The Snapshots in Time Collection

Photo Album Page: Palm Frond Souvenir from Lt. Trembly's Strafing Run, with Beach Snapshot of Squadron Mates

Photo Album Page: Palm Frond Souvenir from Lt. Trembly's Strafing Run, with Beach Snapshot of Squadron Mates

A page from a WWII naval aviator's personal scrapbook pairs an unusual battle souvenir with a candid beach photo. The handwritten note explains that the mounted palm frond fragments were pulled from Lt. Trembly's aircraft oil cooler after he struck a tree during a low-level strafing run on a Japanese-held Pacific island -- a vivid reminder of just how close to the ground carrier and land-based strike aircraft operated. Below, four young airmen relax on a tropical beach between missions, their names recorded in the album owner's own hand. Project: 218136