Lieutenants Pose with a Helicopter Cake

Object NamePhotograph

Historic Owner Wayne F. Stiles

Association USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)

Date1968

PeriodCold War; Vietnam War

Mediumphotographic paper

ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts

Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Wayne F. Stiles. P2019.10.03

Object numberP2019.10.03

DescriptionPhotograph, Black and white; Horizontal image of four light-skinned men posing behind a cake, which is sitting on a metal desk in a ready room. The men are officers in helicopter squadron HC-2. The cake is decorated with a helicopter on top. Half of the cake is cut, revealing two layers of chocolate cake inside. Beside the cake is a pile of paper napkins, a cake server and a white mug. The four men, from proper right to proper left, are: a man wearing khakis with lieutenant pins on his lapels and a garrison cap hanging from his belt; a man wearing dark clothing (possibly a flight suit) and a hat that reads “HC-2”; a man wearing khakis with lieutenant pins on his lapels, a nametag reading “Stiles” and a naval aviator pin; and a man in khakis holding a paper cup with four-pointed stars on it. On the wall behind them is a clear dry-erase board with writing on it in black ink, including “Cal // Insp”, “11/29”, and “9/9”. Papers and pens hang from the board. Behind the man holding the paper cup is a seated man, but only his hands and back of head are visible.

The back has "Ready-room party // following rescue of // Intrepid pilot // L-R // Lt Drex Matthews // Lt Lee Bennett // Lt Wayne F. Stiles // Lt Ed Sumrall" written in black ink. "Official U.S. Navy Photograph // not for publication // unless officially released" is stamped in black ink.

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