Description
WWII USN Personal Archive and Photographic Collection of
Photographers Mate 3 rd Class John V. Lincoln who served as personal
photographer during World War II “for Admiral Chester Nimitz even
receiving a photo credit in National Geographic”.
This one-of-a-kind Estate Archive is primarily focused on PhoM3c Lincoln’s experience
photographing and establishing remote camera operations for the US
Navy’s Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946.
For his time at Bikini Atoll Lincoln was stationed aboard USS Mt.
McKinley AGC-7.
The absolutely stunning archive tells the story of Joint Task Force One
Operation Cross Roads Photo Unit One from the time they arrived at
Bikini, interaction with Chief Juda and the Bikinian Islanders, relocation
of the island natives, establishment of naval operations, and ultimately
the Able & Baker Shots – Two Tests: the first being an airburst event
over the target fleet, second an underwater detonation utilizing an LSM
modified with drop through and crane. The target fleet was a large
assembly of surplus and captured ships to be used for the test;
including, Imperial Japanese Navy Nagato, German Kriegsmarine Prinz
Eugen, and the venerable USS Saratoga among 98 ships brought to the
lagoon for the operation.
Lincoln’s archive is an assembly of personal photographs taken and
developed, US Navy Official Photos, his Identification Card for
Operations Crossroads, Diaries, Letters, Navy First Day Cover, an Article
Written for National Geographic, some other press photos and his war
time photos from the end of WWII in the Pacific. Highlights of the
Collection include numerous photos on Bikini Atoll, the Islanders,
numerous different angles of both Able; Baker, the attempt to “clean”
the target fleet before the Baker test, letters, two diaries with various
notes and entries, plus personal art done of Bikini Atoll. These pieces
were originally contained in an album which fell apart – covers remain.
Not sure who John Verner Lincoln was? Well… John Verner Lincoln (b.
22 Oct 1926 – d. 14 Oct 1997) “was a man before his time, one of the
first to make his living capturing live action on film and, by all accounts,
one of the best at his craft.
He was a descendent of the Abraham Lincoln family and a look-alike
for the man on the $5 bill.
He built a tremendous resume over the
course of his career, including six Emmy awards.
He filmed presidents and popes, Super Bowls and superstars, soap
operas and sitcoms. He recorded on tape, and later on film, the first
and last episode of the Ed Sullivan Show. Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev
first visit to the United States, the missions to the moon, the famous
White House tour with Jacqueline Kennedy, and thirty years of the
Masters Golf Tournaments.
Hilda Lincoln recalled her husbands rapport with Walter Kronkite who
used to ask Mr. Lincoln for new jokes to add to his repertoire. She
remembered the time he was tear gassed by the Chicago police during
the riots there and the time the couple flew to the Caribbean islands for
the taping of the soap opera. Search for Tomorrow.
He was born and raised in Brooklyn, served his country in the United
States Navy during World War II where he was the personal
photographer for Admiral Chester Nimitz even receiving a photo credit
in National Geographic.” (Obituary of John V. Lincoln)
Photographic Archives related to Operation Crossroads Task Force One
July 1946 are nearly nonexistent. This exceptional personal archive of a
film and photographic legend is certainly to be one of the absolute best
in private hands, the silver gelatin of the Able Shot is worthy of
exhibition. A True Museum or University Grade Research Archive from
a less known time in Mr. Lincoln’s career.
*OBITUARY*
John Verner Lincoln, seventy years of age, passed away on October 14, 1997 at Plainview-Northshore
Hospital following a valiant battle with colon cancer.
He was a man before his time, one of the first to make his living capturing live action on film and, by all
accounts, one of the best at his craft.
He was a descendent of the Abraham Lincoln family and a ;look-alike for the man on the $5 bill. He
built a tremendous resume over the course of his career, including six Emmy awards.
He filmed presidents and popes, Super Bowls and superstars, soap operas and sitcoms. He recorded on
tape, and later on film, the first and last episode of the Ed Sullivan Show. Soviet leader Nikita Kruschevs
first visit to the United States, the missions to the moon, the famous White House tour with Jacqueline
Kennedy, and thirty years of the Master's Golf Tournaments.
Hilda Lincoln recalled her husband's rapport with Walter Kronkite who used to ask Mr. Lincoln for new
jokes to add to his repertoire. She remembered the time he was teargassed by the Chicago police during
the riots there and the time the couple flew to the Caribbean islands for the taping of the soap opera
;Search for Tomorrow;.
He was born and raised in Brooklyn, served his country in the United States Navy during World War II
where he was the personal photographer for Admiral Chester Nimitz even receiving a photo credit in
National Geographic. When he returned, he married Hilda in 1947 and they moved into an original Levitt
house in Levittown the next year.He later moved to Syosset where Hilda still resides.
He began work at CBS in the 1950s, before the invention of the videotape, where he quickly emerged as
the top star; of live television, said friend and CBS co-worker, Fred Schutz.
After his retirement in the late 1980s, he spent many afternoons at the Bird Sanctuary at Tobay Beach
capturing colourful still images of the feathered creatures for his own enjoyment.
He is survived by his wife, Hilda Lincoln; two sons, John and Alan Lincoln; and three grandchildren.
He was the son of the late Verner C and Ruth Loretta Verry Lincoln.
