My father, Chet Szymczak (Szymczak-19) was in the 2nd Photo Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron in WWII. He talked about how difficult it was flying in the B-24s, wearing oxygen masks, how loud it was (later in life he lost most of his hearing); he was the photographer, navigator, and gunner as needed. He said being a gunner in the belly area of the B-24 (glass bubble) was terrifying, "you did what you had to do to ensure the safety of everyone on that plane". He used to get very emotional about what he saw in WWII, (was never embarrassed by that), especially in the Philippines. He was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps on May 12, 1941. He served his country as an Army Air Corp Aerial Reconnaissance Photographer and Photo Gunner. He mapped the Alaskan Canadian (ALCAN) Highway, photographed enemy installations in the South Pacific and was instrumental in resolving border and mapping disputes in South America, including the Amazon River. His geographical assignments included Alaska, Central America, Columbia, Peru, New Guinea, The Philippines, and Moratai. His decorations and citations included The American Defense Service Ribbon, and the Army Air Corp Air Metal. He was honorably discharged as a Tech Sergeant from the US Army Air Corps on October 13, 1945.
He passed on his fabulous photography skills onto his children ... especially me. When I was about 7 years old he asked if I would be interested in helping him in his dark room in the basement. I gladly accepted and began to see his photos from WWII, as I helped him in the developing process. His aerial photos were spectacular! Especially his photos of the other B-24s and fighter jets nearby as they flew.
I began to take my own photos and we'd develop them together. He used to say, "one either has an eye for photography or they don't... You do!".
I'm now a photographer like my father who won many awards for his photos ... Same for me. I thank my father for the skills he taught me. A few years before he died in 2012 he gave me the greatest compliment I could have ever wished for. He said, "Out of all of my children, you have become the best photographer ... I knew that you would, but you definitely have an eye for photography. I'm so proud of you." High praise from the one of The Greatest Generation indeed. I humbly thank Dad for helping me. He was a very honorable, generous, patient and kind man. High 5 Dad!
My profile photo was taken by my Dad when I was about 3 or 4 years old.
