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D/RB military use

 
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Top



Joined: 06 Apr 2002
Posts: 198
Location: Northern New England USA

PostPosted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:22 pm    Post subject: D/RB military use Reply with quote

While I've documented Anny Speeds of several sizes being used in WW II I haven't found any data to support usage of the big SLRs. Can anyone confirm/deny?
Thanks
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DHF845



Joined: 20 Jul 2008
Posts: 103
Location: Hudson Valley Area, Upstate NY

PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:43 am    Post subject: Graflex SLR use in WWII Reply with quote

Top-I have a set of USN 'Photographer's Mate' training manuals (3 Volumes) published 1947. Several chapters are about use of 4x5 Series D/Super D cameras.
Article on military cameras in Graflex Historic Quarterly said US military started buying Graflex SLRs during WW I. It mentioned Compact Graflex and 3A Graflex.
Old Graflex catalogs show US Army, Navy, Cavalry using Auto Graflexes.
As a boy, I once asked an old friend of my dad who served in WW II (as a USN Photographr's Mate) a similar question.
He said he used Combat Graphics and Speed Graphics, but trained stateside with Graflex 4x5 SLRs.
IMO, I can't see running around under fire trying to take phots with a 4x5 SLR.
I'm sure Graflex.com members of the Greatest Generation who lived through those days have more/better info. Cheers.
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bruiser



Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 260
Location: Northern NSW Australia

PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While the Series D and Super D were the most common Graflex reflexes used, here is a soldier using an Auto Graflex to copy an x-ray:

http://photo.coffsbiz.com/oldphoto144.jpg

As DHF845 suggests, the reflexes were undoubtedly used for more mundane pictorial use rather than combat photography.

Cheers,
Bruce
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Les



Joined: 09 May 2001
Posts: 2682
Location: Detroit, MI

PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have seen photos of a regular GI Joes-tromping through Europe (no palm trees) with a series D but can't for the life of me tell you where.
_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison
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pv17vv



Joined: 22 Dec 2001
Posts: 255
Location: The Ardennes, Belgium

PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ouch, poor tripod !
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DHF845



Joined: 20 Jul 2008
Posts: 103
Location: Hudson Valley Area, Upstate NY

PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:56 pm    Post subject: G.I. Graflex Reply with quote

Wow, That's a cool shot of an Army non-com using an RB Auto Graflex. Early 1940's, just before the war?
_________________
Got first Speed Graphic at 15 (1976).Other kids were using 35mm SLR's. I ran around with flashbulbs and sheet-film holders, I wanted to be Weegee (#2084).
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willysmb



Joined: 28 Feb 2004
Posts: 128
Location: France _ Europe

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good evening,
Here, a copy from the Air Force 1931, TM 2170-5
http://www.speedgraphic.fr/Images/Catalogues/TM2170-5_021.jpg
You can note, that the Rb in this TM is a early one.
And here, some view from my Auto Rb after refurbish (in French language):
http://www.speedgraphic.fr/Rbautograflex.html
(galerie is about Graflex RB in US Army, not specially RB AUto..)

Cheers
Laurent
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bruiser



Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 260
Location: Northern NSW Australia

PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2009 4:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is a book illustration showing a Navy photo unit with various cameras: Speed Graphics, Series B and D Graflexes, Kodak Medallists, a motion picture camera and a few assorted aircraft cameras.

http://photo.coffsbiz.com/navy_1.jpg

Judging by the leaning of the guys on each side it looks like the female photog was very popular!

Cheers,
Bruce
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