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 Henry Ham grew up as a "military brat" who spent all his money on model airplanes. “Access to all the military bases around the Washington DC area and my father’s subsequent assignment to Japan afforded me ample opportunities to see, hear, and smell just about every aircraft in the US arsenal. Eventually, puberty took over and my priorities shifted to girls and fast cars, but my early fascination with military aircraft never waned."
Later, Ham moved to north central Texas. “While driving down what is now Interstate 30, two smoke-belching Navy F-4 Phantoms blew over my head. Shortly thereafter, I met some fellow aviation enthusiasts who promptly gave me directions to Carswell AFB. I made my initial investment in photography equipment then, too.”
Ham can be seen one or two days a week on the side of Spur 341, the road that leads to the main gate at Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems in Fort Worth. On a high area near the last off-ramp, he sets up a ladder and aims his telephoto lens over the fence to capture the activities at NAS Fort Worth JRB. Persistence pays. These photos and others he has taken during his travels to bases (inside and outside the fence) have been featured in a number of magazines and books. "My opportunities to photograph military aircraft have increased as my portfolio has improved. If the sun is out and I’m off work from my day job, you can find me out at NAS Fort Worth JRB ‘trolling’ for airplanes."
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