Thank you Charles for the re-scan. Do you think in the left hand upper corner, out side the photograph itself, is a text/writing of the person/group taking the photograph. It is vertical to the photograph. Be Well Dave
Good morning Dave, I'm not certain just what you are referring to outside of the photograph. What I am seeing are vertical marks in the upper left and right of the image, each about 1/2 half inch long, and vertical to the picture. I believe that what we are seeing are staples attaching the photograph to a page of some sort. When I originally scanned the image, I was not able to get the whole photo in the capture, since I wanted to get the entire text above the image, identifying the glider pilots. Below is another capture of the image, showing the whole picture: Here we see all 4 staples. This was the case with all of the photographs located the the 80th TCS history.
Good morning Dave, I'm not sure that I am seeing what you are referencing. There are vertical marks about 1/2 inch in length, vertical to the photograph, outside of the picture, on both the upper left and right. Is this what you are asking about? Charles
Hello Charles, You are correct. I was wondering if there was some way to ID the "Unit ?" that took the picture and if so, would it be in some archive. Could the photograph be cropped and more information be pulled from the original? Thank you for your help. Be Well Dave
Hi Dave, I believe that what we are seeing are staples attaching the photograph to a page of some sort. When I originally scanned the image, I was not able to get the whole photo in the capture, since I wanted to include the entire text above the image, identifying the glider pilots. Below is another capture of the image, showing the whole picture: Here, I think we see 4 staples attaching the photo to something. This was the case with all of the photographs located the the 80th TCS history, including a number of images of C-47 crews. As for who took the pictures, my guess would be someone in the 80th TCS or the 436th TCG, but I really don't know. With respect to where the original photograph might be, that is a good question. Perhaps some of the more experienced researchers would have an idea on that and maybe too on what "unit" would have been responsible for the photography. Charles
Hi Charles, Thank you for the clarification of the photograph. A photograph with a trace of a clue. A few years ago, I wrote the archives down in Maxwell AFB for a history of the 436th TCG. I got a microfilm copy but, the scan was not very good and seem to be "missing" quite a bit with the 80th Sq. I do not recall the images. Did they send you a microfilm copy as well? I am grateful for your help. Be Well Dave
Thanks Charles, I though there was a wrought iron railing in the left background, but your latest version seems to indicate its just a scanning mark which appears to run right across the upper part of the photo and across the stone pier at upper right. Still trying to locate... Regards, Pat
It is my understanding that the photo was taken in the UK. That should be part of the Breathtaking Spectacle project I am doing with Adam Berry. And apparently the building was demolished. That is what I have related to this photo.
Thank you Hans. Curious that they have M1 Garands close by. Would the glider pilots carry that sort of weapon? Be Well Dave
Dave, Yes, the majority of Glider Pilots who flew Normandy had M1 garands. That was one of the negative points detailed in their interrogation reports. The M1 was a bulky and long rifle and the GPs suggested either a carbine or Sub-machine gun. GPs in Southern France and onwards began to carry smaller weapons.
Hi Dave, Sorry I'm a little slow on the response. About 3 yrs. ago I requested the June 1944 History for the 82nd TCS from Maxwell AFB. I received a printed copy of the history which was quite easy to read. Over the years I have requested histories on the other squadrons in the 436th TCG, as well as histories of the 435th, 437th and 438th TCGs, all having taken part in the Elmira missions. Most reports have come to me on CDs, and at least one transmission has come via a download link. Some are easy to read, but some are not at all readable. So, it has really been sort of a mixed bag as far as quality of the reports are concerned. Charles
Hi Dave, Sorry I'm a little slow on the response. About 3 yrs. ago I requested the June 1944 History for the 82nd TCS from Maxwell AFB. I received a printed copy of the history which was quite easy to read. Over the years I have requested histories on the other squadrons in the 436th TCG, as well as histories of the 435th, 437th and 438th TCGs, all having taken part in the Elmira mission. Most reports have come to me on CDs, and at least one transmission has come via a download link. Some are easy to read, but some are not at all readable. So, it has really been sort of a mixed bag as far as quality of the reports are concerned. The 80th TCS pictures I submitted recently came from a CD, which is quite clear and readable. Charles
Thank you Neil and Charles That explains why the picture I have of Tom after the landing in Holland, he is carrying a M1 Carbine. In the 80th TCS, you may have come across the picture of George Ford and Thomas Moore. I am grateful for the help. Dave
Hi All, Hope this is new...have a feeling someone has already joined the dots on this one...please feel free to claim credit if its you I have been looking at glider clusters in the Sainte Mere Eglise area and found what appears to be another ground/aerial tie-up. This one was captured in frame 1014 of sortie US30 4108 flown on the 8th June. The finder chart for this frame is shown below: Sainte Mere Eglise is at right above and the D15 road leading westwards to La Fiere is visible at left of centre in the bottom of the frame. This is the Area of Interest for this post. Below is a zoomed extract from frame 1014. Note the D15 road again: Image Credit: RCAHMS/www.ncap.org.uk Note the yellow and blue dashed lines, which if I am not mistaken, correspond as follows to the twin photos on page 94 of Philippe Esvelin's 'D-Day Gliders': Blue AoV: Yellow AoV: The photo at the top of p94, when scanned at high resolution, shows a partial serial number reading '43-4182(8?): Checking the listing for Serial 28, Mission 'Detroit' out of Ramsbury on D-Day morning, there appears to be a match with one of the Wacos which brought in a jeep and two personnel of A Battery, 80th Airborne AA Battalion: Philippe's caption reads: What do you guys think? Again, please feel free to claim credit if you are the one who may have pointed to this tie previously. I have looked at so many of these ground/aerial ties at this stage that I may well be repeating myself :s Regards, Pat
Hi Pat, I have not seen this ground/aerial tie up anywhere before. I would say it is another excellent match though! John
Looks good to me, Pat. BTW, your new LOS approach is much easier to than your usual use of letters. Only thing I'd suggest is using additional lines to tie down certain objects in relation to eachother. Example: the tip of the left wing on the Waco, to the open fuselage of the horsa behind it (they overlap on the 'blue photo'). Such lines are more compelling than just the boundaries of a photo.
Thanks Guys, John, apologies, I was working on your newly linked ground photo of the 'Jerry Can' Horsa shot from the 'A-B-C' laneway this afternoon when I spotted the above tie to the twin Esvelin photos and got side-tracked. I'll open a new thread to incorporate your photo with the work we lost on that laneway a few years back. Niels, to some extent I agree, but I find lines drawn from one photo to another can be sometimes disconcerting such as this montage of yours at La Fiere. Its just a personal preference and I think whichever method is used, very often 'less is more'...I sometimes do go overboard with those trees Regards, Pat