Marching band entertaining the troops in Miami Beach
Click here to view it larger.
What it is:
Photo measuring 10 x 8 inches.
What I know about it:
Stamped on the back is: Do Not Use For Publicity / Until After The War / P.R.O., B.T.C. 9, Miami Beach, Fla.
Comments:
This is the second of four photos I bought this weekend at an antiques store. “B.T.C. 9” would be the Army Air Forces Basic Training Center #9 in Miami Beach, Florida. I haven’t figured out what “P.R.O.” stands for. I’m guessing perhaps something like “public relations office”. Does anyone know? Or maybe it relates to the Presbyterian Recreation Center, a sign for which can be seen in the upper left, which was one of the many facilities in the area available for the off-duty leisure and entertainment of troops. This is undated, but based on the stamp I assume it was taken during World War II. It looks like a grand day.
Pics of Then 
That is quite the hat the first guy is wearing. I believe there are enough sandwiches inside that hat to feed the whole band.
Perfect! That’s the best explanation I’ve heard for those hats yet!
Wonderful photo, Matt. “Do Not Use For Publicity / Until After The War” Can you figure out why? I can’t see any sensitive information in the image.
I was wondering the same thing. It not like we’re looking at missile development or something.
It will remain a mystery but maybe says something of the emotions people were dealing with at the itme more than national security..
Yes, that’s probably quite true. I only wish that sort of paranoia weren’t still present in certain quarters.