Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection

Hans Herman Hugo Ernest Wilhelm Von Groenhoff (1906-1985) was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1927. His career began when he inherited photographic equipment from his brother Gunther, a famous German aviator and pioneer glider pilot. Hans Groenhoff's interest in clouds and other seemingly irrelevant objects that surrounded the main subject of his

pictures earned him the reputation as an unorthodox but extremely talented aviation photographer. Groenhoff photographed the airshows of the 1930's and 1940's, capturing such showman as Al Williams in his Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II and Tony Le Vier and Bessie Owens. The essence of these races and their patriotic flair have been preserved by Groenhoff. His brother's accomplishments with gliders led Groenhoff to shoot amazing air-to-air glider photos. Much of his later work was taken in Florida and the Bahamas while he was working for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Several samples of the many Groenhoff images follow.

Archives Division

(Rev 5/03/96) Kristine Kaske