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Cnagfler 9 ~ Photography
The photographic program during Operation HARDTACK necessitated
support from two (2) different sources.
Documentary photography was
accomplished by a provisional unit formed by military and civilian
personnel from the 1352nd Motion Picture Squadron, Lookout Mountain
Air Force Station, Los Angeles, California.
The 1370th Photo Mapping
Squadron (APCS-MATS) West Palm Beach, Florida, provided and operated
three (3) C-54 and two (2) RB-50 aircraft to support airborne documentary
and technical photography.
The three (3) C-54's, two (2) RB-50's and
assigned supporting personnel composed the Aerial Photo Element Provisional.
(Reference Chapter 4.)
The Documentary Photography Element was responsible for continuing
documentation of HARDTACK.
This photographic effort provided motion
picture photography for Field Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons
Project (FC/AFSWP) (Military effects of Operation HARDTACK) and stock
footage for the Department of the Navy and Army.
Coverage for the
AEC consisted of color transparencies, black and white still negatives
of all detonations plus stills on the assembly and instrumentation of
four (4) test devices.
For the Air Force, selected sequences of the
operation were photographed in 35 mm color using cinemascope lens technique.
The most extensive coverage by far, was that given to the WAHOO
and UMBRELLA events.
For WAHOO event, forty motion picture and still
cameras manned and remote, in the air, on the ground and at sea were
used.
Documentary Photographic Element cameramen also operated the
technical photographic camera racks on all three (3) C-54 aircraft.
All
camera equipment operated satisfactorily with only two (2) camera failures
oma:
AFWLHO
AL
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