WW2 original color photos

[Micawber]

909 bomb loading
View attachment 79907

I believe that's the Collins Foundation 909 replica again...

 

[Micawber]

b17 time wastin 91st bomb groupView attachment 79910

That's Paul Chryst in the nose of Times A Wastin' of the 91st BG. Paul was a good, and much missed friend of mine. He was President of the 91st BGMA for some years and arranged their return tours for many years.

 

[flyincowboy]

M

most of the 909 pics are the replica from the Collings foundation.

 

[Chandler]

Digging through an old hard drive and excavated a few photos I thought would be interesting to us all. Not sure where I procured this one.

 

[Chandler]

I like the contrast of the beat up coveralls and the dress shoes for these guys. Surprised there isn't a combat boot in the bunch.

 

[Micawber]

Fresh from FB WW2 colour photos....
54 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch, June/July 1941

 

[Kermit3D]

 

[Kermit3D]

 

[Kermit3D]

 

[Chandler]

View attachment 81802

Call me a skeptic, but this looks more than a little posed to me.

"C'mere kids, have a Hershey bar."

 

[Kermit3D]

Call me a skeptic, but this looks more than a little posed to me.

"C'mere kids, have a Hershey bar."

The pose may seem a bit artificial, but the ruins are unfortunately not.
These kids are not actors, their story is now known and they lost part of their family a few weeks earlier. Not sure if a chocolate bar will be enough to erase the trauma.

This is the city of Saint-Lô in August 1944.
The American bombing in June resulted in 352 civilian deaths. Followed by a German artillery shelling... the result is a city 90% destroyed. I am not putting the Americans on trial, especially since it was they who liberated the city (many young Americans died) and it was a necessary evil. But it is a fact that should not be neglected.

This video gives an idea of the extent of the damage.

 

[Micawber]

Not colourised...

 

[Chandler]

The pose may seem a bit artificial, but the ruins are unfortunately not.
These kids are not actors, their story is now known and they lost part of their family a few weeks earlier. Not sure if a chocolate bar will be enough to erase the trauma.

Oh, in no way did I think a candy bar would erase any trauma -- the whole composition just looks rather pandering -- sort of taking advantage of the kids for a shot. Probably in a spot they'd never really be without "help."

And yes, I'm quite familiar with the war history of St. Lo and the "breakout." Some major SNAFUs all around.

 

[Kermit3D]

Oh, in no way did I think a candy bar would erase any trauma -- the whole composition just looks rather pandering -- sort of taking advantage of the kids for a shot. Probably in a spot they'd never really be without "help."

And yes, I'm quite familiar with the war history of St. Lo and the "breakout." Some major SNAFUs all around.

Of course I wasn't suggesting that you were saying that the chocolate bar would erase the trauma. Just a general comment that I made awkwardly. So sorry if it was misunderstood.
I was mainly referring to the story around this photo.

 

[Chandler]

Of course I wasn't suggesting that you were saying that the chocolate bar would erase the trauma. Just a general comment that I made awkwardly. So sorry if it was misunderstood.

Not at all -- and I hope I didn't sound as callous as I may have. I was sniping more at the photographer than the kids.

 

[Kermit3D]

Not at all -- and I hope I didn't sound as callous as I may have. I was sniping more at the photographer than the kids.

No problem, we understood each other.
It is sometimes a problem for me to express things correctly in English.

 

[hc0088]

Wow ww2 jackets look really fantastic!

 

[Kermit3D]

Some pictures of everyday life in the United States during the second world war :

View of the grounds at the Vermont state fair, Rutland
1941 Sept.

 

[Kermit3D]

Chopping cotton on rented land near White Plains, Greene County, Ga.
1941 June

 

[Kermit3D]

Instructor explaining the operation of a parachute to student pilots, Meacham field, Fort Worth, Tex.
1942 Jan.