Learn More about the Army Signal Corps Photo Companies

When Allied Forces landed on the beach on D-day, Hollywood was there — in a Signal Corps uniform. Photographic functions were established as part of the Signal Corps as early as 1894. By the time World War II began, there were three separate facilities for film and still-photo processing: the photographic laboratory at the Army War College in Washington, D.C., and two motion-picture production facilities, one at Fort Monmouth, N.J., and one at Wright Field in Ohio. Photographic training took place at the Signal Corps training center at Fort Monmouth.

The 1942 national war plans called for a Signal Photographic Company (SPC) for each American Field Army. Four such companies were formed including the 161st, 162d, 163d, and 164th Signal Companies. Each SPC was divided into teams of one lieutenant and six enlisted men, including still and motion photographers, drivers and one clerk. By mid-1943, the original signal photo companies companies had been increased with the addition of the 165th and 196th Signal Companies. It still was not enough. The number of campaigns multiplied, and so did the need for photographers and technicians. Expanded responsibilities meant the force grew to supply the services.

U.S. Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA - The mission of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum and Fort Gordon is to function as a permanent historical and educational institution at Fort Gordon, providing training and education to the soldiers, military dependents at Fort Gordon and to the general public on all aspects of the history of the Signal Corps, the development of Fort Gordon and vicinity, and the U.S. Army.

• Army Communicator - Photographers Document wartime Army.

  When Allied Forces landed on the beach on D-day, Hollywood was there — in a Signal Corps uniform. Photographic functions were established as part of the Signal Corps as early as 1894. By the time World War II began, there were three separate facilities for film and still-photo processing: the photographic laboratory at the Army War College in Washington, D.C., and two motion-picture production facilities, one at Fort Monmouth, N.J., and one at Wright Field in Ohio. Photographic training took place at the Signal Corps training center at Fort Monmouth.

Army Pictorial Center - Signal Corps Photographic Center (SCPC) -  At the start of World War II, the U. S. Army acquired a defunct motion picture studio at 35th Avenue and 35th Street in Astoria, Long Island City, Queens, New York, taking over  in February 1942.  The studio became the Signal Corps Photographic Center, later Army Pictorial Center, home to filmmakers and still photographers who covered the war and who produced countless training films.

752nd Tank Battalion in World War II - Thanks to Bob Holt for identifying photos taken by Burke O'Connell and Donald Wiedenmayer at the Nauders, Switzerland crossroads in May 1945. (Links to photos - under construction)

Skylighters - Website of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion - World War !! Photo of the Week

Additional Links

Edmund Burke O'Connell Tribute Page - Military.com

196th Signal Photo Company - Yahoo Groups

In Search of John T. Mason - Rootsweb - The co-authors continue to look for surviving relatives of Army still photographer John T. Mason who served with the author Edmund Burke O'Connell during both the North African and Italian Campaigns. Mason was assigned to a new photo team in early 1945 when O'Connell was paired with Donald Wiedenmayer.