This is Howard Pyfer. Howard was a family friend on my Moms side.


Howard Pyfer by M Patterson, on Flickr


Howard was in the US Army Air Service/Army Air Corps in the 1920s.


Z HP 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


He was an aerial photographer assigned to an Observation Squadron. At some point he gave my Grandma an album of 8 X10 photos he had taken over the years. The album was passed to my mom and eventually to me. The pictures are actually quite good but did not scan real well. I figured I’d post some of my favorites.

As this was in the album I’m going to assume that this was the camera he used.


Z HP 9 by M Patterson, on Flickr



91st Observation Squadron


Z HP 5 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Bomber formation over Golden Gate


Z HP 6 by M Patterson, on Flickr



The Graf Zeppelin over San Francisco


Z graf zeppelin by M Patterson, on Flickr


The USS Saratoga in 1928


Z uss saratoga by M Patterson, on Flickr



And a picture of it with its complement of Bi-Planes


Z uss saratoga 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr




There were several pictures such as the bomber flight and this one of the Presidio of San Francisco taken over the Golden Gate leading into San Francisco Bay.


Z HP 8 by M Patterson, on Flickr


It took me a bit to realize that the Photos were taken before the Golden Gate Bridge was built. The latest picture of the Golden Gate in the album actually shows when the bridge was being built.


Z HP 10 by M Patterson, on Flickr



Anyway thought some of you might find the pictures interesting.




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