Naval Air Station Pensacola Friday morning kicked off its 100th anniversary celebration, by honoring one of the many Navy pioneers who helped put the installation on the map.
In his narration, Commander Dave Jasso said when Lt. Commander Henry Mustin anchored the USS Massachusetts in Pensacola Bay one of his crewmen, Ships Cook 4th Class Walter Leroy Richardson, was a photo enthusiast and began capturing aviation activities on film.
“And the Navy soon realized that Richardson’s photograph’s were a valuable tool for training and documenting aircraft testing, accidents and other aviation-related activities,” said Jasso. “The Navy then designated Richardson as the Navy’s first official photographer. Richardson later received his Wings of Gold as a naval aviator.”
The air station’s Command Headquarters – Building 1500 – was rededicated and named in honor of Dick Richardson with about 20 members of Richardson’s family in attendance.
Among the featured speakers was Cong. Jeff Miller, who said Dick Richardson – as have many prominent Americans -- embodied innovation while taking calculated risks in advancing his craft. Richardson’s work included the development of the hand-held oblique camera for aerial photography. Equipped with a high-speed lens, it was suitable for taking photos at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 feet.
After his retirement from the Navy in 1926, Richardson worked for the Bureau of Aeronautics until his death in 1945.
Naming Command HQ after Dick Richardson was the start of a year-long series of events commemorating the Navy’s first and oldest air station. Since its beginning in 1914, Naval Air Station Pensacola has been a vital part of the nation’s security.
As for the thousands of pictures taken by Dick Richardson in the development of aerial reconnaissance and other photographic work for the Navy – they’re still under wraps for now. But base Public Information Officer Harry White says they’ll soon be made public through, among other avenues, the Pensacola Bay Chamber of Commerce website.
This is actually the second 100-year observance aboard NAS Pensacola. The first was in 2011 – when the Navy and Marine Corps celebrated the centennial of naval aviation.