Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Group

• Origins in World War II: The Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Group (PCCG) traces its roots to World War II, when military photographers and filmmakers were assigned to document naval operations in the Pacific Theater. • Official Establishment: The group was formally established as part of the Navy in 1951, consolidating various combat camera operations under one command to streamline visual documentation efforts. • Documenting Historic Moments: PCCG photographers captured iconic images of significant events such as the signing of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in 1945. • Combat Camera Motto: "Eyes of the Fleet" is a nickname often used for Combat Camera units, highlighting their role in visually chronicling naval history. • Expeditionary Deployments: PCCG teams have deployed alongside Navy and Marine units in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, and humanitarian missions, often operating in hazardous frontline conditions. • Technological Pioneers: The group has been at the forefront of adopting new imaging technologies, from early film cameras to modern digital equipment and even drone footage. • Training and Selection: Combat Camera personnel undergo rigorous training in both photography and military skills, including survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) courses. • Preserving Navy Heritage: Many of the photographs and films taken by PCCG are now housed in the National Archives and the Naval History and Heritage Command, serving as invaluable historical records. • Humanitarian Missions: PCCG has documented disaster relief operations, such as the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. • Deactivation and Legacy: The original Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Group was deactivated in 2018, but its legacy endures through the continued work of Navy combat photographers and the vast visual archive it created.