Looks like fun!

[olroy2044]

Here is a dupe of an aerial photo and letter that is framed and hanging in the Chico Air Museum. I didn't have access to a scanner, so shot some pix of it with a Pentax P3n and a Viv/Kiron 75-150 close focus zoom. The pix and the letter speak for themselves. Enjoy Roy



A little tighter on the crew

[PeterW]

As you say, Roy, looks like fun! Nice picture, too.

If a similar thing had happened when I was in the RAF in the later 1940s, and close formation flying was still part of the normal drill, the squadron CO would probably have given the pilots and photogs a mild roasting for unauthorised use of aerial cameras, and would probably have gone on to criticise the sloppy close formation flying. And that would have been an end to it.

But that was in the days when the RAF was still on a wartime footing. No doubt when the old wartime squadron COs ( old being relative, most of them were still only about 26) were replaced by peacetime COs who worked "by the book" things got a litttle less relaxed. But by that time I was demobbed and back in Civvy Street.

PeterW

[olroy2044]

Thanks for looking, Peter! Glad you're back. Roy

[photax]

Hi Roy !
Thank you for showing this picture. I have a similar camera in my collection: A Graflex K-20 ( 4x5 Inch ). This is a real heavy one and the shutter sounds like slamming a door. It would be interesting to take pictures with this kind of cameras, but unfortunately the expiry date of my two filmrolls is 1949.

MIK

[olroy2044]

Thanks for looking, Mik. How heavy is that camera? Looks very heavy. Can you imagine trying to take photos with it in a relatively small aircraft while under fire and bouncing all over the sky? S-H-E-E-S-H! Roy

[photax]

Hi Roy !

The K-20 ( similar to the F-8 in the picture ) has 5,5kg ( 12,2 lbs ).
This one was built ca. 1940 by Folmer Graflex and has a Ilex Optical Paragon Anastigmat 4,5/163



The Kodak K-24 ( also 4x5 inch ), built in 1942, has 10kg ( 22 lbs ) and is equipped with a Kodak Aero - Ektar 2,5/178. Mine has a motor drive, but also a release button on the top and a winding crank on the side. This model was available with a handle too, it must have been really difficult to hold in the hand.



MIK