History of Atlantic Fleet Sales

Owner, pilot and photographer Nobe Smith

We began in 1945 in Richmond, California as Liberty Picture Company and have operated since 1954 as Atlantic Fleet Sales in Norfolk, Virginia. Our principal business has been to supply Naval Ships Stores with emblematic merchandise and photographic images of ships. Our black and white photograph collection dates from 1945 consisting of mostly original negatives with a few copied USN photos. Early negatives are mostly west coast ships - with coverage of both coasts beginning around 1951. Early views are mostly all waterlevel. Aerial photography around Hampton Roads started in the 1950s. Color photography dates from around 1970 covering mostly the Atlantic Fleet. Multiple dates and views are available for many of our color and later B&W photos.

Primary cameras used have been a 4x5 Speed Graphic and K-20 Aerial for black and white, and a Pentax 6x7 for color. Aerial photography has been performed mainly from a Cessna 150 and 172. Most views are obtained in Hampton Roads between the Norfolk Naval Base and the Chesapeake Light House. Our photography consists mainly of US Navy ships but also includes Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, NOAA and foreign warships.