Explanation request ...

[Mark Sampson]

Having spent my career in photography (not airplanes) I have to believe the floating antenna(?) has been retouched in. The difference in contrast alone is a giveaway. Can't say exactly how, far less why, though. But the picture itself is fascinating- that's quite a flying boat! Never seen a pic of that plane before, or even heard of it. So thanks for posting it- mystery and all.

[Dan K]

The Stranraer in the pic appears to be number 937, there are several other shots of this aircraft on the Harold A. Skaarup page linked below. There's also lots of other interesting pics and info on RCAF Strannies in general.

http://silverhawkauthor.com/canadian-wa ... r_695.html

Interesting to see the four-blade (or should I say twin two blade??) early style props.

Steely-eyed Johnny Canuck...

Japanese subs never even had a chance...

[Tulio]

First and foremost, Saludos, brother Dan!!!

I hope the only corona that finds you, will be the bottled kind .


Now, germane to the first posting on this thread:


http://www.jproc.ca/rrp/rrp2/visual_lights.html


Saludos,



Tulio

[Stephan Wilkinson]

nor do I know what is happening in this photo.

Aldis lamp.

[Ken]

Although I am generally against speculative posts, here I go, making the whole thing up. We know how it was the norm to "stage" photos during WWII.

"This image depicts a predecessor of today's combat controllers who has set up a temporary seaplane base close to enemy lines. For aircraft equipped with 2-way communications, he employs a XX-X model floating antenna which brilliantly uses the surface of the water as a signal ground plane; the marker lights prevent it from being struck during night operations. For aircraft without radio capability, the controller has a traditional Aldis lamp for use as a signalling back-up. These brave & resourceful individuals served in all theatres of war and their presence greatly increased operational safety at forward locations which were, often times, not ideal."

Again, while this could be true, I made the whole thing up.

Ken

[Dan K]

First and foremost, Saludos, brother Dan!!!

Gracias, Brother Tulio!!!

[Archer]

I would hazard a guess at a floating light fixture to define a take off/landing channel for flying boat operations or to mark an obstacle. It is fun to come up with various theories about this photo, but in my view the markings at the top are just damaged edges. There aren't any shadows to be seen as it was taken on a nice grey day, but there are reflections on the water. Reflections don't behave as shadows do, as they are dependant on where the observer stood when the photo was taken. The fact that the floating object is sharper than the rest of the image is (I think) due to the fact that it is the only static object that is squarely within the depth of field for the lens used. The person with the Aldis lamp is too close to the lens, the Stanrear is moving so that will never be entirely in focus, and the background is too far away.
Just my two cents.

[Hooligan2]

I agree entirely with Archer's comments, I spent a lot of time cleaning up pictures with Photoshop and this one looks unadulterated to me.