Warbird Information Exchange

Look at these two pictures. The top one was taken by a MSgt Donald McCormick of the 73rd. The second one was taken by my Grandfather, Lester Crisp of the 77th, on Ie Shima. They had to have been standing next to each other when these were taken. Notice the position of the mechanic's arms. Just about everything is the same except the position of the person taking the picture. The sunlight glaring off the dragon's head and everything. It's either pretty cool or a little freaky..depending on how you look at it. I sure wish my Granddaddy was still here to ask about it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37428606@N05/3643692560/

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Brad

that is cool, it would be great to hear the story behind that, they do look the same.

I believe they are the same photograph printed from the same negative.
My Uncle was in the 15th AF and he has exactly the same photos that are in the Unit's history book, but they are original WWII copies.
It happened many times during the war and my guess is that neither you father or the McCormick are misleading you, it's just that time tends to forget where things were acquired.
I still have some toys that were my brothers (I had similar ones) but I tell my grandsons that they were mine because they think it's cool.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Good post Jerry, fascinatining item, Brad!

The photos are shot from the same 'spot' - note the relationships between the crane and turret and prop-boss and window that would shift even if the pics were taken a foot to one side.

All the other details 'match' apart from the crop and the print quality. I therefore agree with Jerry, here.

HTH!

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I think you are right Jerry. I blew both pictures up and they have the same imperfections and everything. Well it was pretty cool to think somebody might still be around that had known my Granddaddy in the war.

All the pictures I have are original WWII copies. They were cleaned up a little here and there when I scanned them a few years back. The original's are laying in my desk.

My Granddaddy never told us that he took these pictures. We found them after he went on to his great reward. They were packed up in a cigar boxwith all his other pictures, papers and souveniers from the war. Mama remembers them being in this same cigar box when she was a kid. I guess we just assumed he took them. I do remember Mama saying one time that she was surprised that he ever had a camera and figured somebody might have given these to him.

I know he was present when the Japanese arrived to surrender at Ie Shima as I heard him describe it many times. These pictures were in his things and we always assumed that he took them. I'd be interested in knowing if he did or not. I've seen pictures much like these but not identical. The C-46 picture I have seen as a color version in one of Jeff Ethell's books.

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Brad

There are many copies of the IE Shima pictures in my fathers box of WWII photos and I have seen identical ones posted on verious websites. I have wondered about the source of these pictures. There were thousands of service men on IE Shima and I can't see that many being able to get that close to the Japanise officers. My thought is that there were offical photographers that took the shots and many prints were made and offered to any one that was there at the time. ?? Hugh

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My father was a a/c armorer 7th aaf 318FG 73FS

I have a valid explanation...

Per my good friend Jack Heyn, photographer for the 3rd Attack Group. "Not everyone had access to a camera, so,when someone would bring film in to be developed, they would make copies up for buddies."
On the Air Warfare forum, a guy posted pics of my dad's Sqdn that were identical to what dad brought back. Going through dad's pics and the ones on the site, it became obvious that they knew each other , due to them posing in many of the pics. They took pics of each other, and swapped copies.
I had that camera that dad used for years until it disappeared during a move.

Bill

After hostilities were called off, most photo labs put out boxes of photos for each of the soldiers to go through. They were declassified of course..., most soldiers could take 6 or 8 each. First come, first serve. This is the way in the 330th!

That is why we are all finding similar photos in our dad's and grandfather's collections.

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S.

Hey I have seen these pictures before. I had come by your house and you showed them to me. This was during the reign of your Ex....yipes. I am glad you have seen better days Brad.

When are you going to stop by Abilene. I got to show you the new house! How's the family?

All is well in CST (Central Snyder Time).

Kel

Glad you're back from the desert. I'm gonna come down one of these days and let you pick and choose through all these unbuilt models I have!

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Brad