Photos "In action"

Discussion in 'General' started by Ivan1, Oct 19, 2008.

  1. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    The well known rescue of a 422 RCAF Sunderland crew which took palce in Sept. 43 in Biscay.

    A friend gave me a book a few days ago "Shot Down in The Drink" published by the National Archives - I hoped that this crew would be mentioned in it.

    The photos are from this book.

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    No mean fete to put down on the open sea and to get off again.
    The 228 crew which preformed the rescue crashed in jan 44 on the Bluestack Mountains in Donegal - they had been diverted to castle Archdale - same base from which the crew they had rescued had departed from a few months earlier.
    They hit high ground there , several crew members being killed.

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    This report tells something of the story behind the photos , which lok perhaps unremarkable , no shot or shell but a dangerous position to be in , certainly not one without risk , getting of safely was not by any manner assured or to be taken for granted.

    The report I culled from 422's ORB several years ago.

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    Some parts of DW110 - whioch I think was the same aircraft which picked the 422 crew up , where they came to rest on the Bluestacks in Jan 44.
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    More Camoflage uniforms and a rather nice looking fighting knife strapped to a chaps right leg in the foreground
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    Looks like a Kabar,
    Military Fighting Knives/Collection
    My mum brought me a modern one back from the States years ago... not too sure she'd have got that in her hand luggage these days :unsure:.

    Just watching a repeat of the superb BBC series 'The Genius of Photography' - the episode relating to WW2, D-Day, and the holocaust - quite incredible how these guys can press the shutter no matter what horror's unfolding in front of them. Kind of complex morally but I for one am glad they did/do.
    One remarkable 'amateur' chap 'Cpl. Tony vaccarao' of the US 83rd Division on there who processed films in foxholes using helmets as baths and chermicals found in a bombed chemist - took a remarkable shot of a GI's moment of death that I'm surprised isn't more familiar in the WW2 photographic canon.
    c.2:40 on here:
    YouTube - The Genius of Photography ep3 pt2

    Tony Vaccaro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    akg-images.co.uk | Collections | Tony Vaccaro
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Adam,

    I always tend to find that in the main the 'Combat shot' or 'Death shot' tend to be quite frequent in all the Pacific documentaries filming the USMC attacking Japanese positions more so than the European footage.
     
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    There's mention in the programme of many shots featuring dead or dying GIs being destroyed on the spot by the censors.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    In the Pacific the shots always tend to be of dead Japanese....I was watching one today on Sky and there was some rather graphic after shots on clearing bunkers with flame-throwers.

    I don't think the links working Adam :unsure:
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Its working now......He seems a remarkable chap
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    No Caption with this picture but they are wearing 3 Div patches.
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  8. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Lovely shot of the Third Div men in action, looks like a mortar burst to me. But why only one Sgt with the uniform insignia? Unless the others are wearing denims?

    Oddly enough it is very easy to tell the genuine shots from the staged ones...Specially when you see the faces of the men involved!

    IT was common practice to take staged photos. The officers were asked to assist
    Sapper
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  10. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Looks like the gunner in charge with the elevation on the right seat went out for a pint and the gun captain is shouting for one for him as well while he's at it!
     
  11. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    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

    Completely agree with you Andy. I've taken the liberty of "playing" with the picture a bit to better explain. I hope I haven't infringed any copyright and please don't think I'm trying to teach anyone to suck eggs but I find that a picture is worth a thousand words (or something like that!) :)
    All the best..............
    PS Keep the photos coming they're very interesting indeed.
    PPS I wish I'd landed as well as this on my one and only parachute jump :lol:
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. jagdpanther44

    jagdpanther44 Senior Member

    Here's my contributions

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    Both appear to be staged.
     
  13. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

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    Mind you, this is the original photograph, the one with the two wristwatches on the second soldier!
     
  14. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

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    Different war, but I think it deserves recognition.
     
  15. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Again Capa, and it doesn't look like staged...
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  16. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    You have to hand it to the cameramen, many gave their lives :poppy: to portray the soldiers efforts during the war.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  17. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Staged or not, a great photo.
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  18. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

  19. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  20. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member

    Hi All, love this thread, heres some frome me

    Medics
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    I work on he railway, this looks terminal

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