McGovern was a combat photographer assigned to the 8th Air Force Combat Camera Unit, he was part of Detachment B, based at Chelveston.



As a combat cameraman, his work was used in the film "Memphis Belle The Story of a Flying Fortress" (1944), and he also flew combat missions with the 305th Bomb Group, he survived two crashes, and narrowly avoided being hit by gunfire on a mission over Villacoublay in 1943.



Following the end of the War McGovern was promoted to Lietuenant and sent to Japan to film the aftermath of the Atomic Bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he directed and co-ordinated the filming of colour footage showing the devastation.



McGovern also founded the Internation Combat Cameramen Association (ICCA) who aim to give credit to those who put their life on the line to capture combat footage.



He died in 2005.