MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. — The 452nd Air Mobility Wing (AMW) hosted the return of the 4th Combat Camera Squadron (4CTCS) from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., as an off-station Unit Training Assembly (UTA) site from August 2-4, 2024. 4 CTCS returned to where it once called home to focused on a heritage ride and historical tour to reconnect to the unit’s roots and history. The event commemorated the rich honors and legacy of Combat Camera's contributions during various conflicts, emphasizing the strategic importance of their role in documenting military operations and engaging in information warfare.
The heritage ride began at March Air Reserve Base (ARB), where the squadron once called their home station, and delved into the history of Combat Camera units in World War II. Various airmen presented on different units, providing insights into the 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 12th Combat Camera Units. The legacy of the 4th Combat Camera Squadron was highlighted through key campaigns in which it participated, including the Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
“The history of our squadron is deeply intertwined with Air Force history. When we left March, the relationship with Hollywood was pivotal. Seeing the squadron in its new home in Charleston and realize that importance of the history and to come out to spend time learning the heritage, is very impressive. And it is truly remarkable seeing the significant turnout from alumni, it just shows how much of a family this group is.” said Col. Beth Kelley Horine, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, and former 4CTCS commander.
Former Combat Camera airmen, including Lt Col (Ret.) Paul Smedegaard, MSgt (Ret.) Sam Ameen, and TSgt (Ret.) Steve McGill, shared their experiences, providing a vivid picture of the evolution of Combat Camera. “Hearing firsthand accounts from former Combat Camera airmen was incredibly enlightening,” said SSgt Jacob Buck. “It helped me connect a lot of dots about Combat Camera's heritage. It means so much more to hear it from a living, breathing person and to interact with them. Getting to pass around the [World War II] gear was really cool and made me feel more in touch with our heritage than ever before.”
The heritage ride included significant stops that highlighted the strategic role 4CTCS has played, with March ARB being a key location for Combat Camera operations, serving as a hub for training and deployment in the late 1990s and early 2000s. “Walking around the base and learning the history of not only the squadron but also March gives me a sense of anemoia—nostalgia for a time I've never known,” said SSgt Charles Fultz. “This is my first time being here, and learning about the Combat Camera ancestry has been really cool. It will definitely help me perform better and be more motivated in the future.”
The second day featured a behind-the-scenes tour at Warner Brothers Studio, including a visit to the First Motion Picture Unit Memorial, in which the 4CTCS has been bestowed their lineage and honors The squadron then moved on to Page Military Academy, the units barracks during World War II. Airmen provided additional historical perspectives on significant locations like Hal Roach Studios, known as "Fort Roach." “It was here in Southern California in February 1943 that six officers and 23 enlisted Airmen were transferred from the First Motion Picture Unit to create the 4th Combat Camera Unit,” said Lt Col Michael R. Odle, 4CTCS commander. “We are using this historical reconnaissance to examine the origin, constitution, activation, training, and employment of the 4th Combat Camera Unit during World War II. I want to bring to life, on the very terrain where historic encounters took place, understanding and examples, applicable today as in the past, of combat camera tactics and strategy, purpose, communications, and the psychology of combat camera Airmen in war. The 4th has a long and storied history. The geography and equipment might be different, but the mission remains the same. The men and women of the 4th carry forward that legacy every time they go out the door.”
The final day began with a squadron hike up Mount Rubidoux, offering panoramic views and historical attractions. The airmen then split into two groups: enlisted personnel explored the Orange County Fairgrounds, while officers attended a leadership brunch with Col. Beth Horine at the historic Mission Inn, which proudly displays the wings of Gen. Bill “Hap” Arnold and Amelia Earhart. The squadron reconvened at the Hero’s Hall Museum. touring an exhibition on the Vietnam War through the art and photography of Ed Bowen. “Returning to March ARB for the heritage staff ride was a chance for squadron members to tie the two worlds together and explore, learn and celebrate the history and traditions of the 4th Combat Camera Squadron stretching back not just to its days at March ARB, but also to its roots as the U.S. Army Air Force’s 4th Combat Camera Unit in World War II,” said MSgt Donald Allen, 4CTCS Aerial Photo Program Manager. “We learned a lot about the past, present, and continued importance of the role Combat Camera has played and will play into the future.”
From the 4th Combat Camera Squadron’s start in Southern California in 1943, to after playing a significant role in documenting World War II, the squadron was inactivated post-war in the late 1940s. It was later reactivated during the Korean War in the 1950s to document the conflict. Following another period of inactivation, it was reactivated again in the Vietnam War era in the 1960s, providing crucial combat documentation. The squadron underwent another inactivation post-Vietnam and was eventually reactivated at March ARB in 1992. The squadron was inactivated at March ARB in 2015 but was reactivated the following year in 2016 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. “I've been a member of 4CTCS for 15 years and have seen the 4th through deployments of Combat Camera teams around the world at the height of the global war on terror, through its inactivation at March ARB in 2015, and eventual reactivation the following year in 2016 at Joint Base Charleston. I've been a part of growing the new squadron and have seen how older, more seasoned members have passed along their knowledge and experience to a new generation of ComCam shooters,” said MSgt Allen.
Throughout its history, 4CTCS has played a pivotal role in documenting military operations and engaging in information warfare from World War II to present-day conflicts. Their work provides critical intelligence, counters mis- and disinformation, supports operational planning, and serves as a historical record, ensuring transparency and accountability. The heritage ride and historical tour reinforced the importance of Combat Camera's mission and celebrated the legacy of those who have served in this critical capacity. As the 4th Combat Camera Squadron continues to evolve, their commitment to capturing the essence of military operations remains unwavering.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2024 13:46 |
| Story ID: | 478008 |
| Location: | MARCH, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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