Interview of Stephen Riley by Raimund E. Goerler

• Main Author: Riley, Stephen, 1929-
• Other Authors: Goerler, Raimund E. (Raimund Erhard), 1948-
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program 2007
• Subjects: Antarctica > Social life and customs; Photography > Antarctica > Interviews; Antarctica > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; Riley; Stephen; 1929- > Interviews; Arctic; Antarctic; Byrd; Reimer; Hercules; Eastman; Von Braun; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/28383

Key Individuals Mentioned 1. President Harry Truman p.1 2. William McDonald p.5 3. Jean Van Reef p.8 4. Commander Morris P.8 5. Dan Bailey p.8 6. Fred Schneider p.8 7. Lt. Brian Shoemaker p.8 8. Dr. Werner von Braun p.9 9. John Reimer p.16, 23 10. Ed Feeney p.19 11. Virgil Klein p.20 12. Pierre Gernan p.20 13. Barry Goldwater p.24 The media can be accessed here: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Stephen_Riley.mp3 Mr. Stephen Riley entered the Navy in 1947, hoping to attend college on the G.I. Bill. He became interested in photography. After the Korean War started his tour was extended another year. This extension prevented him from returning to Rochester, N.Y. and obtaining a job at Eastman Kodak. In Korea, he specialized in aerial photography and mapping. In 1960, he became a navigator on the Navy’s photographic reconnaissance jets, sky warrior. He and four others were commissioned as officers in heavy photographic, Squadron 62. At the start of the Vietnam War, he was sent to Guam and joined the Photographic Squadron 61. They did aerial mapping of Laos and Vietnam. While at Guam, he received orders to go to Antarctica. The National Science Foundation had a higher priority for aerial photographers than Vietnam. He describes his first impressions of Antarctica and the extreme cold. The aerial mapping was done with a C-130 Hercules plane. For some of the mapping, they were based in Chile. He was impressed by the cooperation among the scientists from many countries. Mr. Riley stays in contact with colleagues through the Old Antarctica Explorers Association. A highlight of his Antarctic experience was the high rating of his photographs by the National Geodesic Group. The magnetic field in Antarctica played havoc with their magnetic navigation devices. He summarized the training of pilots and navigators to Arctic conditions. Communication with family often involved ham radio. Major Topics 1. Reasons for joining the Navy in 1947 and making it a career. 2. Mr. Riley specialized in aerial ...