raid
Dad Photographer
I have emailed the producer of the pbs show that I am withdrawing my request for an investigation.
... then one might think she would have some interest highlighting her father's accomplishments....which otherwise conflict with the numerous accounts from biographies and historians who've already published intricate and detailed timelines of minute events and equipment used that led up to the 2 missions...
John: She takes the stand that people in the area of optics are aware of her father's contributions and that there is no need for any TV show on him.
She again affirmed that I have one of her father's cameras, and she reaffirmed the accuracy of her father's diary and "notes".
She asked me not to contact here again,and she said that she regrets having contacting me in the first place.
cosmonot: I am aware of the 1:4 on the lens and its possible implications. Earlier threads brought up this fact, and that's why I accepted the suggestion that this was an X-ray camera ... until Winnek's daughter somehow suggested otherwise.
With all due respect, she does not sound very logical.
Raid - that's too bad about Winnek's daughter. I'm sorry to hear it, and sorry that she has taken this stance.
If as Ted notes, her father's contribution to the events surrounding the bomb program has been left out of the historical record...
... then one might think she would have some interest highlighting her father's accomplishments.
If she is still open to communication from you, perhaps you could suggest that SHE contact PBS, and offer to make your camera available to her.
Raid,
As the interest in this thread shows, the story behind your camera is very interesting to a LOT of people, and at the same time a virtually unknown subject.
The TV program would be wonderful. However special care needs to be taken with Mr. Winnek's daughter to bring her on board the project if at all possible. A good program could be made better with her blessing.
Stephen
I may have the camera that Prof. Egerton used.
I may have rushed too quickly to ask the PBS producer to forget about my request to investigate the camera. If she emails me back and accepts an investigation without involving Winnek's daughter, then I may go along with that.
It is my camera, after all.
Based on a tip that I have received at nelsonfoto.com, I have contacted the Strobe Alley at MIT to find out whether the late Professor Harold Egerton and inventor of the strobe, was on one of the A-bomb flights over Japan and supervised the photographing of the explosion and/or the first mushroom shot.
I may have the camera that Prof. Egerton used.
Doc spelled his name with a "d" in it... EDGERTON.
I don't think Edgerton was in the 509th (~1800 personnel) or on any of the 6 or so allied planes that witnessed the explosions from the air, but he might have been involved with his cameras in the fighting in Europe. Here is the only online bio I could find of Howard Edgerton:
http://www.madehow.com/inventorbios/21/Harold-E-Edgerton.html
There was a project called "Project Alberta" in the 509th that was comprised of civilian scientists: http://www.mphpa.org/classic/CG/CG_09D.htm
There were ground crews for the a-bomb flights so you could check those lists too, but they would all likely have been active military.
Since most of the 5-6 planes on the missions are now on display, though were used through the 60s for various things, has anyone you know looked to see where a camera of your size would fit in say the Enola Gay or Bockscar that are on display? Where is unit XI and the other 13 or so units now?
what you've found here, if you can.
I know the PR machine for these events was huge, probably bigger than if they even worked or not, with the potsdam events, stalin meetings, domestic pressures, etc. on Truman, who didn't even know about the "Project" untail Roosevelt's death.
I know that Ashford (and Lawrence Johnston) had a lot of clout, and that Ashford was a designer of the triggers for both bombs, and even brought on his assistant to ensure enemy radio signals would not interfere with the triggers. I wouldn't be surprised if he bought 15 of every kind of new photographic gadget for potential PR. Ashford also was responsible for the bomb on boxcar, where it would be deployed, whether they would return with it, go to sea with it, or as what happened, be ready to break the rules and drop it by radar instead of visual if necessary (almost).
So what have you found?
Raid, I am sorry that my idea that you turn to History Detectives caused a rift between yourself and Mz. Winnek. To be honest, though, I don't think she has any reason to be upset. I would think she would welcome any interest in her father's work, and would be excited to have one of his cameras featured on a television show. If she truly believes that what she told you is correct, then what harm would having it featured on a TV show do? At any rate, if she has already broken off contact with you, there is certainly no reason to call off the TV guys. She's already made up her mind, and you won't get any more information out of her, so you might as well turn to people who make a living doing exactly what you are in need of.