman (International News Photos.)

U.S. Navy WAVES Photographer, Date Unknown  The caption reads "Charleston, S.C.   June -- A photogenic WAVE photographer, Specialist (P) second class Blanche Westberry, of 258 Elm St., Jesup, Ga., lines up her subject.  The WAVE cameraman is on duty in the Public Relations Office of the Sixth Naval District.  (Official U.S. Navy Photo)"  Her Speed Graphic is distinctly a "wartime" model, with blackened hardware and a blank nameplate.

Correspondent at his Desk, Date Unkown.  A pipe-smoking war correspondent types out a report on his Remington typewriter.  Interesting details include the maps on the wall, the artwork and Coke bottles, and his library, including a Roget's thesaurus and a 1941 World Almanac. 

Two Photographers, Date Unknown.  No caption info, except a handwritten inscription:  "Just a couple of 'cutups' — I caught 'em in the 'act'—"  Both cameras have cable releases, and the flash solenoid unusually positioned on the proper-left faces of the camera.

Darkroom, Italy, Date Unknown.  A spectacular view of an apron-clad T/4 in a darkroom.  The map of Napoli on the wall tells us where he is.  Trays, a timer, a safelight, as well as a shelf of equipment are visible.  Red Cross cotton, various types of Kodak developer Agfa Ansco hypo fixer, chrome alum, even Carter's ink are on the shelves.  Hanging from the side are two overseas caps, an M41 jacket, and a pair of leggings are folded on the floor.

Eddie Worth, Dec. 26, 1944.  Associated Press photographer Eddie Worth, shown with a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 Speed Graphic.  Worth, who covered the war in Europe, was attached to Canadian forces in Holland when this picture was taken.  He wears an overcoat on which is stitched a circular War Correspondent patch.  Worth died in 2002.

Frank Filan, Nov., 1943.  Frank's story, from the AP wirephoto caption:  "AIDED WOUNDED MARINE AT TARAWA   Although weighted down with equipment, Frank Filan, Associated Press photographer, turned back, during a mad dash to the beach during the Marines' landing on Tarawa, to help a Marine who had been shot and was trying to return to his landing boat, several hundred yards behind.  After going back a considerable distance under heavy fire, Filan persuaded the man they would never make it and urged him to try and make the beach again.  They made it, but since Filan is a short man, he went under water several times during the attempt.  Both his cameras were ruined."  Filan wears the Navy version of the War Correspondent patch, and has a Heiland-type solenoid on his Speed Graphic.

Filming, Date Unknown.  A cameraman in a M43 jacket shoots film in what may be a post-war view.  A portion of his identifying patch is visible on his right sleeve.

Ready for Anything! June, 1944.  Official U.S. Navy Photograph.  "NEWSMAN PREPARES FOR FOUL WEATHER--Making a test to judge how much he'll be able to see when combat action occurs in a storm, W.R. Higginbotham of the United Press dons Navy 'foul weather gear' aboard a warship.  Jack Rice (left), Associated Press photographer, and Tom Wolf of the NEA await his report with interest."  Rice is wearing an officer's "Class A" uniform, without rank insignia, a privilege afforded to war correspondents.  Wolf wears an M41 field jacket with "Fifth Army" and "War Correspondent" patch, and a circular version of same on his overseas cap.

Charles Gorry, Sept., 1944.  Another AP photographer does good.  "AP WAR PHOTOGRAPHER PRAISED FOR HEROISM   Charles P. Gorry (above), Associated Press staff photographer on assignment with the wartime still picture pool, has received the praise of Capt. J.F. Bolger for 'heroic and meritorious achievement,' while aboard Capt. Bolger's ship during a heavy enemy attack.  Gorry, 34, whose home is at Hollis, N.Y., was assigned to the Pacific last September.  This picture was made at that time."  Gorry carries a "Pre-Anniversary" Speed Graphic, and wears the collar insignia of a Chief Warrant Photographer.  The fouled anchor on his overseas cap bears the correspondent's "C."

Harry Harris, Mar., 1944.  Longtime AP photographer Harry Harris shown in London, wearing an M41 jacket and helmet with unique hand-painted War Correspondent's insignia.  In peactime, Harris was a prolific photographer in the New York City market for Associated Press, and died in 2002 at age 88.

Staff Sergeant George Kiener, 1945.  Sergeant Kiener wears an M43 jacket with the Army Service Forces shoulder sleeve insignia on the left sleeve, and "Official U.S.  Army Photographer" and Meritorious Unit Commendation insignias on the right sleeve.

Lt. Marty Lederhandler, Jun., 1944.  Lieutenant Martin Lederhandler was assigned to Detachment G, 165th Signal Photographic Co., when it came ashore at Normandy with the 4th Infantry Division.  He was carrying pigeons which were to fly his film back to England, but because of the postponment of the invasion, the pigeons had been cooped up longer than they should have been, and as such didn't fly back to England.  Rather, one flew toward the enemy lines, where his film was captured and actually published in a German military magazine (with proper credit given, no less!)  This image, taken shortly after the invasion, shows Lederhandler in his combat attire—M41 jacket, pistol belt, wool trousers, helmet, sunglasses, and jump boots.  The boots, he says, were acquired when a quartermaster asked him which unit he was with.  He replied "the 4th."  The quartermaster assumed he meant 4th Armored, and handed over the boots.  The red-on-green "Combat Cameraman" patch is visible on the lower part of his left sleeve.  His camera is a Leica III.  In civilian life, Marty was a photographer for the Associated Press, and retired as its senior photographer shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.  He remains active in the New York Press Photographers Association, where he posed for a picture with your host in December, 2008.

SPAR Correspondent, Jul., 1945.  Official Coast Guard Photo.  "IT'S FUN BEING A SPAR CORRESPONDENT---YOU MEET SUCH INTERESTING PEOPLE   The first SPAR correspondent in Alaska, Agnes R. Schmitz, Yeoman Second Class, finds her job most interesting.  Especially is it intriguing when there are Coast Guard veterans back from long, bleak northern patrols with salty tales to tell the inquiring reporter.  And it's interesting and intriguing, both, when they are bearded Coast Guardsmen like Milo Walker, Boatswain's Mate Second Class, whose chin foliage waves gently to and fro in the mild Alaskan summer breeze.  SPAR Schmitz is a former reporter on the Amherst News Times and a native of Amherst, Ohio.  The bewhiskered salt calls Santa Monica, Cal., his home, but he hasn't seen much of it lately.  He's been on Alaskan duty for 22 months."

SPAR Photographer, Date Unknown.  A SPAR lines up a shot with her wartime model Speed Graphic.  Her finger is in position to trip the focal plane shutter.  There is also a tube extension on the eyepiece of the Kalart rangefinder, easing the focusing process.

Navy Christmas Card, Year Unknown.  Navy photographers had the means of producing unique Christmas cards, including this one, sending greetings from a Photographer's Mate named Art.  Printed on a single sheet of paper, and then folded in half twice to create a card.

Photographer in HBTs, Date Unknown.  A photographer in herringbone twill (HBT) utility uniform carries an "Anniversary" Speed Graphic coupled with a Kalart Speedgun flash.

Post-war, Date Unknown.  A U.S. Army photographer named Johnson poses with a late-model "Anniversary" Speed Graphic, and the new "Graflite" flash, which was introduced in 1948. 

PFC. Stanley B. Ross, June 7, 1945.  Signal Corps Photo 206691-S.  "Pfc. Stanley B. Ross, Denver, Colo., a driver with 163rd Signal Photo Co., takes his ease in the lounge of Hitler's private train, while the elaborate radio-phonograph makes beautiful music, and the fan and air conditioning neutralizes the heat outside.  U.S. Seventh Army, Augsberg, Germany."

Saipan Press Club, 1944.  Official Coast Guard Photo.  "COMBAT PHOTOGS DROP IN AT THE CLUB   The Saipan Press Club has opened its doors on the embattled island in the Marianas.  Pausing there between shots of the Saipan invasion are Coast Guard Combat Photographer Ed Latcham (right) of Haddonfield, N.J. and U.S. Marine Corps Photographer Sergt. William Fitch.  Latcham lost his Coast Guard jacket in the stirring action of the invasion and borrowed one with the USMC marking." 

Lt. Sam Vestal, Date Unknown.  Sam Vestal, from Santa Cruz, CA, photographed for "Stars and Stripes" in Europe before returning to a distinguished career back home with the Wastonville Register-Pajaronian.  In 1956, Vestal's investigative work exposing a corrupt District Attorney won a Pulitzer Prize for the paper.  Of this picture, Sam writes "Apparently the good burghers of London, true to form, were gathering agape right in front of the camera.  Only solution is to scowl, look past them and concentrate on your target till the gapers step back to see what you're looking at.  Then hit the shutter release and run like hell."  He wears an "Ike jacket" with Signal Corps insignia.

Lt. Vestal, Date Unknown.  Lt. Vestal with a more compact camera, wearing an officer's "chocolate" shirt.

Lt. Vestal, Date Unknown.  Lt. Vestal, with the caption "Our Hero again - evidently looking for a target."

Lt. Vestal and Company, Date Unknown.  Lt. Vestal, at left, and others in an office.  They are wearing the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Army Service Forces. 

Stars and Stripes, Date Unknown.  Two photographers from "Stars and Stripes," as evidenced by the shoulder patch on the man at left, wearing service coats. 

T/5 Steve Harvath, Date Unknown.  Nothing is known about T/5 Harvath, who appears in the khaki cotton shirt and trousers, carrying a Speed Graphic, while perched atop a vehicle.  Note that his flash is also a Kalart Speedgun, as seen in the "HBT" photo above.

Two Photographers, Date Unknown.  At the base of a mountain, two photographers in M43 jackets.  The one on the left brandishes a Speed Graphic.  The one on the right, wearing a knit "jeep cap," has an M6 gas mask bag slung across his body, and wears a pistol belt.

Vincent and Antonette Stibler, 1945.  Vincent Stibler, shown here carrying a "wartime" Speed Graphic, and wearing an officer's "Class A" uniform, became the official photographer for the NYC Transit Authority in the years after the war.

Lt. L. Ward Farrar, 1945.  L. Ward Farrar enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June, 1942.  He worked as a manager and ad executive for Loew's Theaters as well as a publicist for 20th-Fox.  He received his commission before going overseas, where he was placed in charge of the 13th A.A.F Photo Section in the Philippines.