John David Reimer (1929-2002) was a United States Naval photographer who documented polar research projects using still, motion, and aerial photography. He joined the United States Navy after graduating from high school. Reimer learned about photography at the Navy Aviation Fundamental School. In 1956, he was assigned to an icebreaker called United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Staten Island in Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze; he was a part of the United States Navy, Air Development Squadron Six (USN VX-6.) Reimer created a pictorial history of the crew and photographed the building of Ellsworth Station. He also took photographs of organisms found by marine biologists in Weddell Sea. In 1957 and 1958, Reimer conducted aerial mapping of the Transantarctic Mountains and crevasses on tractor train routes near Byrd Station. During this time, he also photographed seismology tests in the South Pole to determine the thickness of the ice cap. In 1959 and 1960, while Reimer’s crew was aerial mapping the Sentinel Mountains, they identified a previously unknown mountain range, now called the Ellsworth Range. In 1960, he was initiated as a Chief Petty Officer and advanced to Chief Photographer’s Mate.

In 1961, Reimer continued aerial mapping out of Byrd Station in Antarctica, then spent three years on shore duty at the photography lab at the Naval Air Station Norfolk in Virginia. In 1964, he was the chief in charge of the photography lab aboard the United States Ship (USS) America in Virginia. In 1966, Reimer returned to Antarctica and became chief in charge of the USN VX-6, Photography Division. He supervised the photography lab in McMurdo Sound and worked on a mapping program assigned to the division by the US Geological Survey.

In 1968, when Reimer was promoted to Photographic Warrant Officer, he left the squadron, ending his Antarctic career. Reimer spent over 26 years in the Navy before he retired.