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Declassified Aerial Gun Camera 1945 Japan
28 September 2010, 23:28
Doc224/375Declassified Aerial Gun Camera 1945 Japan
Recently declassified footage of Aerial Gun Camera 1945 Japan . See targets as they're hit .Sorry no embedding info was available so you've got to click the link .
http://www.wimp.com/guncamera/ 
29 September 2010, 04:21
Antelope SniperChina Fleet Sailor, is this some of your handy work?
29 September 2010, 11:22
China Fleet Sailorquote:
Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
China Fleet Sailor, is this some of your handy work?
Which part?
Sending down those Japanese planes in flames, and strafing industry & transport?
Or getting the film declassified?
29 September 2010, 22:51
Antelope SniperSending the planes down in flames.
Looked like your style.
29 September 2010, 23:57
makiWhy would any of that have been classified for 65 years?
Dean
...I say that hunters go into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than any other men.
-Edward, Duke of York
30 September 2010, 02:15
China Fleet Sailorquote:
Originally posted by maki:
Why would any of that have been classified for 65 years?
Dean
Lots of reasons. None of which would have to do with any paranoid obsession with protecting secrets.
For instance, during WWII lots of things were classified for valid reasons at the time. Given that no one knew a date certain when the war would end, they wouldn't have had a declassification date assigned. So they'd probably have words to the effect that a determination by some designated authority would be required in order to declassify it.
A lot of those designated authorities simply went away during the post-war demobilization and drawdown.
So nobody was responsible for declassifying the material. It just gathered dust.
30 September 2010, 02:37
PSmithVery interesting film.
That makes me think of a question though.
What was the actual military reason for gun cameras? I mean I understand why the films could be used to keep track of enemy planes destroyed for reasons such as force estimates and threat assessments. Of course the film was used for purposes of individual pilots ace status. And we've all read that the pilots and aircrews tended to overestimate enemy losses.
But is the film important enough to have required the equipment and maintenance? And I guess you could carry less ammo or fuel if the plane had cameras. Just wondering what the reason is other than it's cool to have.
Paul Smith
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I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"
"A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck
30 September 2010, 03:06
China Fleet Sailorquote:
Originally posted by PSmith:
Very interesting film.
That makes me think of a question though.
What was the actual military reason for gun cameras? I mean I understand why the films could be used to keep track of enemy planes destroyed for reasons such as force estimates and threat assessments. Of course the film was used for purposes of individual pilots ace status. And we've all read that the pilots and aircrews tended to overestimate enemy losses.
But is the film important enough to have required the equipment and maintenance? And I guess you could carry less ammo or fuel if the plane had cameras. Just wondering what the reason is other than it's cool to have.
Training. Think of them like watching the "game films" of your opponents in football or boxing.
30 September 2010, 03:15
Antelope SniperIntel is a hard game. Just for the information regarding force estimates alone it would be worth it. It added to the Recon ability of every fighter. If a pilot encountered something of particular interest, a full airfield, ships in a lagoon, suspected supply depot, they would fire off a few rounds to get pics for the guys in intel.
It also valuable in debriefing pilots and training tactics to new pilots. Did you notice the difference in the angles of attack on the bombers vs the fighters?
30 September 2010, 06:26
D HumbargerReally enjoyed watching that. Thanks.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
30 September 2010, 16:06
xgruntGreat post. You can tell those fighter pilots have the killer instinct not only just wanting to destroy the enemy plane but kill the enemy pilot as well.
01 October 2010, 23:52
makiquote:
Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
quote:
Originally posted by maki:
Why would any of that have been classified for 65 years?
Dean
Lots of reasons. None of which would have to do with any paranoid obsession with protecting secrets.
For instance, during WWII lots of things were classified for valid reasons at the time. Given that no one knew a date certain when the war would end, they wouldn't have had a declassification date assigned. So they'd probably have words to the effect that a determination by some designated authority would be required in order to declassify it.
A lot of those designated authorities simply went away during the post-war demobilization and drawdown.
So nobody was responsible for declassifying the material. It just gathered dust.
That makes sense. Too much of the stuff to care about. Interesting to watch now though.
Dean
...I say that hunters go into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than any other men.
-Edward, Duke of York
03 October 2010, 00:22
China Fleet Sailorquote:
Originally posted by maki:
quote:
Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
quote:
Originally posted by maki:
Why would any of that have been classified for 65 years?
Dean
Lots of reasons. None of which would have to do with any paranoid obsession with protecting secrets.
For instance, during WWII lots of things were classified for valid reasons at the time. Given that no one knew a date certain when the war would end, they wouldn't have had a declassification date assigned. So they'd probably have words to the effect that a determination by some designated authority would be required in order to declassify it.
A lot of those designated authorities simply went away during the post-war demobilization and drawdown.
So nobody was responsible for declassifying the material. It just gathered dust.
That makes sense. Too much of the stuff to care about. Interesting to watch now though.
Dean
A lot of what conspiracy theorists cook up can be explained by anyone with a familiarity with bureaucracy.
I went through the same crap in the '90s. When you demobilize, you just don't have a lot of idiots sitting around with nothing to do.
Everybody's chipping and painting. If a bunch of films that have been boxed up and stored in the attic haven't been declassified, well, it's not because of a grand conspiracy.
03 October 2010, 06:01
JIm YackleyHi, I think these photos are cool but I am looking at a photo of ATOMIC BOMB CENTER 9 AUG 1945 with my dad sitting in front of a sign that lists the total human /real estate damage. When General LA MAY made his famous statement" We burnt them to a crisp" takes on a whole new meaning. If anyone would like a copy of this photo please PM me and I will do my best to send you a copy. Jim
Yackman