After the mission

When and where was this photograph taken?

As noted above, Kadena AB. Date, 1960.

PE

I always enjoy this stuff you pull out of the archives. Thanks for sharing.

Bob

You know what would be interesting, if you don't mind sharing, is how people actually used Speed Graphics for this type of work. From what I understand about Weegee, it was f/16 and heavy flash and most things are in focus. Did you usually use Speeds handheld? Tripod? Did you use one of those sports finders? Did you remember what film that was available then? Its fascinating that people today, think they can't photograph this type of subject with anything but a honking SLR and AF.

At that time, I was using the SG handheld. I had a Nikon F with the old zoom lens about 2 feet long. The SG had Super XX film in packs and the Nikon was using E2, 160 Ektachrome. Ground and aerial shots from these missions were posted here.

Most of the posts were from original negatives which were unclassified. The classified photos were retained, of course, by the AF.

The exposure was determined by using a GE meter, which I still have. I shot both films at ASA 160, IIRC. Whatever it was, was the same for both films. I would have used the ASA for the reversal film to get the best exposure as the Super XX would have been more forgiving.

None of my shots were ever from a tripod. I used shutter preference due to the extreme speed of the subjects in most cases.

After this shot was taken, I was arrested for taking photographs in a restricted area. The NCOIC in charge had lost my permit confirmation and taken leave to go duck hunting of all things, so I spent the afternoon in a military jail until they could contact him.

PE

Beautiful RF101, I'm jealous...

This reminded me that I have a copy of the Navy Photographer's Mate 3 & 2 training course book (1966 edition). It's actually a very good photographic primer, covering basic optical and light theory, exposure, composition, operation, and darkroom processing. Addresses what I assume was the standard supplied equipment of the era: Speed Graphic, Graphic View II, Leica M2, and Mamiya C3. Interestingly, the Nikon F is only addressed in it's aerial configuration. The Super XX film and GE meter that PE mentions was covered in the manual.

I'd love to see more of these shots.

Thanks for sharing these historical prints. I just love 'em. The USS Hornet is tied up just north of here. They have some old originals on display. I could spend a whole day just looking at the old prints. Wonderful story too. Thanks.

The Nikon F was my own property, as was the GE meter. The AF did not supply 35mm to my unit and our light meter was a piece of junk. I don't even remember what kind it was. The Speed Graphic was just fine but a bit beat.

The FP shutter ripped while one of my guys was out doing a shoot but he switched over to using the leaf shutter. He said that 'rip flabadabadaba' alterted him to the failure.

I still have a number of my AF photo manuals that cover equipment and methodology, as they were issued to us. I even have my aerial slide rule and flight suit.

PE

PE, I think you had to have had the best job in the Air Force.