Fascinating WW2 photos from a Leica

[BobYIL]

They're an utterly different beast to those Life Kodachromes we drool over, in many ways just records with no thought as to how they'd be perceived outside the photographer's immediate circle - and that to me is what makes them so valuable. It's recording the mundane, the otherwise unrecorded stuff, that otherwise vanishes.

The Life Kodachromes were shot staged and for propaganda purposes; they are of a different category. For real Life War pictures we'd better refer to the works of Robert Capa, Eugene W. Smith or Larry Burrows for example... (and they are far from having cream and vanilla..)

 

[Muggins]

My point exactly, Bob!

Adrian

 

[jarski]

thanks for sharing. hope negativity of some posters wont cause others to hesitate sharing what they might have, now or later.

 

[maddoc]

I wish more of the "ordinary" photos from that era (not only WW II but also the "Golden 20s" for example) would show up in public, simply to get a better insight in what my grandparents generation everyday life was. Thanks for sharing the link.

 

[ibcrewin]

I thought it was pretty cool. I fwd it around to some of my friends. Thanks!

 

[alistair.o]

Thanks to the OP for the link.

Those photographs are why we photograph. It is not today that matters to us but it will do to the people of tomorrow.

 

[Nikon Bob]

These photos are the work of someone who served in the photo unit of a squadron during the war. To those who have no interest in history they might be rather ho-hum but to those of us who find history (& in particular WW2 history), fascinating they are a gold mine. When you get the opportunity to see "new to yourself" images like these are, I recognize how rare an opportunity it is. These images are visual time capsules, in particular the photos of the B-17, "Ack,Ack, Annie" heading out on a mission because inside the ball turret of that aircraft sat the father of my brother-in-law. Yes, pretty fascinating indeed just to contemplate that one, for me.🙄

Wow, that must have been an extraordinary moment for you to view that photo for the first time. I can only imagine.

Bob

 

[Nikon Bob]

If you want interesting, note the number of missions flown indicated on the nose of the Lancaster "S" for Sugar. For this aircraft to survive what amounts to about 4 operational tours is extraordinary. Consider also the the survival rate for RAF bomber crews on an operational tour was only about 50%. Here is another link to that Lancaster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEkBu5lDfAo . There was a reason that those photos was taken and it is far from mundane.

Bob

 

[Muggins]

I suspect that S-Sugar might have been on a "flag-flying" tour - sort of "we're in this too, guys!" - must go back and check how many missions she's credited with in the pics. I think she finished on 138, and is now preserved at the RAF Museum, Hendon. I seem to recall reading that by the time of her last flight she was a very tired bird indeed, with rivets popping like machine gun fire if she did anything too vigorous.

Adrian

 

[Nikon Bob]

Yea, she'd have every right to be tired and popping rivets. Oy, you think you have stress.

Bob

 

[Muggins]

Damn right, Bob. First grin of the morning!😀

Adrian

 

[biomed]

(been a bit of a planehead for years, and never realised that the A35 was used in the UK. The RAF used them, as the Vengeance, in the Far East, but never thought I'd see one bent in an English field)

Here is a link to information on the A35:
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=521

A lot of these photos are the sort that we never get to see. I enjoyed them very much.