VINTAGE FDNY WAR YEAR LIDS

^^^ The Photo above from the Daily News was taken by Paul Thayer .....
PAUL THAYER... a name from the past who loved the FDNY & the BROTHERS.....Paul contributed so much to chronicling FDNY 1950's Harlem Fire History from back when....Paul was actually a NYC Bus Driver (who on more than one occasion stopped his Bus along the route & jumped out to snap a few Fire pictures)....he originally spent many hours riding with LAD*26 & had a darkroom in the cellar of ENG*58 / LAD*26 then later at ENG*69 / LAD*28 / BN*16 where he also rode for a lengthy period ....he was harassed by the 1950's FC Edward Cavanaugh .....he did not like Paul because Paul's photos focused on the Brothers & not the FC & the big wigs....at one point he vindictively actually had Fire Marshal's destroy Paul's FH cellar darkroom.....in the '60s Paul authored a weekly column in the old Civil Service Leader / The Chief titled "FIRE FLIES"....in his column he regularly took HQ to task for their actions or in actions .....when Paul Retired around 1971 there was an extremely large well attended Retirement Party held at the BX Marina Del Rey that Howie Carlson & my self & several 108 & 175 Members attended (BKLYN IN THE HOUSE ).....

I owe Paul a debt of gratitude as the few 8x10 black & white photos I have of my Father while OTJ were taken by Paul.
 
^^^^^ Anybody who followed the FDNY in the '50s / '60s would remember many Harlem Fire photos published in WNYF as well as the Daily News & the then Daily Mirror with the credit to Paul Thayer....at one point his photos with his name credited stopped appearing in WNYF as Cavanaugh the FC ordered the WNYF Staff not to use any of Paul's photos as part of the FC's ongoing dislike of Paul since Paul only focused on the Members & never photographed the FC or any of his Staff at Fires or photo op's .....about the same time Harlem Fire photos began appearing in WNYF with the credit to OLAF TRYGVERSON......Paul had outsmarted the FC as these were his photos & the credit line OLAF TRYGVERSON according to Paul loosely translated into "TO TRIUMPH OVER THE DUMB" .
 
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