Elmer Robert Blandin, chief specialist in the U. S. Naval Reserve, has received special commendation for scientific work carried on by him in developing underwater photographic techniques which have been adopted by the Navy. Blandin is a former Osage young man, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester R. Blandin, and a nephew of Mrs. I. Swanson.

The commendation for Blandin was received by his mother this week and was signed by Lt. Comdr. C. S. Piggot. The text follows:

"Elmer Robert Blandin, C Sp (x), while working under the technical direction of this Section, performed services beyond those normally expected of a man of his rating. His work in connection with the design and development of certain highly specialized equipment has been outstanding, and it is therefore requested that enclosure (A) be made part of his service record.

"From April, 1943, until April. 1944, this man was engaged in the engineering design of photographic apparatus for use under water in the identification of dangerous underwater objects. During the preceding one and a half years both the Bureau of Ardnance and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution worked on the development of practical underwater photographic equipment. Various devices were built and tested. Some were workablem but they were complicated and not entirely satisfactory for field use.

"After five months' duty on work for this Section, Blandin asked for and received permission to develop his own ideas for underwater photographic equipment. Within three months he designed, built, and tested the working model of a camera of simpler design, which proved altogether suitable for field applications. His design was tested aboard the U. S. S. JOHN M. HOWARD (1X-75) and was highly recommended by several field parties. Thereupon it was adopted as standard, and production of previous designs was abandoned. The present service production of underwater cameras for the Bureau is of the Blandin design, known officially as Underwater Camera, Mark 7.

"It is felt that this achievement is outstanding for a man of Blandin's rating, with less than one year's naval service. In addition to the actual design and drawings, Blandin carried on valuable liaison work with manufacturing and testing agencies concerned with the project."

[Mitchell County Press, Thursday, February 1, 1945]