WWII Panoramas Collection, WWII PANOS
Abstract
The WWII Panoramas Collection contains panoramic photographs from 1939 - 1946 of various
United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and State Guard units stationed at North Carolina
military instillations and non-North Carolina military instillations. The focus of
the collection is North Carolina military instillation sites during WWII, which include
Fort Bragg, Camp Davis, Camp Mackall, Camp Butner, Camp Sutton, and Marine Barracks
New River (Camp Lejune). The largest number of panoramas are from Fort Bragg, Camp
Davis, Aberdeen Proving Ground (MD), Bainbridge (MD), Emporia (VA), Fort Eustis (VA),
and other locations in Virginia.
This collection reflects the importance of N.C. military instillations in training
for WWII and the vast number of servicemen and servicewomen from North Carolina who
served the country during this time. The panoramas also reflect the diversity of the
military at the time with images of female servicemembers and servicemembers of different
ethnicities in the unit photographs. Some notable units with North Carolina connections
are the 268th Station Hospital and the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion 'Tankbusters'.
The collection also includes a rare panorama of an Army Air Corps Flying Cadets Class
41-B from 1941, 6 years before the official designation of the United States Air Force.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- WWII Panoramas Collection
- Call Number
- WWII PANOS
- Creator
-
Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina
- Date
- 1940-1945
- Extent
- 0.01 cubic feet
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions on usage of this collection.
Collection Overview
This collection is currently comprised of 69 black and white panoramic photographs.
This collection spans the following locations: North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas,
Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, California, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Australia.
The photographs primarily show servicemembers in full dress posing in front of prominent
buildings or in a field, sometimes holding up the flag of their unit/division. The
photographs show men and women standing and sitting in formation in front of military
barracks. The name of the commanding officer is usually noted. Some photographs have
signatures or printed names of the service members pictured, but some service members
are unidentified in the unit photographs. Most of the photographs are of White males,
but many images also show female servicemembers, African American servicemembers,
and servicemembers of other ethnicities in the units. One panorama is almost exclusively
women. Notable units shown in the collection include the 268th Station Hospital, an
all-African American coed unit stationed at Camp Columbia located in Australia. There
is also a rare photograph of an Army Air Corps Flying Cadets Class 41-B from 1941,
6 years before the official designation of the United States Air Force. There is also
an image of the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion 'Tankbusters, a unit activated at Fort
Bragg in 1941 that earned a Croix De Guerre for service in Belgium during WWII.
Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged into two series, and then arranged by location and chronologically.
Series 1: North Carolina Military Instillations, Series 2: Non-North Carolina Military
Instillations. Locations with the greatest number of panoramas are first and then
it continues in descending order. The chronological order of the panoramas is arranged
within each location. The location order for the North Carolina military instillations
is Fort Bragg, Camp Davis, Camp Mackall, Camp Butner, Camp Sutton, and Marine Barracks
New River (now named Camp Lejune). The original numbering and previous collection
of the panoramas are included in the collection inventory descriptions. Items are
individually inside of oversized folders. Some folders have a maximum of two panoramas
inside with acid-free tissue separating the panoramas.
Biographical/Historical
The United States officially entered WWII on December 11, 1941. During the war, North
Carolina had an essential role in the training and mobilization of U.S. military personnel.
Fort Bragg and Camp Davis were significant North Carolina military instillations where
thousands of military personnel were trained and stationed there; many of them being
native North Carolinians. Panoramic photographs were commonly produced during this
time to document the companies and battalions during training or before they were
deployed. These images served as official military records and personal keepsakes
for servicemembers and their families.
Contents of the Collection
1. Series 1: North Carolina Military Installations
Unit photograph of Battery D, 5th Battalion, 2nd Training Regiment, Field Artillery
Replacement Center, Fort Bragg North Carolina, 3rd Cycle on December 6, 1941. Photograph
by Rell Clements, Fayetteville NC., 1941Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.27"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.03
Unit photograph of the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion 'Tankbusters' at Fort Bragg,
NC on April 22,1942 during WWII. Colonel W.A. Walker, commanding officer. Photograph
by Glenn Rider, Kansas City, Missouri., 1942Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.9"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.04
Unit photograph of Company C, 67th Quartermaster Battalion. Captain C.M. Mead commanding.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 13, 1942. Photograph by Rell Clements, Fayetteville
North Carolina. 'Milton J. Lee of Faison, N.C. B. 1919 D. 2012' is written in pen
on the back of photograph., 1942Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.25"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.06
Panoramic unit photograph of Officers, Nurses and Enlisted Personnel at the 38th Evacuation
Hospital, Fort Bragg, North Carolina on July 26, 1942. Colonel R.W. Whittier commanding.
Photograph by Rell Clements Fayetteville North Carolina., 1942Processing:
Previously "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.14"; changed 11/25/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.07
Unit photograph of the Third Band, Field Artillery Replacement Training Center at
Fort Bragg North Carolina on November 10,1943. Inscribed "To My Darling Wife. Handwritten
on verso, 'Clarkesville GA"., 1943Processing:
Previously listed as "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.17" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.52";
changed 11/25/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.08
Panoramic unit photograph of the 4th Platoon, Battery D, 11th Battalion, 4th Training
Regiment, Field Artillery Recruit Training Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina on March
23, 1944 (typed roster attached). Photograph by Rell Clements., 1943Processing:
Previosuly numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.13" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.48"; changed
11/25/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.09
Battery C, 8th Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment, Field Artillery Replacement Training
Center, Fort Bragg, August 12, 1944. Photograph by Rell Clements., 1944Processing:
Previously numbered MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.19" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.54"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.10
Panoramic unit photograph of the 3rd Platoon, Battery D, 11th Battalion, 4th Training
Regiment at the Field Artillery Recruit Training Center, Fort Bragg North Carolina.
Lieutenant F.C. Day, battery commander. Lieutenant L.C. Lane, platoon commander. October
14, 1944. Signatures and addresses of several servicemembers are on the verso. Photograph
by Rell Clements., 1944Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.15" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.50"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.11
2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, North Carolina State Guard, Fort Bragg, Maj. F. Willetts,
commanding, October 28, 1944. Photograph by Rell Clements., 1944Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.23" and"MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.57"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.12
1st Regiment, North Carolina State Guard, Fort Bragg, Col. William W. Sharp Jr., commanding,
July 10-22, 1945. Photograph by Rell Clements., 1945Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.12" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.47"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.13
Unit photograph of Battery H, 94th Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft at Camp Davis North
Carolina, September 1941. Photograph by Wooten-Moulton., 1941Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.26"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.15
Unit photograph of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officer's Candidate School Course No.71,
Camp Davis North Carolina, May 23 - September 17, 1943., 1943Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.53" and "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.18"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.17
Unit photograph of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officer's Candidate School Course No.75
at Camp Davis North Carolina, June 21-October 14, 1943.Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.21"; changed 11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.18
Panoramic unit photograph of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officers Candidate School,
Course No.46, November 29, 1942 - n.d.,1943, Camp Davis North Carolina., 1942-1943Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.33"; changed 11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.19
Panoramic photograph titled "Airborne Camp Mackall, North Carolina: 'Those Men Who
Drop From the Skies'". Photograph by U.S. Army Signal Corps, Copyright 1944 by W.R.
Thompson and Co. Richmond, Virginia., 1944Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.43" and "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.3"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.23
Panoramic unit photograph of the Headquarters and Services, 1st Battalion 11th Marines
1st Marine Division. Marine Barracks New River, North Carolina on December 12, 1941., 1941Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.37" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.60"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.26
Unit photograph of the 302nd Ordnance Regiment, 2nd Battalion Officers at Camp Sutton,
North Carolina, August 7, 1942. Photograph by Rell Clements, Fayetteville., 1942Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.32"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.27
Panoramic unit photograph of Battery B, 15th Battalion 5th Training Regiment Field
Artillery Replacement Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Lieutenant P.G. Rogers commanding.
13th Cycle, October 11, 1943. Photograph by Rell Clements Fayetteville North Carolina., 1943Processing:
Previously numbered "MilColl.Misc.Panoramas.16" and "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.51"; changed
11/25/25.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.28
Battery B, 5th Battalion, 2nd Training Regiment, Field Artillery Replacement Center,
Fort Bragg, N.C., 12th cycle, August 21, 1943. Photograph by Rell Clements, Fayetteville.
MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.2
2. Series 2: Non-North Carolina Military Installations
Unit photograph of Company B, 3rd Battalion, Ordnance Replacement Training Center,
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Photograph is annotated with the names of the soldiers
pictured, March 1942. Photograph by Schutz, Washington D.C., 1942Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.38"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.02
Unit photograph of Company C, 3rd Battalion, Ordnance Replacement Training Center.
Captain Carl J. Koenig, commander. Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland, March 1942. The
names of the servicemembers shown are annotated. Photograph by Schutz, Washington
D.C., 1942Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.39"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.03
Unit photograph of Company D, 3rd Battalion, Ordnance Replacement Training Center,
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, March 1942. First Lieutenant Donald P. Keel commanding
officer. The names of servicemembers pictured are annotated. Photograph by Schutz,
Washington, D.C., 1942Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.40"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.04
Unit photograph of Company 4528, U.S. Naval Training Station, Bainbridge, Maryland
on January 18, 1944., 1944Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.23"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.05
Unit photograph of Company 4668, U.S. Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland,
February 16, 1945. William J. Beard (of Orange County, N.C.) is pictured third row
from the bottom, fifth from the right.
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.06
Unit photograph of Company 3199, U.S. Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland,
August 4,1945. Seaman Apprentice Marvin Lee Thompson of Smithfield, NC (Johnston County)
identified on verso., 1945Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.19"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.07
Unit photograph at the Ordnance Training Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland,
n.d. Photograph by Deitz Press, Richmond Virginia.Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.42"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.08
Unit photograph of the Virginia Protective Force (VPF) posing in formation, Emporia,
Virginia, 1941. Albert N. Mason (New Bern, N.C.) is pictured in the front row, fifth
from the right., 1941Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.6
Changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.10
Unit photograph of the 426 Graduating Platoon. T.W. Panish, CSp company commander,
Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia, September 10, 1942., 1942Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.22"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.11
Unit photograph of Battery B, 10th Anti-Aircraft Training Battalion, United States
Army, Fort Eustis, Virginia, October 1942. The names of all servicemembers shown along
the bottom of the photograph. Daniel W. Lanier (Beulaville, Duplin County, N.C.) is
pictured on the second row. Photograph by Post Studio, Fort Eustis Virginia., 1942Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.12; changed 11/24/2025
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.12
Unit photograph of Company C, 403rd Engineer (Water Supply) Battalion posing standing
and seated in a field. Captain James L. Chavasse commanding officer, shown kneeling
in the middle of photograph. On the back of photograph, handwritten "Left to Right,
Captain James L. Chavasse, 1st Sergeant Haskell D. Briscoe, Lieutenant Otto J. Preikszas."
A.P. Hill Military Reservation, Virginia. May-October 1943. Copy print., 1943Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.28"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.13
Unit photograph of Company 784, B-3, United States Navy at Camp Peary, Virginia, July
1944. W.R. Karhn, C.C.M. Company Commander. The names of all servicemembers shown
are printed along the bottom of the photograph. Homer. F. Fleming (Guilford County,
Greensboro, N.C.) is pictured, and his name is written on the back of photograph.
Photograph by Camp Photographers, Richmond, Virginia., 1944Processing:
Fromerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.13; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.14
Unit photograph of Battery A, 113th Field Artillery at Fort Jackson, South Carolina,
November 1940. Captain Worth Wicker, commanding officer. Private Alfred Worthington
Craft (Pitt County, Greenville, N.C.) is pictured and identified on version. Photograph
by Leonard Parke, Orlando, Florida., 1940Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.18"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.15
Unit photograph of the Virginia Protective Force (VPF) posing in formation in front
of an unidentified building. Emporia, Virginia, n.d.1941. Albert N. Mason (New Bern,
N.C.) is pictured in the second row from the back, second from the right., 1941Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.5
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.15
Unit photograph of Company L, 120th Infantry, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, April
1941. The names of servicemembers shown are annotated on the photograph. Photograph
by Leonard Parke Photographers, Orlando, Florida., 1941Processing:
Fromerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.31"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.17
Unit photograph of Company M, 120th Infantry at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in April
1941. The names of all service members shown are annotated along the bottom of the
photograph. Photograph by Leonard Parke Photographers, Orlando Florida., 1941Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.24"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.18
Unit photograph of Company E, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, Camp Toccoa,
Georgia, n.d. Lieutenant E.F. Brooks commanding. Paul T. Harris and two unidentified
soldiers are identified in the photograph by an 'X'.Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.20"' changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.19
Unit photograph of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officers Candidate School, Course No.76,
Camp Davis North Carolina, June 26 - October 21,1943., 1943Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.21"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S1.20
Unit photograph of the 84th Division Headquarters Battery, 327th Field Artillery posing
in formation. Handwritten on the back "Technical Sergeant Victor P. Bowles, Roanoke
Rapids, N.C., Front row, 4th from left". Camp Howze, Texas, n.d.Processing:
Previously accessioned: Military Collection, WWII Papers, Private Collections, Thomas
J. Taylor Papers, Box 37
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.46; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.22
Unit photograph of Company C, 403rd Engineer Water Supply Battalion standing in formation
with barracks and another unit marching in the background. On the back of photograph,
handwritten "Left to Right, 1st Sergeant Haskell Briscoe, Lieutenant Earle D. Quinnell,
Captain James L. Chavasse, Lieutenant Otto J. Preikszas, Lieutenant Richard D. Alford."
Fort Dix, New Jersey December 1, 1943. Copy print., 1943Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.29"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.24
Unit Photograph of the Officers of the 403rd Engineer Water Supply Battalion at Fort
Dix, New Jersey, December 1, 1943. The names of all servicemembers shown are handwritten
on the back of the photograph. Captain Chavasse shown in the front row. Warrant Officer
Daniels (motor officer) and Warrant Officer Peterson (water supply engineer) are shown
in the back row. Copy print., 1943Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.30"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.25
Unit photograph of Company B, 16th Armored Replacement Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky,
April 1942. 1st Lieutenant B.R. Irvine commanding.1st Sergeant J.E. Lynn, 1st Lieutenant
B.J. Rumcly, and 2nd Lieutenant D.C. Bermond are annotated at the bottom of the photograph.
One servicemember is holding up a flag with 'RTC 16B' on the front. [Previously accessioned
as: Military Collection, WWII Papers, Private Collections, William S. Powell Collection,
Box 22-C]., 1942Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.8; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.31
Aerial-view photograph of officers and trainees of the United States Army Radio Schools
Midland and Central Divisions standing in formation on a lot in a downtown area, Kansas
City, Missouri, March 17, 1943. Jesse J. Austin Jr. (Guilford County, Greensboro,
N.C.) is pictured and graduated from the school in April 1943. Photograph by Glenn
Rider, Kansas City, Missouri., 1943Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.10; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.32
Unit photograph of Section 31-338th College Detachment servicemembers kneeling in
a field with three airplanes and a building in the background. Handwritten numbers
are labeling the servicemembers. The servicemembers are identified on the reverse
with signatures and their hometown location. Reading Airport, Pennsylvania, June 1943., 1943Processing:
Previously accessioned: Military Collection, WWII Papers, Private Collections, Jonathan
S. Swift Papers, Box 38
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramics.15; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.33
Unit photograph of the first graduating class of the United States Naval Training
School (SK-W), Boston, Massachusetts, Bryant-Stratton Group, July 8, 1943. Photograph
by Fay Foto, Boston., 1943Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.17"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.34
Unit photograph of Company B, 18th Battalion posing in formation at the United States
Army Infantry Replacement Training Center, Fort McClellan, Alabama, November 1943.
Captain H. Griffin commanding, First Sergeant Davie notated at the bottom. Paul H.
Hickman (Caldwell County, Hudson, N.C.) is pictured. Photograph by Post Studio, Fort
McClellan, Alabama., 1943Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.4
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.35
Unit photograph of Battery B, 396th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, United States
Army at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, May 5, 1944. Captain John F. Gallagher, commanding
officer. The names '1st Lieutenant Bruce M. Robbins Jr., 2nd Lieutenant Gerald E.
Straser, and 1st Sergeant Ray D. Cannon' are notated along the bottom. William H.
Query (Cleveland County, N.C.) is pictured. Photograph by Post Photo Shop, Camp Chaffee,
Arkansas., 1944Processing:
Formerly MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.3
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.36
Unit photograph of soldiers of the 268th Station Hospital, a segregated African American
male and female unit, posing in formation standing and seated in front of a building.
United States Army, Camp Columbia, Wacol, Brisbane, Australia. October 5,1943., 1943Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.34"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.37
Unit photograph of Trainees, Officers, and Cadre, Mid-West Trades Institute, Danville,
Illinois in 1944. The names of all soldiers shown are annotated. Private First-Class
Maness Ray Lanier from High Point, NC (Guilford County), Army 1944(2?) -1945. Photograph
by Washington Photo Co. Inc., Washington DC, 1944Processing:
Formerly "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.16"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.38
Group photograph of unidentified United States Army soldiers at an unknown location.
Likely that Lieutenant Colonel George B. Cline (of Catawba County) is pictured. Photograph
likely taken at the Ordnance Replacement Training Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Maryland. n.d. Photograph by Schutz, Washington D.C.Processing:
Previously "MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.41"; changed 11/24/25
WWII.PANORAMAS.S2.41
1942 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion Panorama, April 22, 1942
Panorama
Desert Training Center, California. Photograph copyrighted by W. R. Thompson & Company,
Publishers, Richmond, Virginia.
MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.7
Unidentified group of servicemen, Kansas City, Missouri, n.d.
MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.11
Officers of 3rd Ordnance Battalion, Maj. G. B. Cline, commanding, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland, August 1941. Photograph by Schutz, Washington, D.C.
MilColl.WWII.Panoramas.37