Rio Grande Historical Collections Photographs, 1885-1950s
Subject (LCSH)
Fighter pilots
Portraits
Soldiers
Historical context
The White Sands Proving Ground (WSPG) was established in July 9, 1945 and renamed White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in 1958. The world's first atomic bomb was detonated at Trinity Site, at the north end of WSPG, July 16, 1945. The military range served as a principal location for testing rocket technology following World War II, including V-2 rockets brought from Germany at the end of the war. WSMR is known as the birthplace of missile and space activity in the United States. The images in the collection depict WSMR views, V-2 rocket tests, Trinity Site, the old mining site of Estey City (located on the range), and personnel affiliated with operations at WSPG during the mid-1940s. The photographs were donated by the WSMR Public Affairs Office
Provenance
White Sands Missile Range, Public Affairs Office
Extent
Size original: 10 x 8 in.
Notes
Portrait of pilot Max Condron who Condron Field is named after
During WWII, Fort Bliss conducted antiaircraft gunnery practice in this area, just southeast of what is now the missile range headquarters
Targets were towed behind planes so ground crews had something to fire at
Condron was the pilot of one of those planes towing targets
Note on recto: "Baker-Ray, El Paso"
Digital publisher
New Mexico State University Library
Source
NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections
Source collection name: White Sands Missile Range Photographs, 1905-1950s