Biographical/historical information

Raymond A. Drew was born on August 5, 1924 in Milwaukee, WI. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Army in March of 1942. His enlistment period was during World War II and he served in the Marine Photographic Squadron 254 (VMP-254) which was based out of Greenville, NC. Following the war, he married Marion Puhek and had five children. Raymond Drew died on April 5, 2005 at the age of 80 and is buried in the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Marine Photographic Squadron 254 (VMP-254) was acting from September 25, 1944, til November 30, 1949. The squadron was originally set to be a replacement training squadron but began to prepare for overseas deployment in March of 1945. The squadron's first echelon departed in July of 1945 and was aboard the USS Appling upon the Japanese surrender. The squadron returned to California in 1946 in February and began mapping Southern California through photographs. On November 30, 1949, the squadron was decommissioned following post-war downsizing of Marine Corps Aviation.

Scope and arrangement

This collection consists of a photograph album (1944-1945) kept by Raymond Drew (of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) while he was a member of Marine Photographic Squadron 254 (VMD-254) during World War II. Included in the album are black-and-white photographs of citizens, temples, streets, landmarks, ruins, and buildings. A short description is written underneath each photo and includes the locations where they were taken. The majority of the photographs were taken in various municipalities in China, Korea, and Japan. A few photographs were taken in Greenville, North Carolina and California.The album also contains materials such as maps of the VMD-254's routes, images of army cemeteries and photographs of various locations in Okinawa, Japan

Administrative information

Custodial History

May 6, 2015, 1 item, 0.50 cu.ft.; This collection contains a photograph album kept by Raymond Drew (of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) while he was a member of Marine Photographic Squadron 254 (VMD-254) during World War II. His squadron later became a part of Squadron 954 (VMD-954). This squadron was based in Greenville, North Carolina, and the album contains photographs of the Greenville base and of Pacific Theatre battle sites. Gift of Tom Drew.

August 27, 2018), 1 item, 0.001 cu.ft.; Photograph of Marine Photographic Squadron 254, Fleet Marine Force, taken July 6, 1945, at Marine Corps Outlying Field, Greenville, North Carolina. Identifications are provided for Commanding Officer Major Vernon O. Ullman and Executive Officer Major H. D. Treadway, and possible identification for Pilot 2/Lt Kenneth R. Bland. Donor John P. Bland is the son of Kenneth R. Bland. Gift of John P. and Gay S. Bland.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Tom Drew

Gift of John P. and Gay S. Bland

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms

Corporate Names

United States. Marine Corps--Military life
United States. Marine Corps--Pictorial works
United States. Marine Photographic Squadron 254

Topical

Marines--North Carolina--Greenville
Military bases--North Carolina--Greenville
Railroad stations--North Carolina--Greenville
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Japan--Pictorial works

Places

Great Wall of China (China)--Aerial views
Korea--Pictorial works
Okinawa Island (Japan)--History, Military--Pictorial works

Container list