I think the title itself says what this thread is going to be about. If you have more of such photos that depict soldiers or even civilians in such dramatical situations as the ones posted below, do not hesitate and post them! Will post more in the future!
Nice pics but Hope there's not a copyright issue here. Seen that bren gunner pic in several books. Its a IWM:B 5382
Photographer: Laing (Sgt) No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit Title: THE ALLIED CAMPAIGN IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 6 JUNE 1944 - 7 MAY 1945 Collection No.: 4700-29 Description: The Battle for Normandy: A Bren-gunner, Private W Wheatley of 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, 50 Division, giving supporting fire from a ruined house in Douet, near Bayeux, Normandy. Period:Second World War
Photographer: Laing (Sgt) No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit Sgt Laing crops up everywhere. Owen & I were looking at his pics the other day, they form a rather good narrative. Following a given photographer's shots via IWM collections proved interesting for several names.
The strange pic of landing upside down was taken in the early stage of operation Market Garden and depicts an unlucky paratrooper from 82nd Airborne Division. If he would only hit the ground a few yards to the left, straight to the haystack... Definitely interesting to see that photographs are able to catch such moments.
The strange pic of landing upside down was taken in the early stage of operation Market Garden and depicts an unlucky paratrooper from 82nd Airborne Division. If he would only hit the ground a few yards to the left, straight to the haystack... Definitely interesting to see that photographs are able to catch such moments. That photo is in ATB's Op Market Garden and it says Immediately after his own landing the unkown cameraman turned to filming the descent of the other paratroopers around him. Though it might appear this trooper is coming down hard on his head, he is in fact making a textbook landing, absorbing the shock by rolling his body sideways and up his shoulders. If you look carefully you can see the chute guides and the white area to his left is dust which can easily be mistaken for a chute. Cheers Andy
More Camoflage uniforms and a rather nice looking fighting knife strapped to a chaps right leg in the foreground
Some images from Buchiem , aspects of the Battle of The Atlantic from both sides , in the water the men just look the same. The face on the NCO says it all.
That photo is in ATB's Op Market Garden and it says If you look carefully you can see the chute guides and the white area to his left is dust which can easily be mistaken for a chute. Cheers Andy I didn't know that. The caption from U.S. Army Center for Military History says the following: SC354700 - HOLLAND The haystack at right would have softened the landing for this paratrooper who hit the earth head first during operations in Holland by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. 24 September 1944.
I didn't know that. The caption from U.S. Army Center for Military History says the following: SC354700 - HOLLAND The haystack at right would have softened the landing for this paratrooper who hit the earth head first during operations in Holland by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. 24 September 1944. If you look at the harness lines that lead upto where the parachute would be its not possible for him to hit the ground head first. I never did P Company or a Jumps course but did think about it once or twice and looking at the picture I'm still convinced he's rolling over his shoulder. Remember that the original is from a film clip and therefore have the option to take any stills from that clip. Would be interesting to see what some of the 'Airborne' types think Cheers Andy
That is right. All those Commandos set off for Pegasus Bridge to find the Sappers had already got there. Though the sappers much appreciated watching the piper arrive. very posh! Just goes to show, the old adage of "Follow the Sapper" still holds good. Staged photo's? those taken from the side, or with the troops coming toward you Staged! I know that some photographers would not go anywhere near real action. And they did talk officers into a staged assault, or similar. Sapper Sapper
Some more from Buchiem - the survivors from U- 981 sunk on 12/08/44. She was sunk by Halifax "F" 0f 502 Squadron at 06.43 hrs , 981 had already been disabled by a mine F/lt Capney's attack finished her off. U-309 which picked up the survivors was sunk in Feb 45 in the Moray Firth. by HMCS Saint John . Most of the men seen on watch duty and helping the survivors on to 309's deck would die a few months later. A good study of a crew member from U-309. The Luftwaffe style life preserved, the blue woollen cap , ("Pudelmutze") , the blc (Zeiss) 7x50 U-Bootglas , the rainguard of which has been cut off and thrown away), the goggles around his neck for dealing with strong sunlight. Although the photographer is close to him but the man has more important things on his mind , the camera is the least of his worries , in the same roll of film - the "fly" reciever is seen being used to obtain early warning of approaching aircraft and the guns are manned , and plentty of men are on watch duty. Photos taken at this time of the war are very rare , certainly in a combat situation. ( The last photo in the previous post come fromt his same series. "The NCO's face says it all"). The account of the sinking from Norman Franks "Search , Find and Kill". ( Grub Street). A blazing tanker - a vicitm of "The Happy Time".
