VMD-354 personnel received their photographic training at the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola, Florida. The course covered the basics in every phase of photography required by the military for ground and aerial reconnaissance. Photography was also used to document and to memorialize both military combat and non-combat action for historical purposes and for the production of training and documentary films to be used by the military. Classes were made up of Officers and enlisted personnel from both the US Marine Corps and the US Navy. Also in attendance, were personnel from allied countries. Lt. R.L. Simmons of VMD-354 was the only squadron pilot to attend the Naval School of Photography. Each new class entering into the school was divided into two groups, a Port Wing and a Starboard Wing to facilitate the teaching. Each Wing consisted of approximately 70 men. The Port wing included those men whose last name started with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet and the Starboard Wing was made up of men whose last name started with a letter in the upper half of the alphabet. The total duration of the course was 4 months. At any given period of time, there were 4 full classes in session with an approximate total head count of between 500 to 600 students attending the school. As one class was graduated at the end of the fourth month, a new class would be entering its first month. The first month of school concentrated on the basics of photography with theory and some darkroom training. In the second month, the use of the "Still Cameras", photographic composition and darkroom skills were taught. During the third month, the theory in the use of motion picture cameras, and the shooting of motion pictures, was taught. This was followed by "Hands on" experience using hand held 35mm Motion Picture Cameras. All motion picture film exposed by the student, was processed and edited by the same student. In the fourth month, the theory and technique in the use of Aerial Photographic Cameras was the subject. Each student made a number of aerial photographic training flights in an SNJ training aircraft, taking aerial photographs of targets in and around the surrounding Pensacola, FL area. A light weight, hand held aerial camera, such as the K20 Aerial Photo Camera, was preferred in the training exercises for its size, weight and ease of handling. The student was anchored to the interior of the aircraft with a safety harness since he was required to rise up and lean out and over the side of the aircraft in order to take his aerial photographs. Pensacola, Florida