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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

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