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Mustang in Flight: 1942
... North American Aviation. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Paint? Did planes like these leave the plant ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/29/2022 - 12:08pm -

October 1942. P-51 "Mustang" fighter in flight near the Inglewood, California, plant of North American Aviation. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Paint?Did planes like these leave the plant unpainted? [It is painted. Compare with unpainted. - Dave] Alfred Palmer: 1906-1993Alfred Palmer's obituary from Feb. 2, 1993: (San Francisco Chronicle) Alfred Palmer, a career photographer who got his first camera from Ansel Adams and who had his first public show at the age of 84, died Sunday. Mr. Palmer, a longtime Bay Area resident who most recently lived in Larkspur, died in San Rafael after a long illness. He was 86. A staff photographer and film maker for such shipping companies as Dollar, Matson and American President Lines, Mr. Palmer had his debut exhibition in 1990. "It's about time," he said during the two-part show at the Bank of America Concourse Gallery. The first exhibition included World War II photographs taken when he worked for the Office of War Information. The second included pictures from his travels during the 1920s and 1930s and featured such photographs as an untouchable in Bombay, an old man in Beijing and temple dancers in Bali. Mr. Palmer estimated that he traveled half a million miles at sea during his career and circumnavigated the globe "more times than I can remember." In 1917, he helped a young Ansel Adams carry his heavy tripod and camera around the Yosemite Valley, where Adams took some of his most famous and striking photographs. At the end of the expedition, Adams presented Mr. Palmer with a $1 Box Brownie camera. "He made me a photographer," Mr. Palmer later told an interviewer. A former merchant seaman, Mr. Palmer also produced films about the American Merchant Marine. Mr. Palmer is survived by his wife, Alexa, of San Rafael; three children, Julia Gennert of Bolinas, Donald Palmer of Stinson Beach and David Palmer of Los Altos; and nine grandchildren. Memorial services are pending. Beautiful aircraft!Looks to be a P-51B IIRC, which was made specifically for ground attack. This was with the Allison engines, and was considered underpowered until incorporation with the Merlin engine that enabled it to (later) establish itself as one of the top fighters of WWII. Thanks for sharing this :) Also known as the ApacheThis model was also known by the name "Apache." MustangMy records show this aircraft as being built for the RAF, but retained by the USAAC for testing. Serial number of the aircraft is 41-37416. Aircraft was destroyed during shipment to Europe in 1943. Early vs. Late P-51 MustangsThe Brits were not impressed with the first P51s we sent them, but some bright fellow thought to put an engine from the Spitfire in one. We started making that Rolls-Royce Merlin engine over here (in a Packard plant?) to put in the later Mustang, turning it into a world-beater. "Mustang I"This is a Mustang I, the original version built for the Brits before the US put in their order. The primary clue is in the guns -- all US versions were armed with Browning 50 caliber machine guns, which have barrels short enough to almost fit in the wings. Only stubs will show for 50 calibers. On the other hand, the Mustang I was ordered with four Hispano 20 mm cannons instead of machine guns. The long gun fairings conclusively identify this as an Allison engined, 20mm cannon armed, Mustang I. (The British gave their aircraft a snappy name, like "Spitfire" or "mustang", and identified models by roman numerals. On the other hand, the US relied on familiar type and model numbers, like "P" (for Pursuit)- 51. In the US system, versions were identified by letters, and minor modifications by "block numbers." For example, "P-47D-25") Apache? Not.While basically the same airframe it's not an Apache. A-36's had dive brakes on the wings. MustangThis is a P-51 (no suffix), RAF equivalent is Mustang IA. Only this version had the four 20mm Hispano guns. Mustang Mk. I's had two chin-mounted .50 caliber machine guns and one .50 caliber and two .303's in each wing for a total of eight. The Mk. I's were exported for use by the RAF and RCAF. A-36 was the Invader, not ApacheIf the the P-51A (cannon armed) also was in the AAF Apache era I can't say for certain, but the reply below restricting the Apache appellation to the A-36 is in error. Later the A-26 assumed the Invader name, but that p[lane did not reach operational combat units until months after Overlord. Philip C. Marchese, Jr. P-51It did have an unique official designation of P-51-1 for 57 planes for AAF use withdrawn from an RAF Defense Aid (Lend-Lease) contract for 150 as their Mustang 1A. Serials for that contract were 41-11981 to -11980, but there is no found record of exactly which ones went to AAF. Confusion arises in that all were similar to Mustang I but for wing cannon; however, Mustang 1 was factory Model 83, and Mustang 1A in this contract was Model 91 with no new model number assigned. To muddy the waters moreso, AAF first applied a designation of F-6A—as a photo ship—but that idea was tossed out. There is some thought that it was to be Model 92, but that had already been assigned to a Boeing B-29 contract which was canceled, so cooler minds took the easy way out by simply adding a dash 1 and moved on to other things. This is either an I/P-51 or a P-51AThe inlet scoop over the engine behind the prop is indicative of the Allison powered versions of the Mustang. These were the very first models produced and saw limited service as attack aircraft due to their poor performance above 20,000 feet. The big change for the Mustang came with the addition of the British Merlin engine..... the rest is history. Hello, www.shorpy.comHello, I can't understand how to add your blog ( www.shorpy.com ) in my rss reader [Click the "Shorpy RSS" link at the top of the homepage. - Dave] Apache!When North American designed the NA73-X, the factory named the entire project "Apache." The P51/Mustang IA was designed without British involvement and still had the original factory label. The P51, after production, was slated for half USAAF training units and half British deployment. The British commonly renamed American aircraft but in the case of the P51 (no A,B,C or D/K) the Americans had always referred to the planes as Apache. The Army echelon did not like the name and they were more than happy to change it to Mustang later. "Invader" is what US Army theater personnel called the A36 Apache, but it was never an official designation. Packard MerlinsAt the beginning of the war, 1939, the British air ministry sent a buying team to the USA to source a fighter superior to the british spitfire and a supply of Merlin engines. It appears that Rolls-Royce feared they would not be able to supply Merlins in sufficient quantity for the number of aircraft projected to use them, among them Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster bomber and others, so they contracted Packard to produce Merlins under licence. When the US found itself at war after Pearl Harbour, it checked around it's its armament inventory and found Mustangs awaiting shipment to us British, these were immediately impounded, re-gunned and and impressed into USAAF service. They also discovered a ready supply of Merlin engines being built in their own backyard. The aircraft proved to be a disappointment in British service and was relegated to ground attack. It was only when a Merlin was fitted that it's its laminar flow wing came into it's its own. By the way it's its bubble canopy and drop tanks were also fitted by us first. The US never managed to fit a cannon of US design in it's its fighters and even in Korea the North American Sabre still had to rely on 0.5 machine guns against the Russian Mig-15 cannons. Mustangs were not much used by us British after that, we preferred to rely on the constantly improving Spitfire. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Muscle Shoals: 1942
... Alabama. June 1942. View full size. Photograph by Alfred Palmer. Industry I love this photograph. There's something exciting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 7:34pm -

Furnace man at phosphate smelter, TVA chemical plant near Muscle Shoals, Alabama. June 1942. View full size. Photograph by Alfred Palmer. IndustryI love this photograph. There's something exciting about industry, something powerful and impressive about furnaces and giant steel pipes and their manifestation of the power of Man. dangerous jobThis reminds me of when I was young I worked in a foundry, they would melt pig iron in a furnace like this one, the man who operated the furnace was getting burned all day and also had to deal with the heat and always had to worry about a blow up, the iron after it was cast would stay "red hot" for a couple of days, actually glowed red the first day. thanks for the memory. What a photographerIt's remarkable that Alfred Palmer doesn't seem to get the same praise that his contemporaries receive. Maybe it's because his photographs always seem to be perfectly exposed, and perfectly posed. It is truly a shame, because his images are superlative..... Alfred PalmerThis is one of many terrific photos by Palmer. He doesn't get enough respect. On the walls of my home office I have prints of five FSA-OWI photos. Four are by Palmer. His photos of work and industry are stunning. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works, WW2)
War Kitchen: 1941
... their income for rent." Medium format acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the U.S. Office for Emergency Management. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/21/2022 - 10:31pm -

July 1941. "War housing. Mrs. B.J. Rogan and her small son, Bernie, in the kitchen of the Rogans' new war home at the Franklin Terrace housing project in Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rogan is a drill press operator at a nearby plant which is working three shifts on war contracts. The Rogans pay about twenty percent of their income for rent." Medium format acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the U.S. Office for Emergency Management. View full size. Light bulb in the trash canThat used to be a familiar sight, as manufacturers held to highly inefficient--thus highly profitable--incandescent bulbs long after alternatives were possible. It took an act of Congress (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) to phase out incandescent bulbs that typically lasted 750-1000 hours, as opposed to today's LED bulbs which won't need replacing for 25,000 hours. That CoffeepotWas my worst enemy after visiting my father-in-law's house for the first time for an overnight stay and being asked by my wife to "make coffee." Of course I had no idea how to make coffee in that kind of pot. We had only been married a year and I had been in the US for the same. Needless to say, I greeted everyone to breakfast with the best coffee sludge a newbie could make. Still thereThe Franklin Terrace apartments are now called the John E. Horan Garden Apartments. The old kitchen was tiny but charming; now, not so much. https://www.hace.org/housing-info/hace-rental-properties/john-e-horan-ga... https://www.hace.org/about-us/revitalization/ Snack TimeIt's about 2 pm according to the clock on the wall. I am just wondering what he did to get a snack at 2 pm. When I was his age, I didn't dare ask for a snack that soon after lunch. I usually waited until about 3 pm. Chances were 50/50. If if got to be 4 pm - it was too late - 'dinner is soon'. There's a busted light bulb in the trash bin. I wonder what wattage it was. Looks peaceful to meEverything spic and span and in its place while Mrs. Rogan whips up something tasty for her family, but I'm sure it reflects accurately on the home front during wartime. Those Servel gas refrigerators always seemed to produce a faint odor, but they did work using a science I never understood of how to make cool with a gas flame. Between 1955 and 1960 with I was in Boy Scouts, we'd spend Memorial Day weekend at a deer lease in the Hill Country of Texas between Kerrville and Medina. The first thing our Scoutmaster did upon entering the asbestos sided cabin was light the Servel refrigerator and that odor lingered throughout the weekend, but we had a lot of fun. [Fun fact: Servel is a contraction of "Serving Electricity." - Dave] Movin' on upIt's new, nice, clean, and not an attic nor a small travel trailer still on wheels. I couldn't find the Rogan family in the 1940 Census, but did find this description of their living arrangement progress: "Defense housing, Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Rogan and their small son, Bernie, at home in the living room of their new defense home in Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rogan is a drill press operator at the nearby General Electric Company plant. He earns $42.50 a week, and pays about twenty percent of his income for rent. Before moving into a newly constructed defense home at the Franklin Terrace housing project, he lived in a remodeled attic, and then a trailer. For the latter he paid 6 dollars a week, including all utilities." I'm pretty sure the B. stands for Bernard. The Franklin Terrace housing project is now the John E. Horan Garden Apartments. Horan was/is the director of the Erie Housing Authority. These units are now public housing. PercolatorI suggest Baxado ought to retry the percolator for making coffee. I still have my parents' percolator which is used extensively on camping trips. Makes a great cup of coffee, but be careful of the grounds! Encyclopedias, The seat of knowledge Loco ...... motive on the table. 1941, huh?Since The U.S. didn't enter the war until December, why was this family living in "war housing?" [Yes, huh. Some googling might provide enlightenment. Keywords: Lend-Lease, Battle of Britain. - Dave] Found 'em Bernard J. Rogan, Sr., wife Lenore, and son Bernard Jr. are in the 1940 census, living in Washington DC, where Bernard Sr. is an insurance agent. All 3 were born in Pennsylvania. In 1948 they are living at 2130b Gladstone Ct., Erie PA. Occupation was listed as "Tool Rpr". In 1950, they are back in Washington DC, where Senior is manager of a service station. Lenore works for the Federal Power Commission. Senior died in about 1983. Lenore died in 1992. Junior died in 2016. Let there be (free) light."Light bulb in the trash can" reminded me that here in Detroit (and I assume other cities) the Edison Co. would exchange light bulbs (burned out for new) at no charge. That went on for years until some local store owner sued Edison for restraint of trade because he wanted to sell more lightbulbs. And won! What a yutz. Monday ... is laundry day. And this kitchen appears to have a combination kitchen sink and deep laundry tub. If Mrs. Rogan was lucky she would have an electric wringer washer, otherwise it would be the old washboard. It would lean against the angled portion of the laundry tub. My 1928 house still has its original double concrete laundry tubs. There were also refrigerators that operated on kerosene. Re: Snack Time by Soda_PopGiven his age, the social conventions of the time regarding raising children, etc., it's highly likely that Junior had a relatively early lunch - between 11:30 and noon, followed by a nap. Upon rising from said nap, he could have had a regular snack, followed by playtime in the yard all afternoon. Dad may have been at work until 3 or 3:30, and walked home by 4. Dinner may not have been until 5, so a 2 o'clock snack for Junior wouldn't have been out of place. Kids' stomachs are smaller than adults are, and their metabolism is generally higher. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, Kids, Kitchens etc., WW2)
Irma the Ironer: 1941
... of red, white and blue. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Palmer vs. Hine ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:39pm -

December 1941. Akron, Ohio. "Manufacture of self-sealing gas tanks, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co." A patriotic ensemble of red, white and blue. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Palmer vs. HineHer smile alone shows how glad she is to be employed. I have daughters who would kill for this dress.No, really. Irma the Ironer: 1941Where did you find this photo? I don't see it on the LOC site, and I don't see any color photos for Alfred Palmer in 1941. Did you colorize it? [It's here. - tterrace] [There are lots of color photos by Alfred Palmer from 1941 in the LOC archive. - Dave] First, it was all his shirtsNow he has me ironing his gas tanks. As time went byI'm sure there was a better way found to make gas tanks. I can't believe...I'm getting PAID to iron something other than a shirt! Pushing the Iron, er, the EnvelopeThis was very early in the lifetime of U.S.-built self-sealing fuel tanks because patents had just been issued that year. Check Wikipedia for their history. Here's a segment from the 1943 documentary "All Out For Victory" with one of those almost-British narrators. "Yes, I get into working on some queer things. I sure do." http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1785081081357314567# Kitty FoyleThis pic is used on Wikipedia, on the Kitty Foyle Dress page. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
0001, 0002, 0003 . . .
... sheet metal department." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Coloured Photos I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:38pm -

October 1942. Inglewood, Calif. "Parts are marked with this pneumatic numbering machine in North American Aviation's sheet metal department." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Coloured PhotosI love these early coloured photos, they just make this time period so real and, well, normal. Sometimes it's hard to imagine the early 20th century without thinking that everything happened in sepia. Was the 1940s the earliest decade to have coloured photos like these? [Color photography got its start in the 1890s. Kodachrome color film made its debut in 1935. - Dave] Re: Kodachrome"Kodachrome color film made its debut in 1935." Or as I refer to it, the year colors were invented. Time lagInteresting that all of my professionally-taken baby pictures were hand tinted in the early 30's. Wonder why they weren't in color to begin with. [That would have been well before color print film (and developing) was available for the average camera. Kodachrome was a transparency film, first used for 16mm movies and then slides. It was not a print film. - Dave] Palmer's LightingOne interesting thing about these great old war production photos that Dave's been posting is the lighting. It looks like they kept the rest of the production area dark and then just lit the immediate working space. It would be fun to see a "making-of" shot. Ummm . . .What a doll. Foy Las Vegas Pneumatic DollsDo you think S. California was really a magnet in the early years of the film industry for attractive people hoping to become stars (and who later found themselves, cute as they were, running pneumatic numbering machines)? More LikelyWhile it's true that Hollywood was a magnet for attractive young women who would find their way into war work it think a couple of other factors are at work here. I have a suspicion that the photographers were looking very hard for attractive women for the photos. I suppose it's possible that Palmer might have found the two prettiest girls in the department to pose for this photo. The other factor is that many of the women who worked in the war plants were the young wives of soldiers, sailors and airmen for whom California might be a long-term base before being shipped out. I don't suppose it would be unheard of for them to come to California while their husbands were based in the area and then gravitate into the war plants after - or even before - they shipped out. Lighting[A preliminary note: We know that Alfred Palmer used floodlights for at least some of these large format Kodachromes. Hand-held floodlights and cabling are visible in a number of his photographs. - Dave] Kodachrome, back in the day, was an absurdly slow film; that was one of the many prices you paid for shooting in color. Shots like this one were done with flashbulbs, and quite large ones. (My educated guess is that this was shot with one large bulb in a large reflector, off to camera left.) That was done, in part, to provide the necessary *amount* of illumination, but also to provide the right *color temperature* light - the floodlights in a factory would have made everything look horribly yellowish or orangeish, and light coming in through skylights and windows would likely have been too blueish. You can still get the same look today with slide film, a high-powered flashgun, and a camera with a leaf-shutter that synchronizes flash at high speeds: well-lit subjects in foreground, inky blackness in the background. Quite aside from the technical and aesthetic effects, this technique meant - for the wartime Kodachromes you see on Shorpy - that you only got to see the parts of the factories that, frankly, the government wanted you to see. No need to worry overly about accidentally disclosing wartime secrets off in the background of a photo when everything but the main subject is shrouded in darkness... Unsafe, but I look fabulousShe's wearing jewelry on a pneumatic press machine? Egads! The parts on the table are rib sections; these fit between the longitudinal spars of a wing or control surface. The parts in the rear are fuselage formers; you can see the notches for the stringers that run down the side of the plane. North American Inglewood built both B-25 bombers and P-51 fighers during late 1942; judging from the size of the formers, these are probably P-51 Mustang parts. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2)
Nacelle Belles: 1942
... form the background." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Love the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:28pm -

October 1942. "Two assembly line workers at the Long Beach, California, plant of Douglas Aircraft Company enjoy a well-earned lunch period. Nacelle parts of a heavy bomber form the background." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Love the 40's Working WomenThese women are amazing - maintaining their glamour while working and supporting the war effort. Really fantastic. Thanks for this Shorpy - I dress 40's style and these pictures are a tremendous resource in color! Not that far from AnaheimThe brooch that woman is wearing makes her look like an usherette at Disney's Enchanted Tiki room. In ShorpylandIn Shorpyland, everyone is fit and attractive. I WANT TO LIVE THERE! Out of Time?No matter how many times I look at these Kodachrome photographs I never get tired of them, I always find myself transported back in time to the 1940s, just seeing how colourful the young girls dress up even for just going to work in an aircraft factory is a stark contrast to the black and white movies of the day. I've always had a feeling for the US during this period even today I love watching "On the Town" (sad I know) with Gene Kelly just to see some of the colour footage of New York in the 40s. No. 531is oh so cute. Sigh. Palmer PicksIn addition to being an excellent photographer, Alfred Palmer sure knew how to pick his subjects. Hubba-hubba. DeliciousOoh, look at those lunchboxes!! The one I had growing up was NEVER this cool. Les BellesOnce again the OWI photographers chose attractive women to include in their pictures. I guess they were trying to boost wartime morale and have a little fun themselves. Beats photographing the machinery. Those awful shoesLook at the pitiful shoes they're wearing. My mother was a 23-year-old bookkeeper then, and she remembers the sacrifices that were gladly made for the war effort. She says that because so many materials were scarce, the only shoes she could buy were made from substandard material, and quickly fell apart. Also, silk and nylon were unavailable, so the only stockings she could get were rayon, which were horrible. Beautiful girls, walk a little slower.......when you walk by me,..." I can hear Tony Bennett now with that appropriate song for this alluring photo. The one sitting down has a pencil tucked behind her right ear. Years ago anyone having to do paperwork often stored their always-needed pencil behind their ear, don't see that much anymore. Last but not least, my father who was born in 1909 enjoyed wearing red socks which made him a little different and quirky, even in the olden days. He was a fun guy (not the mushroom kind), very intelligent and sociable. This picture really captures a day on the homefront in WW2. How staged were these?I know that the majority of these women were actual workers, but how many were just models that they brought in for these photo shoots? [These photos are not "staged," they're posed. Using actual employees. - Dave] Who could forget those red socks?We've seen the lady on the right previously: https://www.shorpy.com/node/2592 Maybe she started the fashion? https://www.shorpy.com/node/2595 EchoI echo Joe on this one.I might add as a nurse I see fewer and fewer of these fine people. Nacelle Belles: 1942As a man who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, there is an almost overwhelming nostalgia that I feel when I look at these idealized photos of young women from that period. No doubt, many men my age might be longing for the days when women were much more unequal, usually stayed at home, and slaved over the stove to cook memorable meals for their families. But I don't think that is what attracts me to these photos of women who are fashionable, yet ordinary, not glamorous. These women remind me of my mother. Most people who grew up in this era have lost their parents by now, and the missing of one's mother never ends. My mother and father were both modest people, especially my mother, and I don't think modesty is as common now, nor is it as valued - not by a long shot. The magic of KodachromeThe vibrant colours, the tone, texture and the almost 3D quality which Palmer achieves in this photograph are truly stunning. There is a piece of software in existence which digital photographers use to try to replicate the Kodachrome effect; all it does is increase the saturation, it cannot come close to the magic of the real thing. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Pretty Girls, WW2)
Chickamauga: 1942
... Chattanooga, Tenn." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Miles of Tiles All that tiling, for a room ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2023 - 7:17pm -

June 1942. "Generator hall of the Chickamauga Dam powerhouse near Chattanooga, Tenn." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Miles of TilesAll that tiling, for a room that's seldom seen. What's wrong with bare concrete? Awe-inspiring picture, especially with the little bloke in the distance providing perspective. Generational PrideThe tiling might be scored concrete or some other semi-automatic process, but the designers of this facility clearly obsessed over the appearance of their work. Although seemingly simple if not stark, all of the shapes and surfaces are carefully designed and highly finished to create a strong impression of ageless quality. Check out the almost "graphic" tool sets on the wall between each generator. Maybe they wanted to impress the visiting taxpayer or government official. Clean WorkshopOh wow - is that what they are?! Such perfectly arranged tools make this the cleanest workshop I've ever seen - almost surgically sterile. Miles of tilesThe tiling on the floor and walls is not "scored concrete". I know because I've walked on it. It's real ceramic tile, used not for aesthetic purposes, but for practical reasons. This facility was designed to last for a long, long time, and spilled or leaked generator lube oil would soften and weaken the concrete underneath the tile. The tiling is also much easier to keep clean, and cleanliness is a requirement around the delicately precise equipment that this is. I also observed the installation of the tile on the turbo/generator floor at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant north of Chattanooga, and wondered, at first, over the "obsession with appearance." (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works)
American Pineapple: 1942
... Va." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Cut & Paste This image looks tailor-made for masking. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:37pm -

November 1942. "An American pineapple, of the kind the Axis finds hard to digest, is ready to leave the hand of an infantryman in training at Fort Belvoir, Va." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Cut & PasteThis image looks tailor-made for masking. The blue background looks like it would help Photoshoppers today in copying the soldier with ease. Could that have been part of the original reason for the framing, so the image could be used in different compositions? Re: Cut & PasteThe 4x5 Kodachromes were used as studies for painted illustrations and bond drive posters. In 1942 Alfred Palmer traveled to Fort Benning, Fort Knox and Fort Belvoir, often shooting from near ground level with a floodlight, aiming up at his subjects with a background of clouds and sky. The results for the twilight shots were often a bit underexposed, as was the case here. DaveDave is it possible to see a larger size on the tank that you see the 3 soldiers? Ron [Those are all elsewhere on the site. Click where it says "Alfred Palmer" to see all of his pics. - Dave] Tanks er I mean ThanksTanks er I mean Thanks Dave Ron InfantrymanI think I had this little green toy soldier pose along with the spread eagle shooters and the "on-one-knee" Walkie Talkee Guys. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Patriotic, WW2)
Langley Field: 1942
... base. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Shoes Is the second man from ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 3:28pm -

May 1942. "Here's our mission." A combat crew receives final instructions just before taking off in a mighty YB-17 bomber from the bombardment squadron base at Langley Field, Virginia, nation's oldest air base. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. ShoesIs the second man from the right wearing wing-tip shoes? Looks like it to me. I know officers had to buy their own uniforms, so their uniforms weren't necessarily G.I., but wing-tips? Weren't there rules beyond the color specification of brown? Langley CrewI'm curious about how these fliers were illuminated for this photo. Car headlights? It brings to mind the Montana cowboys photo seen previously on Shorpy. [Below, a glimpse of Alfred Palmer's floodlight. - Dave] Stunning imageThe composition and lighting in this photo are beautiful. Pinks and brown shoesI agree, although I've heard that old school pilots (pre WW-II) would buy a pair of cowboy boots upon graduation from UPT. Seems like the flight engineer, or whoever has the greasy overalls, is wearing boots with undershot heels. FYI pinks is a term used for the tan twills used up to the 60's. They seemed to take on a pinkish cast in some light. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Stings Like a B: 1942
... Aviation, Kansas City." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the OWI. View full size. I never realized how small a I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2017 - 2:28pm -

        Time flies like B-25's. Another Kodachrome from the Early Days of Shorpy, enlarged and re-restored. October 1942. "B-25 bomber assembly hall, North American Aviation, Kansas City." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the OWI. View full size. I never realized how small aI never realized how small a B-25 was. That thing's tiny. Also, where are all the people? Bright yellow!Not exactly a stealth bomber, eh? Where are all the peopleMight be that a security guard on night duty took the picture. Where the people areThey are mostly hidden by the planes. I see at least 19 people. The photographer was Alfred Palmer, who took hundreds of pictures like this for the Office of War Information. BombersNot many of you know about WW II planes, first the rest of the outboard wings haven't bee assembled and put on yet, next the yellow color is the primer paint, the finished coat would be olive drab, camouflage or desert colors light & dark sand depending what theater of war the plane would be sent to. North American AviationThat was not a B25 (a four engine heavy bomber) The plane in the photo appears to be the twin engined B26, a much faster, lighter "attack bomber" for lower level pin-point missions rather than the carpet bombing that actually the larger B-17's and B25's were best suited for. B25 bomberThe B25 was a twin-engine medium bomber. I have some more pictures of the assembly line to post later in the week. B25 bomberGood plane; wasn't it a B-25 that hit the Empire State building late in the war years?? Harry B25 BomberYes, that was a B25. From Wikipedia: At 9:49 a.m. on Saturday July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber flying in a thick fog accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed. Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest survived elevator fall. Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday. B-25 or B24?You're thinking of the B-24 4 engine "Liberator" bomber which was cousin to the B-17 "Flying Fortress" that did carpet bombing before the advent of the B-29 "Super Fortress". The B-26 was a twin engine light bomber made by Martin Aircraft Co, and in the same category with the B-25 "Mitchell". This is definitely a pictureThis is definitely a picture of a B-25, also known as a Billy Mitchell. I flew as a passenger in one of them in 1948 on my way to an Air Force tech school to become a radio operator. It had to be the noisiest ride ever in a medium bomber, but it was fast. Kodachrome?Was this taken on Kodachrome? Look at how well the colors are retained. - Nick [Yes,a 4x5 Kodachrome transparency. - Dave] This is definitely a B-25This is definitely a B-25 Mitchell, not a B-24 Liberator, and not a B-26 Marauder. I have shot B-25s in the past, so I have personal experience with this plane. This is the same type of plane that Jimmy Doolittle flew off of the deck of the USS Hornet in 1942 to bomb Tokyo during WWII. Above comments very interesting Some knowlegable,some not.I flew this plane (B-25) in the South Pacific. What a beauty it was. It was a medium bomber that was turned into a strafer with 12 50's firing forward, very lethal. We flew tree top missions on land and mast top missions when hitting ships. B-26 and A-26Just to confuse the issue there were A-26s too. Twin engine ship built by Douglas. B-25The plane is a B-25...the b26 has a different tail configuration and the b-24 looks similar but has 4 engines. B-25This is an early model B-25, probably a D model due to the aft location of the upper gun turret and the lack of a tail gunner position. B-25 D'sThose are B-25 d's at the Faifax assembly plant. My dad built em there. He's still kickin and saw the photo. Brought back a lot of memories. He says thanks for the great pic. Nacelle Tips?I spent a lot of years in aviation, working on everything from light aircraft to WWII war birds. I even worked in a factory for a while on Swearingen's final assembly line in San Antonio. Later, I went on to fly professionally ending my career with about about 2700 hours, many of them in various types of WWII vintage aircraft. I was wondering if anybody knows what the red covers are on the ends of the nacelles [below]. I have never seen anything like this before. Nacelle CapsInteresting. The appear to be temporary rather than permanent, held on by bungees attached to the incomplete wing assemblies. Interestingly they are only found on two of the aircraft; the plane nearest to us where the worker is at the tail assembly, and the plane ahead of it to the right. Neither of these aircraft has wheels or propellers. Most of the other aircraft in the assembly area do. Trouble is that the plane to the right of the second plane with the caps doesn't have a cap but also doesn't seem to have either props or wheels. I'm just guessing here but I think my reasoning is good. It seems obvious that these nacelle caps are used to indicate that some step in the assembly process, probably related to the engines or the hydraulics of the landing gear, hasn't been completed and tested yet and so long as the red cap is remains on the nacelle the aircraft can't go further in the assembly process. But as I say this is just a guess. Nacelle capsThese appear to be in place to protect the metal while the wing root and nacelle are lifted into place or while the a/c is being pushed about, at least until the wheels are installed. Perhaps a tow bar is attached to the nose gear strut at that point. Then again, they may be giant hickies. Fairfax B-25 PlantThe Fairfax B-25 plant was NW of the tee intersection of Fairfax Trafficway and what's now Kindleberger Road in Kansas City, KS. The photo is in what was the final assembly high bay near that intersection and facing north. The plant was bought by GM after the war and used for auto production until it closed for good in the mid 80s and then torn down. The old Fairfax Airport next door was bought out about that time, closed and a new GM-Fairfax plant built on the airport site to replace the old auto plant. Here's a nice KSHS pdf history of the B-25 plant: http://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2005winter_macias.pdf The B-25 plant site is now a fenced off, vacant, scrubby field. The only facility remains are the parking lot with what's left of the main entrance drive. You've got a great photo blog. This photo is my new wallpaper, I hope that's okay. Mellow YellowI had no idea that planes would have been painted yellow at this stage! You always see B&W photos so I just assumed they were still just bare metal. B-25 Fairfax plantI'm pretty sure that Fairfax plant was in Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas. I live withing walking distance of the plant and I'm on my side of the state line. Those B-25 bombers were always Bushwhackers, built by the ancestors of Captain Quantrill. The B-25 Bomber ain't no jayhawker. george.todd [The B-25 plant next to the old Fairfax Airport is now part of the General Motors Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. - Dave] Mickey the B-25My mother-in-law worked at the Fairfax plant installing bombsights in B-25's. She would taxi the aircraft out herself once the bombsight was installed for the ferry pilots to deliver them. She often talked about one that had the name "Mickey" painted on it. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this aircraft. Any news would be appreciated. Thanks. B-25 Bomber Plant locationJust to clarify, the plant that produced the B-25 bombers in Fairfax was located on the north side of Kindleberger Road, east of Brinkerhoff Road. It was west of the old Fairfax Airport and has since been torn down, however the parking areas from the old plant are still in place. The new GM Fairfax assembly plant was built on the east side of Fairfax Trafficway, right in the middle of the old Fairfax airport. [aerial photo] That yellow paint is a primerIt was a nasty zinc chromate concoction meant to prevent corrosion and also allow the top coat of paint to adhere better. Worn paint revealed the primer underneath in contemporary pictures. Eventually it was realised the average wartime airframe didn't last long enough in service to allow corrosion to begin and the primer was dropped, a cost and weight saving. B-25 plant LocationHere there is an aerial photo showing the plant and airport. The plant was immediately adjacent to the NW corner of the airport. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Tractor Pull: 1942
... line." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Wartime ingenuity Does anybody ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 12:47pm -

October 1942. Kansas City, Kansas. "B-25 bomber plane at North American Aviation being hauled along an outdoor assembly line." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Wartime ingenuityDoes anybody know if that tractor was "pressed into service", or built specifically to haul planes? Snappy dressers.The tractor is an I-4 International industrial, the model was built from 1941 to 1953. 24 hp measured at the drawbar. The B-25 obviously met her maker long ago but the old tractor might still be around in the hands of a collector, or maybe even still in use somewhere. Many repair parts for the old tractors are still available. The old Fairfax (Kansas City, KS) B-25 plant was demo'd in the late 80s. Nothing is left but a vacant lot. Why was a guard posted to watch the employees? Afraid someone would go for a joy ride? Old tractorsThe I-4 was the industrial version of the W-4 standard tread tractor that International Harvester/McCormick built for wheat farmers. The differences were fairly minor and only included things like a beefed up/fixed width front axle, rear drawbar mods, transmission change gears to allow higher transport speeds and the obvious substitution of street tread for the rear ag tires. On-line references only say I-4/W-4s were built at the Farmall plant in Rock Island, IL but I think I've seen historical photos of 'em going down the line at the old McCormick Works in Chicago, too. Even during the war, tractor production was kept up. The old McCormick Works in Chicago is the site of the current Cook County Jail and the old Farmall Works in Rock Island is just now being demo'd. The I-4 was built for common industrial uses and pulling aircraft around was only one of the many ways they were pressed into service. Many were built for all kinds of industrial uses. I haven't seen any for a while but it was fairly common to still see these in plant use through 1990 anyway. With only minimum maintenance, the old girls will almost last forever. Security GuardPeople walking off with scarce or rationed supplies (tools, tires, wiring, paint, gasoline) and selling them on the black market was a problem in a lot of the big wartime plants. Who watches the guard?They never "borrow" stuff? Who watches the guard? [Alfred Palmer and his giant, ever-present camera. And all of us. - Dave] SabotageI'd guess that guards around military production plants were as common as could be. Less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor (re:photo date) potential sabotage was a major concern (and one of the reasons behind the internment of Japanese-Americans in "relocation camps"). An aircraft plant would have been a primary target for a saboteur. Including a guard in the picture was probably one of those things that was done as a "show that we're always alert" item. Pull!The funny thing is that I-4 International Industrial tractor was hooked up to the first B-25 and simultaneously pulled all of those 10 B-25 that were hooked up to each other behind that first plane you're seeing in that picture. What a feat! That feat made it into Ripley's Believe It Or Not book of 1943 and was pictured on page 124 just opposite of the two-headed Martian. I-4 and I6There was also an I-9 model, the first tractor my grandfather was able to buy after the war. It was ill suited for farm work as the seat was so far behind the rear axle that the slightest bump tried to dismount the driver. I attribute most of my back problems to the many days I spent on that tractor driving a diagonal path across cotton rows harrowing the crust off sprouted seedlings. The toll in drivers may be uncounted but like all IH products of the time, it continued near daily service for at least 15 years until I lost track of its whereabouts. How clear the photo is for so long ago.I have been a Shorpy fan for some time and it still stuns me to see such great photos. How do they maintain negatives so well? The modern digital camera has nothing on these fine, fine pictures. Thank you to whomever supplies these. I look at these men and there either long gone or very very old. This also amazes me. [Kodachromes are transparencies -- there are no negatives. They're clear because they're big. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
War Machine: 1941
Another selection from the LOC archives of Alfred Palmer's strikingly composed large-format black-and-white transparencies shot ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 7:03pm -

Another selection from the LOC archives of Alfred Palmer's strikingly composed large-format black-and-white transparencies shot in December 1941 at factories in Akron and Cleveland. White Motor Company, Cleveland, Ohio. "Halftrac scout cars. Putting precision-made pistons assemblies into precision-made cylinders is a job that fits this former auto worker. The engine will be the power plant of an Army halftrac scout car. The Midwest plant that is turning it out has trained American automotive workers for every job on the line." View full size. 4x5 nitrate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, Cleveland, Factories, WW2)
Take Me to Your Welder: 1942
... 1950s sci-fi vibe here. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Rosie, is that YOU? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/27/2012 - 10:36am -

June 1942. "Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tennessee. Welder making boilers for a ship." A definite 1950s sci-fi vibe here. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Rosie, is that YOU?This is probably a woman welding. With most of "our boys" overseas, the ladies picked up the slack and did and admirable job of it! [The workers in this series of Combustion Engineering photos by Alfred Palmer are all big burly men. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
Wabash Avenue L: 1900
... and to the right of the Windsor Clifton sign is a sign for Alfred Peats. According to his March 1915 obituary in the NYT, Peats made money ... "lost" Sullivan ornament was recovered in the process. Palmer House The building on the left reads "Potter Palmer" near the top, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 3:44pm -

September 1, 1900. "Wabash Avenue north from Adams Street, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Direct connectionThe walkway from the building to the station used to be common; many stops in the Loop on the L and in the subway had a direct connection from some adjacent business; it was a selling point for the business. The ones on the L are all gone now. Most of the subway ones are closed as well, with the exception of the ones that are part of the pedway. GottchaWonderful street scene. Can you find the "Gottcha"? Or what on first glance appears to be a "Gottcha." Signage That is an interesting sign behind the Pilgrim Press Booksellers. The one that has pictures of monuments or crosses on it. It would be nice to have a closer look at that. I did a little more research just guessing it is a monument companies sign and found the Charles M. Gall Company in Chicago at that time. They were also mentioned in the "Monument Mans Handbook" from 1919. The book had illustrations of types of monuments and it seems that some on the sign are military monuments. Of course, I could be totally off base and if anyone has any other ideas let me know. A Story In Every SignBarely visible below and to the right of the Windsor Clifton sign is a sign for Alfred Peats. According to his March 1915 obituary in the NYT, Peats made money so fast he was "crazed by riches" and driven insane. He ended up at the Bloomingdale Asylum. For that total Shorpy experienceI like to play my Scott Joplin CD while looking at these turn of the century street scenes in Hi-Def. It's almost like watching a Ken Burns documentary. It seems odd that his music was used in a soundtrack for a movie set in the 1930s (The Sting) when most of his work was written around 1900. I would have thought hot jazz a better choice for that movie, given the period. The GottchaIs that someone misspelled "gotcha"? How Often ...Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often that you won't even notice it. Are these what are known as "cold water" flats due to the water pipe running vertically from the sidewalk? There seems to be one valve or "tap" for each flat accessible from the veranda. What happened in the winter when the water froze? Got HER!The man walking by the bookshop at lower left appears to be goosing his female companion. GotchaAre you referring to the woman who appears to be scratching her behind? At first glance it looks like the man walking slightly behind her is "taking liberties," but after closer examination I believe he is innocent. [I think she's lifting her skirt a bit to keep it off the sidewalk. Hey lady, you're on the Internet! - Dave] Her Own ParadeAnd believe me, I'd be in it too! PlumbingThose look like standpipes for firefighters. You can see the terminus of one on the top of the building on the right side of the street. Rather than drag a hose all the way up from the street hydrant they could hook on to the standpipe and direct water to whatever floor needed it, or all the way to the roof. Chicago in the mid 1970sAs a HS student and camera buff, I used to go to the photo stores on Wabash Avenue, under the elevated tracks. Altman's Camera was one of the best places to buy equipment, and I would ride the train from Milwaukee with a pile of cash, arrive at the train station and then walk, nervously, east through pimps, hookers and street thugs to Wabash. Then I would walk back to the train station with my purchases, just as nervously. Boy, has Chicago cleaned up its act since those days. Re: SignageMy guess is that it from the florist shop and shows designs for wreaths, possibly funerary. CivilizedI notice not a hint of graffiti on the support beams for the elevated railway. Fire ProtectionI'd guess those tall pipes are dry standpipes for firefighting. They'd be empty of water until hooked up to a pumper during a fire. (And I think the hand on the lady's bottom is her own. The man appears to be carrying a parcel.) Direct Connection, Part 2The bridge connecting the L Station (Madison & Wabash) to the buildings on the left side of the street was designed by Louis Sullivan for the Schlesinger & Mayer department store in 1896, when the Wabash Avenue leg of the Loop L was brand new. This was Sullivan's first work for the department store; he later built an entirely new building for them around the corner at State & Madison Streets (1899-1904). This building is better known by the name Carson Pirie Scott & Co., which occupied the structure from 1904 to 2007. While Sullivan's bridge is long gone, the building that it "plugged into" has recently had its facade restored, and some "lost" Sullivan ornament was recovered in the process. Palmer HouseThe building on the left reads "Potter Palmer" near the top, which makes me think this might be the back of the second incarnation (1875-1923) of the Palmer House hotel. The front faced State Street, a block to the west. Wabash Avenue L: 2010Some of the buildings on the right in the 1900 photo, just past the train, still exist. The very tall building in the center is the Trump Hotel and Tower across the river. And yes, Pete is correct, that's the Palmer house on the immediate left. Between 1923 and 1925, the 2nd Palmer House was torn down while the 3rd (and current) hotel was built. So the hotel never closed during construction! (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Railroads, Stores & Markets)
Kodachrome Goes to War: 1942
... making Kodachrome film. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Woot! Saddle ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:11pm -

October 1942. "Women are trained as engine mechanics in thorough Douglas training methods. Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California." Skipping ahead to 2009, and the end of an era: Today Kodak announced that, after 74 colorful years, it will stop making Kodachrome film. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Woot!Saddle shoes! Awesome Kodachrome, so long..Nothing is as sexy as a woman with a wrench in her hand! Farewell, My Lovely!My first job out of college in 1973 was as a Kodachrome Quality Control Chemist at Berkey Photo in New York. It was an incredibly complex process that got incredibly beautiful results. As Mark Twain said of the Mississippi steamboat: "So short a life for so magnificent a creature." Somebody's gotta say it Kodachrome They give us those nice bright colors They give us the greens of summers Makes you think all the world's a sunny day... Momma, don't take my Kodachrome away. Hubba HubbaThat is one gorgeous airplane mechanic. (Yes, wisenheimers, I'm talking about the one on the left.) HyperrealWhat a grand picture; it has sort of a "heightened" look, for lack of a better word. Lovely as Technicolor. (And I'd say the mechanic on the right is pretty cute, too.) She and HeShe's cute. He, on the other hand, is hottimus maximus. Hats off to Kodachrome. Such beautiful, limpid color. KodachromeAs a photographer all of my working life, this is a very sad but not unexpected day. I was too young to be shooting in the era where you could shoot 4x5 Kodachrome. That's one of the things I love about this site. I shot quite a bit of it when it came back briefly to the medium format world in the mid-80s. I've come very close to selling my 4x5 camera given the dearth of emulsions still available but the images on this site keep me in the game, so to speak. Definitely the real dealIf there is any question as to this young lady being just a publicity model or the real-deal mechanic, look closely at her fingernails. The dirty saddle shoes could be a set-up with a model, but no gal I know that only poses as camera candy would have those fingernails! Definitely a real engine assembly worker. What type engineI wondered what engine this was and a quick photo search shows this as a R-1830. Long Beach built C-47 cargo planes and they used this type engine. What's on the clipboard?Nice to see the details on the shipping tag; can someone enlarge the clipboard at center-left, in case there's anything of interest on it? [Alas, it is out of focus. - Dave] Keep your heads down!Those external cylinder head oil pipes look very vulnerable to me. They are critical to the engine's operation yet in use they'd be hiding behind a thin aluminium sheet. Meanwhile the baddies would be firing all sorts of assorted sharp pieces of ironmongery in their direction. "Oil lines"The "oil lines" of concern to the first commenter are actually spark plug leads. Each cylinder has two spark plugs, fired by separate magnetos. I was also taken with the fact that this pretty girl is no mere model. De-colorization.With all the controversy surrounding the use of the computer to colorize black and white images, I thought I'd do the opposite. Face it, WWII and color just don't seem right. I'm kidding.... (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Avenging Angel: 1942
... Aircraft Co., Long Beach, California." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Recently spotted on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/15/2019 - 9:13pm -

        "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." October 1942. "Woman at work on bomber motor, Douglas Aircraft Co., Long Beach, California." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Recently spotted on PBSNo, but she's the spitting image of Ruth Gemmell who played a similarly aged woman in a 1940 UK setting ~73 years later. Rosie the Riveter?As part of our world war II time line - we could include the working women who built the machines to doom Hitler. [This one is more Ruby the Ratcheter - Dave] Engine installerFor one thing, I think this picture is posed as well as the other one with the 3 ladys also installing engines, you wouldn't be that clen and neat or wearing a loose hanging sweater and rings on your fingers doing any type of engine or mechanical work. Safety would require anyone to remove those items to prevent getting stuck on the equipment or any FOD (Foreign Object Damage) to engines while being assembled. [As we have pointed out elsewhere, most of the Palmer photos were posed. Some were used as studies by illustrators painting recruitment and bond drive posters. - Dave] It's the Wright engineAfter it's first startup a piston engine will never again shine so pretty. Looks like a Wright Cyclone R-2600, 1,600 hp beast mounted on Douglas' A-20 Havoc. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
The Jolly Grenadier: 1942
... open a road to Berlin or Tokyo." 4x5 acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Please label ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/16/2022 - 3:05pm -

November 1942. "Grenade throwers. Ready to make a shipment of pineapples to Hitler, Hirohito & Co. An infantryman at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, holds a double handful of deadly grenades that may one day blast open a road to Berlin or Tokyo." 4x5 acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Please label explosive contentsI've mentioned before I go to thrift stores, looking for treasures that have fallen through the cracks. I've had some luck, but so far haven't found anything worthy of Antiques Roadshow. A few years ago, I was in a St. Vincent De Paul store when the intercom instructed everyone to leave the store - now. The police were already outside. It appeared they were after someone in the warehouse. The next time I was in the store I asked a manager what the excitement was all about. He said they had opened a donation box filled with hand grenades. Fortunately, the grenades were duds; but it took a while to figure that out. Dedication and DeterminationThat GI is determined and seriously dedicated, and I hope he came home safely. '03 Springfieldnot an 03A3. Working in the Park Slope Armory, Brooklyn, we found a cut-away 1O5mm artillery shell, an instruction aid. We huddled and decided to call the bomb squad, "when we got back from lunch". We did, the bomb squad dutifully removed it using a man in a Michelin tire suit. Worked four, hours paid eight. Thank You For Your ServiceVery powerful picture. My sincere hope is he made it back safely and used those same hands to cradle his newborns and build a life for his family. My father never spoke of his service years during WWII but he seemed to have a great appreciation for the simple things in life. Maybe when you've been through hell it doesn't take much to feel you're in heaven. Hey Adolf!!You wanna play Horseshoes or Hand Grenades??? You get a point for being close. Jolly?At first I thought it might be a sort of smile, then a strange kind of grin, or maybe even a grimace. Now I think he might be emitting the same type of sound a dog in the corner makes when it has its eye on you and is working its way up to a growl. Watch out, Jerry or Tojo. Happy in VirginiaHe may be jolly because he's at Fort Belvoir rather than fighting Vichy French troops in North Africa as part of November 1942's "Operation Torch." He might be on his way to North Africa, Sicily, and Italy soon, though. Don't play with the rocksI grew up overseas in a neighborhood built up over a WWII battlefield. In the '50s we used to go over and play in a nearby park. We were always told to never bring anything home, and don't pick up the rocks. Leave them on the ground. One year a couple of kids did play with the rocks. End of story. At times during construction of the houses, work would have to stop when an explosive was found. Never heard any stories of any workers getting injured or dying due to explosives. Something other than jollityThis calls forth Ezra Pound (on an earlier war): The age demanded an image Of its accelerated grimace. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
Mating Operation: 1942
... to remove the whole cylinder." 4x5 nitrate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Atomic ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/05/2022 - 2:36pm -

February 1942. Firestone Rubber plant in Akron, Ohio. "Conversion. Beverage containers to aviation oxygen cylinders. Before completion of the fourth and final welding operation in the manufacture of shatterproof oxygen cylinders for high altitude flying, all straps are subjected to physical tests to determine the strength of the weld. Occasional radiographic inspections are made to insure the quality of workmanship after the two halves of the cylinder are brought together in this atomic welding machine and made one unit. Here, the operator has just completed the union and is about to remove the whole cylinder." 4x5 nitrate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Atomic Welding"Atomic welding machine"??? [Also known as plasma welding, arc-atom welding or atomic hydrogen welding. - Dave] Check the mateYou do have a mirthful way with the titling of a number of the photos. I deem this wordsmithing a worthy value-added aspect of the total Shorpy package. A package which never fails to inform and entertain. A daily must-visit now. Farked!Photoshop contest for this pic. (The Gallery, Bizarre, Alfred Palmer, Factories, Farked, WW2)
Flying Fortress: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Reckon You Know It's Backwards but thanks for sending these ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 12:44pm -

October 1942. Workers installing fixtures and assemblies in the tail section of a B-17F bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, California. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Reckon You Know It's Backwardsbut thanks for sending these priceless pix out, history should not be forgotten. [It's not backwards. Maybe you're confused by the box being upside down. Try standing on your head. - Dave] B-17FThese workers are in the mid section of this B-17. When complete and flying, two waist gunners would be located here, pivoting and firing .50 caliber machine guns and bringing down those marauding German FW-190s and BF-109s. Or not. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska [There are two fuselage sections: front and back (the "tail fuselage section," in photographer Alfred Palmer's words). The rear end of the fuselage is behind the workers. Below is another view of the tail sections where the women were working. - Dave] B-17F LightingI think its a beautiful photograph, yet after having worked inside the metal frames of semis and railcars, I think it's interesting to note that all the lighting is turned off for the picture and the women must of had to stand still in the dark while the photographer got ready. I would have liked to have seen one picture with the real lights on, so we could see the harsh conditions they worked under. My thanks to all who supported the country back then. [These planes were constructed inside giant, well-lit, air-conditioned hangars. The conditions were not exactly "harsh." See photo below. Also here and here. - Dave] Photoshop ContestThese lovely ladies have turned into grist for a Photoshop contest over at Fark. Histories of HollywoodHistories of Hollywood frequently mention how "blinding" the lighting was when they were shooting Technicolor (around ASA 12). The same sort of thing is going on in this picture. 1940s Kodachrome is a very slow film, under ASA 10. It is not surprising that the lighting completely overpowered the natural lighting, making the factory look like a cavern outside the gunport. Recall also that light would be bouncing around inside the metal shell, amplifying the disparity in lighting. B-17 AssemblyWasn't the B-17 assembled in Seattle Washington? I was not aware that it was built in the Douglas plant in Long beach. Anyone know the details on this one? [Google and Wikipedia -- so helpful. - Dave] Top Secret?I wonder if that photo would have been "top secret" at the time. I'm no aeronautical engineer, but would there have been anything in this photo that shows the "guts" of the plane of use to German/Japanese technicians? No SecretI don't think the enemy needed this picture to learn anything about these airplanes. I imagine they had the aircraft itself from the ones that crash landed in enemy territory. I sort of remember from the WWII movies, the crew destroyed the Norden Bombsights to keep them out of Axis hands. Just NoticedLooking over this photo to see any secret type stuff (there isn't anything that could really be considered even sensitive unless you consider flush riveting aluminum sensitive) I suddenly noticed something that I hadn't seen in previous viewings - the fluorescent light fixture to the left of the woman in the pink blouse. It seems to have been powered externally so I would presume that it was only temporary like the incandescent work light. Looking at it again, there's what appears to be a second fluorescent fixture, covered in a protective mesh screen at the very top of the photo. Both appear to be off - it would probably throw off the colour balance if they were on in the photo - but I imagine that you needed light when working on these planes and you didn't have a convenient photo-flood in the area. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, Farked)
Mike Hunter: 1942
... Long Beach, California." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. A-24ish ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:24pm -

October 1942. "Lieutenant 'Mike' Hunter, Army test pilot assigned to Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. A-24ishThe airscoop is wrong for a Dauntless, plus this plane is in Army Air Force paint. Perhaps the AAF variant, A-24 I believe, had a different engine cowling His story.Whatever became of him? Did he make it through the war? PrototypeAnother dead ringer for Steve Canyon! SBDA Douglas SBD Dauntless, I think. They recently raised one from Lake Michigan. Steely eyed missile manI have the feeling that he had no problem gettin' the ladies. More MikePosted earlier here. Yeah, A-24 now that you mentionAhhh, I did not notice the olive paint. I think the scoop is OK, though, I found pictures of SBDs with and without. Here's one with. Aircraft IDMost likely the aircraft is A-20B Havoc 41- 3440 produced by Douglas at its Long Beach facility between December 1941 and January 1943. The give-away, beside the partial serial number in the added photo, is the little window just above the pilot's shoulder. This odd shape was typical of the A-20. It is definitely not an A-24/SBD—a single-engine tail dragger. Both photos indicate this acft is sitting on tricycle gear. It's a Douglas A-20 It was a twin engined light bomber with a tricycle (i.e. nosewheel) undercarriage, pretty advanced for the time. A really smooth aeroplane that did its job. It was also a major success for Douglas. The A-20 was used right through to VJ Day by the USAAF. The RAF had them too and the USSR received a lot. A-20Was the A-20B the only Havoc with the scoop right on the leading edge of the cowling? I can't find any other A-20 pictures where the cowling has a scoop. They all seems to have scoops on the top of the wing, behind the cowling. [The engine with the scoop on top is a Wright Cyclone. - Dave] A-20, I stand correctedIt took awhile, but I found a photo matching that air intake. Very few A-20 pix I found showed an intake like that. And here's one showing the little window and red "Fire Extingusher" label. Modern HistoryOf course it helps that it's in color, but pics like this from the '40s always strike me as though, other than technical anachronisms, they could have been made today -- "modern" in the sense of the subject of the pic could step right out of the frame and fit right in. Compare him to the guys in Company "D" below. Some of 'em look as foreign as headhunters in Guinea!! I suppose it could also be a function of familiarity with the medium. By '42 most Americans would know what the heck to do when somebody pointed a camera at you -- but look at Company D!! Some of them seem pretty natural, but most of them look like their granny just walked in on them taking a bath. And, time seems like it's flown, but there are plenty of people around (and commenting here) who were around in '42. Maybe we're just distracted by the minutia (cell phones, the internet, etc.) and the essentially "modern" attitude was put on long ago, before our parents were born, or before. F.W. HunterYes, the aircraft is an A-20B. I can't believe no one has pointed out the obvious kinship between Lieutenant Hunter and Stephen Colbert. They even pose the same. Other Palmer photos of this fellow identify him as "F.W. Hunter". The leather nametag on his flight suit also says "F.W. Hunter". By taking the name "Mike" instead, what awful name his mother gave him was he running from? Fillmore? Francis? About that scoopThe extended carb intake was intended to hold dust filters for use in the desert. The A-20B was an early USAAF model and the filters don't seem to have been fitted much after that though I believe the late versions (A-20G and J) had the filters fitted further aft. The RAF had a large number of A-20 variations and I have seen pictures of Boston III aircraft fitted with the long scoop. What a guy"I have the feeling that he had no problem gettin' the ladies." Haha. But there's something about the glasses and the headphones and his generally weedy physique that makes him look a bit geeky. I second the man above - whatever happened to him? How did he feel about being a test pilot and not in front line combat? By the numbersIf it is 41-3440 (and it sure looks to be), that was one of the Douglas A-20B Havocs in the 41-2671 through 41-3669 build group. Note this portside prop was installed 10/14/42. The absolutely pristine condition of the cowling, prop and engine indicate this baby hasn't even been flown yet. I have one of those T-30 throat mics and it is incredibly well made. In WW II movies when the frantic pilot put his hand to his throat and yelled "I'm going in!", this is what he wore. Of course, some were Steve Canyon-cool when they were crashing. Not Mike Hunter-cool, perhaps, but cool enough. Bomber PilotThe aircraft is a B-25B. Mike was a post production test pilot meaning he tested the aircraft prior to acceptance and ferry to an operational command. In 1942 in Long Beach he had a job far removed from the USAAF 8th Air Force. [The plane he's shown with below is an A-20 light bomber. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Rosie Takes a Break: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Is that... the same girl as in the picture titled "Madonna of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 12:26pm -

October 1942. "Noontime rest for an assembly worker at the Long Beach, Calif., plant of Douglas Aircraft Company. Nacelle parts for a heavy bomber form the background." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Is that...the same girl as in the picture titled "Madonna of the sandbags"? [It is indeed. - Dave] The SocksAnd I love the red socks! The perfect touch for the photo, just like Nat'l Geographic used to do (still does?), a bit of red in every image. WowAfter all the comments on differing ideas of feminine beauty, this picture is a stunner! You ought to put it in the pretty girls gallery. The coloursThe vibrancy of the colours in this picture are an advertisement for Kodachrome, even if there's been work done on them. The vibrancy of the blues and the reds, not to mention the colour of her blouse - absolutely stunning. And she ain't bad either - every time you run one of these pictures of women war workers I end up falling in love with women who were born before my 78-year-old mother. I'll second that"every time you run one of these pictures of women war workers I end up falling in love with women who were born before my 78-year-old mother." Absolutely. These womenfolk are examples of true, timeless beauty. Amazing ClarityAlthough everyone rightly raves about the colors from these old Kodachromes, what amazes me is the absolute clarity of the pictures even when viewed full size. This is an aspect of the large format (4x5) combined with, I'm sure, some very expensive glass. I can't even imagine what the megapixel equivalent would be, if you could even get this clarity with a digital camera. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Pretty Girls, WW2)
Madonna of the Sandbags: 1942
... 1942. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Pretty girl 2 She has a tear ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 12:27pm -

"Noontime rest for a full-fledged assembly worker at the Long Beach, Calif., plant of Douglas Aircraft Company." October 1942. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Pretty girl 2She has a tear on her sleeve, her button holes are worn but she dressed up her outfit with the brooch, she must have had class, she was beautiful, I bet some G.I. had her picture on him in the war. [That was dirt on the transparency, not a rip in her sleeve. Now gone. - Dave] Nice broochIs that a tiki or African motif? pretty girlis that a pencil in her ear? Star QualityShe looks like a young Sandra Bullock Beautiful young woman, andBeautiful young woman, and if she's still alive today, she's in her 80's, wrinkled and old. Wonder what happened during those in-between decades. Sandy Bullock is still young enought for me!Self-explanatory, but true. I was wrongIt appears there *were* pretty girls back then. I guess they just stayed out of the beach beauties contests... Looks like Kate BeckinsaleLooks like Kate Beckinsale in Pearl Harbor... Sandra's MomYes, looks a lot like Sandra Bullock's mom. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Pretty Girls, WW2)
A Woman's Work: 1942
... Labor Day from Shorpy! 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. It just goes to show ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 9:11am -

October 1942. "Women become skilled shop technicians after careful training in the school at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, California. Planes made here include the B-17F Flying Fortress heavy bomber, A-20 assault bomber and C-47 transport." Happy Labor Day from Shorpy! 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. It just goes to showPeople that weren't considered smart or capable can surprise you, if you give them expectations and training. My grandmother was a parts inspector in the war, in Connecticut as well, but didn't work once her husband came home. A Woman's Work?I don't see no stove. Beautiful imageWhat a fantastic Kodachrome shot. And a beautiful blog. Duty callsMy mother was asked to work in a factory like this during those same years in Connecticut's Naugatuck Valley, a very industrial group of small towns. She was an inspector for clocks and gauges that went into submarines and planes. All able-bodied women were "encouraged" to do their duty to assist in the war effort. Grandma had to care for us kids as "her duty." Everybody got enlisted in one way or the other. Kids collected scrap metal and newspapers. Al's oeuvreAl Palmer took hundreds of these pictures for the OWI at Long Beach, mostly black and white. More here. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2)
B-25: 1942
... North American Aviation." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Kansas, not ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 4:46pm -

October 1942. "A new B-25 bomber is brought for a test hop to the flight line at the Kansas City, Kansas, plant of North American Aviation." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Kansas, not California?The photo was more likely taken at the North American/Army aviation plant in Kansas City, KS (Fairfax) - not Long Beach as the caption says. The white horizontal strip in the background is a graveled levee along the Missouri River. The photo is probably taken near the old B-25 plant (NW of Fairfax Airport) with the plant to your left and looking north at the levee. The Fairfax B-25 plant was demolished years ago and the Fairfax airport closed and re-developed into a GM auto plant. Parts of this concrete apron are still there though. Darby Steel was busy building most of the LCTs to be used in WW2 just to the west of the Fairfax B-25 plant. KCK was a busy place in 1942. [Original LOC caption for this photo: "A fast, hard-hitting new A-20 attack bomber is brought for a test hop to the flight line at the Long Beach, Calif., plant of Douglas Aircraft Company." Evidently someone got their planes (and factories) confused. - Dave] For the record ...I did some more reading and the Darby facilities were apparently in the West Bottoms industrial district "south" of the Fairfax plant, where the Kaw River (Kansas River) joins the Missouri River, and not to the west of Fairfax. One of the Fairfax B-25s returned to KC a couple of weeks ago for an airshow at the Downtown Airport, across the river from Fairfax. One of the WASP ferry pilots showed up for a ride. http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1398087.html Aircraft TugWith all due respect to the B-25s, the real hero of this image is the innocuous little yellow aircraft tug. To this day, tugs like this are a fixture on civilian and military airfields, as well as on aircraft carriers. Its basic design has hardly changed for over 70 years and counting. Ahh, KodachromeI'm always so jealous when I see you've posted something from Kodachrome. That transparency probably looks as good as the day it was processed. What I'd give to be able to get some of the stuff for my 4x5. I'll just have to use up the two rolls of 25 speed I have before the end of next year. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Big Muddy: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. M3 Stuart A light tank, called the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 3:58pm -

Fort Knox, June 1942. "Light tank going through water obstacle." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. M3 StuartA light tank, called the Honey in Britain. Machine gun ports in the hull help distinguish this model, as well as the hexagonal commander's hatch. The M3A1 ditched the hull mounted side machine guns. At least this mudhole is shallow, one in France swallowed up a later M5 model in 1944. Kentucky MudI believe I drove through that very same obstacle in 1982 when I was learning to drive tanks. TankerMy dad went through Fort Knox for tank training about the same time this phot was taken. Could be him driving this very tank. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
Art Star: 1943
... 1943. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. I wonder about The date of the photo. I was under the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 12:42pm -

Touching up the U.S. Army Air Forces insignia on a "Vengeance" dive bomber manufactured at Consolidated-Vultee's Nashville division. February 1943. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. I wonder aboutThe date of the photo. I was under the impression that the "meatball" insignia (red ball in the white star) was dropped by US forces sometime in 1942. [This is one of 293 photographs in the Library of Congress archives taken by Alfred Palmer on his visit to the Consolidated-Vultee factory in Nashville in February 1943. - Dave] Curious then...because I checked the Naval Historical Center's page and they show that the insignia was changed to just a white star in May of '42. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq2-1.htm [Someone should show her that Web page. - Dave] Aircraft InsigniaThe subject of official aircraft insignia is somewhat complex. There are actually two different "rules" about insignia, one of which is no longer followed. However, at the time of this photo, the US Civilian Insignia was still this symbol while the US Military Insignia dropped the red ball so that there would be no confusion with Japanese markings. I assume these planes were considered "civilian" aircraft until the military took possession, hence the discrepancy in the marking. I cannot find that the US Civilian Insignia was ever changed (the military insignia was changed several times during WWII), but in 1947 it was made optional and no one uses it today. VengeanceThis looks like the wing of the aircraft instead of the side. Carrier planes had folding wings. [Could be. But the photographer's caption says "insignia on the side of the fuselage." - Dave] Vultee VigilantThat actually looks like it might be the fabric covered wing of a Vultee L-1 Vigilant. You can see the rib tapes and the metal leading edge and slat. The Vengance had metal wings. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
A Face in the Crowd: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. I could not find a single I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 10:15pm -

October 1942. "Thousands of North American Aviation employees at Inglewood, California, look skyward as the bomber and fighter planes they helped build perform overhead during a lunch period air show. This plant produces the battle-tested B-25 'Billy Mitchell' bomber, used in General Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, and the P-51 'Mustang' fighter plane, which was first brought into prominence by the British raid on Dieppe." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. I could not find a singleI could not find a single overweight person in this crowd. You would have a hard time taking such a photo in the USA these days! Come to think of it, I'm not sure I have seen overweight people on any Shorpy photos. I still thinkGreat picture!! Yet I still think the buttons are to apply for the job, and thats their number in line. They all look like they are waiting to go through the fence to the table on the other side. I'd bet this was a type of 'job fair' despite what the caption said. Theres so many of them dressed like individuals, not co-workers, if you know what I mean. [The caption is from the photographer and there's no reason to think he is wrong. In fact, people drinking and snacking indicates break time. -Ken] Gamblers VisorI bet the the man a "gamblers visor" is an accountant. They were used to prevent eye strain. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_eyeshade Repeat after meI will never complain about my crowded lunchroom again! Therewere no overweight people then, only the few naturally stout. No one had a potbelly or a fat face. I'm observing1. Only 2 men smoking and one man with a pipe. 2. The man with the pipe could be Norman Rockwell (looks like him a little). 3. The girl in red with her hand on her forehead is thinking "I could'a had a V8." 4. Why is the man to the extreme left wearing a gamblers visor? 5. Below "visor man" one of the few men wearing shades sports a Hitler mustache, which I think might not be considered a good idea during 1942. 6. Apparently the men wearing ties are the "management" and as apparent are together because the workers seem to not mingle with them. 7. The girl with the black coat and blue dress (in the middle of the picture) is beautiful. Great picture Dave, the clarity is outstanding. The more I look at this group the more I see...So many stories here. What do you suppose the yellow buttons with the numbers are for? Could they be their IQ? Or the number of friends they have? The fellow in the blue shirt who looks to be picking his nose doesn't seem to have a button. They are all have different numbers, as far as I can tell. A crude security badge? I love this shot. This picture looks like Norman Rockwell could have painted it. Classic. I love the pocket protectors, too. I can't believe I used them for so many years. [The buttons are ID badges similar to the one below, from a different photo. - Dave] Yellow buttonsI suspect that the yellow buttons are union membership badges... Try AgainCome to think of it, I'm not sure I have seen overweight people on any Shorpy photos. Here ya go: https://www.shorpy.com/webb-and-mother "I could not find a single"I could not find a single overweight person in this crowd." The fella to the left of thermos guy looks a little husky. Okay, 1. :-) The caption says they are on a break, but it appears that many that aren't looking at the camera are facing to the left, if not looking that way, as if they are waiting for something to happen on the other side of the fence. employee badgesI think those yellow buttons are employee ID badges. In the days before instant photos and laminated paper "nametags", numbered buttons were sometimes used. I have one from a cannery that looks similar to these. Hilarious! I frgot thatHilarious! I forgot that one. But seriously, can you imagine how different a present day photo of a couple hundred American factory workers would look? An alien viewing the two photos would probably think it was two different species. It was probably the more the active lifestyle that kept these people thin than the food. I have an old cookbook from the 50's and it seems every recipe back then started out with heaps of butter, lard or (gasp!) bacon fat. Clark GableCheck out Clark Gable next to the gal in the white spectacles! Every FaceI've been looking at every face to see if my maternal grandfather is in this crowd. He was born in 1898, served in the navy in WWI, and had 2 children when this photo was taken. I know only that he worked in an aircraft factory in Cowtown during the war...don't know which one. Something tells me he would't have been standing patiently by the gate while eating lunch...more likely he was running a craps game in the shade under the wing of the aircraft in the top left corner. Goober Pea SurpriseI'm surprised to see so many men of military age. Men of military age.The war, for America, was less than one year old when this picture was taken. Also, contrary to the myth, not every able-bodied American male felt compelled to run down to the recruiting center and enlist on 12/8/41. eventually, conscription was used to fill the ranks. Additionally, the physicians at induction centers were shocked by the effect of 10 years of hard economic depression on general health of American men. Many willing young recruits were turned away because they just weren't fit enough the stand the rigors of training and fighting. So many men of military ageIf you had a job that was vital to the war effort, such as building bombers, your draft classification was 2-A, "Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (except agriculture or activity in study)." Meaning, you were not going to be drafted. I know a lot of men who studied engineering in the 1960s so they could get jobs in the aerospace industry, to gain that deferment. Re: SurpriseI think these men were probably deferred from military draft because they were engaged in essential war work. The deferred classifications for occupational status were: II-A Men necessary in their civilian activity II-B Men necessary to national defense II-C Men necessary to farm labor No fat peopleWhere are all the fat folks?, there are none. I've noticed this in photos that predate 1960, everyone looks like they're the right weight. We can assume they all smoked like chimneys and got lots of bad diseases like TB, rickets and other things we'd consider less of a health problem today. Nevertheless it's scary to think that an entire society has become so inclined towards obesity in less than 60 years. Just about the time TV hit the mainstream and car ownership skyrocketed. Coincidence? Consolidated Fort WorthI like this photo - I just wish we could see more, since I actually work at this plant now. 6. Apparently the men wearing ties are the "management" and as apparent are together because the workers seem to not mingle with them. They look like engineers to me. There are more jobs than aircraft assembly. The caption says they are on a break, but it appears that many that aren't looking at the camera are facing to the left, if not looking that way, as if they are waiting for something to happen on the other side of the fence. It's possible they were watching something or several somethings take off. The plant is side by side with the runway, and planes still take off and land all the time. I'm used to seeing F-16s and C-130s, but I'm wouldn't turn my back if I'm just standing there on break. Aircraft workersMy dad worked in aircraft factories before and during the war. At one point he was called up for service, and the examiner noticed he could only see out of one eye. Told him he'd be of more use to the country building airplanes. When America was youngI notice there's hardly any gray hair in this photo. Though I'm in Florida, at my place of work (a building with hundreds of employees), people without any gray hair are a minority. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2)
Mustang Ranch: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Mustangs Beautiful! Being the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:36pm -

October 1942. P-51 "Mustang" fighter planes being prepared for test flight near the North American Aviation plant in Inglewood, California. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. MustangsBeautiful! Being the end of 1942 these would be examples of the original Allsion-engined Mustangs. The Mustang at the left of the photo......that's marked "FD-533" would seem to be the former 41-37435 that was transferred to the RAF. If so, that particular plane was lost on a tactical reconnaissance mission on 26 September 1943. Allison-engined, that is.Allison-engined, that is. These early Mustangs also have the straight canopy that pre-dated the bubble canopy that was installed on the D models. MustangsGreat picture of one of my favorite WW II planes, I would love to fly in one. Oh, by the way uncle Ignatz is still staring at me and anyone else on your blog, with that wonderful happy smile!!! I think he likes it here!! CoolantMy uncle worked on these during the war. He told me that they ran straight antifreeze for coolant. MustangsNotice the long fairings for guns, 2 for each wing. These are original Mustang I's, armed with two 20 mm Hispano cannons per wing. They were only shipped to Britain, and mounted the Allison engine. With the heavier armament and engines tuned for lower altitudes, they did not impress the Brits at all. Once the beautiful airframe was matched with the outstanding British Merlin engine, one of the wars premier fighters was born. MustangsThese aren't "original" Mustang Mark I's, but rather Mark IA's, USAAF equivalent is P-51 (no alpha suffix ). Mk. I's had two .50 calilber MG's under the chin and a .50 caliber and two .303's in each wing, for a total of eight. They were exported for use by RAF and RCAF. The four 20mm Hispano was, as you have mentioned, on the P-51/Mk. IA. "Mustang Ranch"I get it. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Empty Calories: 1942
... Aircraft Company, Long Beach." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Delicious ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/31/2017 - 9:02pm -

        "Nothing for me, thanks." October 1942. "Girl worker at lunch also absorbing California sunshine, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Delicious air!1. This is how she stays so slim and trim. (I envy her long, tanned legs!) 2. Now we know how she stretched her wartime coffee ration to the end of the month... Sunblock requiredA few minutes in that location could get you toasted. FantasticWhat a great, tack-sharp photo! Nice subject, too. Good old Kodachrome!There's nothing like it. It's as if you can step right into that picture. Woman not a girlHow refreshing it would be to see her called a woman and not a girl. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Pretty Girls, WW2)
War Machine: 1942
... Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. 1942 That was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/29/2017 - 11:05pm -

October 1942. "The careful hands of women are trained in precise aircraft engine installation duties at Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. 1942That was when we were one nation, indivisible, fighting for our freedom. Perhaps Congress should give some thought to that considering todays worldly forays. Jim This picture looks posed.This picture looks posed. Also, The color photography looks very modern? PosedThat's because these pictures were posed. They were all done for the Office of War Information and were used as as the basis for posters for recruitment, bond drives, etc. The reflex cameras and large-format (4x5) Kodachromes that were used to make these pictures are at least the equal of today's professional camera equipment, and superior to any consumer digital camera. B-17?Since it says Long Beach I suppose it's a B-17. What you miss of course is the new airplane smell. Douglas A-20 HavocPretty sure this is a Douglas A-20 Havoc. Douglas B-26This is a Douglas B-26 Marauder. My dad was a flight engineer on them during WWII. The B-17 was made by Boeing in Seattle. Douglas A-20FlyTexas nailed it. It's not a B-26 as those planes had Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines. It's not a B-17 as they has single row Wright R-1820 engines centered in the wings. The A-20 had twin row Wright Cyclone R-2600 engines slung beneath the wing as shown here. The North American B-25 was similarly powered, but I believe they never built those in Douglas plants. Production versions of the B-25 also had a wing that was kinked at the engine nacelle. Blade Types Identify itThe registration numbers identify these as Hamilton Standard Hydromatic Propeller Blades Type 6353. Those were used only on PBY Catalinas and A-20 Havoc/Bostons. B-26's used Type 6359, B-25's used 6359A, and B-17's 6477. (Ain't the internet an amazing thing?) (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
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