Graflex.org

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

Howdy folks. Came across this forum on my search for info on my K-20 that I've had for about 20 years. It's the NAVY version of the Folmer Graflex K-20 aircraft camera. It's in excellent working condition. This one though still has the info slide that slips into the film chamber. Through my searching I've gathered that still having the slide is a bit of a rarity. But what's probably even rarer than that is the fact that what appears to be the info from it's last mission is still on the slide. (See IMG) There's really no reason to think it's not, but I could be wrong. I'm hoping that somebody in this forum could shed some light on what it means. On the slide is 3 little windows that have writting in pencil on them. I've figured out #1 window and #3 it's #2 that's the stickler. I'm not a military person myself so my thoughts on what it means is limited. The first window is (7-24) obviously a month day date. The second window is (TG40.1)????? and the third is (BB63) Wasn't hard to figure this out. This of course is the Battleship Missouri. Any thoughts or insight from anybody would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Camera info:
Serial No. USN 43 - 3892
Contrct No. N288s - 11028
Specification No. 106
Shutter No. G2 - 2272

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bruiser · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 260

Hi Mitch,

While I have no exact answer this web page might give a clue: http://pacific.valka.cz/forces/tf50.htm

It seems like a Navy Task Force designation number but I can't find records that go back to 40.1.

Cheers,
Bruce

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682

Can you find a serial number near/on the shutter?

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

Thanks for replying guys.
bruiser I'll check that out.
Les, where do I look for the shutter number?
There is a number embossed into the casting of the front plate by the lens. If that is it then, It is C280-509. If it's not can you tell me where to look?

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

WOW bruiser awesome link!
While not a bullseye, it's really really close.
Closer than I've been in 20 years.
It made the hair on my arms stand up.
I wonder why TG40 and TG41 are not listed?
I know the Missouri was commitioned on 6-11-44 per this link:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/63m.htm
There's a bunch of pictures of it in NY Naval shipyard on 7-23-44.
Would it be part of a Task Group if it's parked at the shipyard?
Maybe it shipped out on 7-24. God i wished I knew the year, it could be Korea for all I know. There is a yellow oval label on the bellows that states it was overhauled inspected and tested by the Navy. I can't read the year on it either. The shutter counter is at 1336. How long does it take to take 11,336 pictures? (given that it was overhauled at 10,000)

bruiser · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 260

Hi Mitch,

As that web page has the Task Force 50 dates from later 1943 and as your camera is Serial No. USN 43 - 3892 (also 1943) I guessing that Task Force 40 was in action earlier that year. A fine piece of history you have!

Still I have no idea what ships, apart from the Missouri, or destinations were involved in Task Force 40 but maybe some Navy Historian has the details, Anyway it's a start!

Cheers,
Bruce

45PSS · Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html lists TG as Task Group therefore Task Group 40.1 makes perfect sense in military jargon.

http://books.google.com/books?id=01NccOjsGI4C&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=%22Task+Group+40.1%22&source=bl&ots=BW3VCffA2Y&sig=cDhKxRJ_LkSmHcKlz3Ay2Z44F8A&hl=en&ei=JbMAS7OOEoSOtAO7mPSHCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBcQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Task%20Group%2040.1%22&f=true states that the Missouri was flagship of Task Group 40.1 in 1954.

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

WOW! EXCELLENT JOB 45.
You are thee man (you are a man right?)
Task is complete.
Thank you everybody for your time and input.
I wished I had found you guys years ago.

So the info on the slide is indeed valid and it all fits.
7-24-54 : Task Group 40.1 : Battleship Missouri

I have a new challenge for you guys.
Given that the info has been verified do you think it's possible to find a picture or two from that roll of film?
I'm sure they're out there the trick I think will be to cross reference this info with the photo numbering scheme.

45PSS · Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081

about 45 minutes lapsed between posting the first link and the edit posting of the second.
From all the naval sites and links I looked at (first 20 to to 30 for each google search) I will speculate that they are in the Navy's archives and not anywhere on the web, it would be nice if they were.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/63f.htm

bruiser · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 260

Mitch,
Here is a link to an aerial photo taken with a K-20 and showing the ovoid 'holes' at the top of the pic. Scroll down to about the 4th image: http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00Uwha

What obviously didn't help in my searching was that I assumed the number 40 came before 50. Everywhere that is except the US Navy!

Cheers,
Bruce

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

I hear ya bruce.
I was thinking logically too.

I checked out that pic.
That's pretty cool, I could just "see" those numbers in there.
It's to bad that photog didn't write something in them.

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

45, that's funny.
navsource, I was googling images too.
That's how I found you guys.

45PSS · Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081

See what happens when you're tired, you miss a link posted and repost to the same site.

mitchB · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 20

Haha, it's all good.

pv17vv · Joined: 22 Dec 2001 Posts: 255

See http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/bb63-m8.htm

Mitch, it seems you own a piece of the last cruise of the ship prior to her 30-year sleep at Puget Sound.

BTW she is currently in drydock, exit expected Jan 7.