For the Aviation Fans

<p>Hallo Rick,<br>

thanks for the beautiful photographs. Photo number 8, the quadruple Browning .50 machine gun, brought about something of a nostalgic feeling. When I was in the army here in Holland (1976) we used these things, although back then they were already approximately 40 years old and something of an antique rather than a modern weapon...</p>

Are you quite sure, Rick, that what photo #8 is showing is something for the aviation fans?<br>And though it appears to try very hard (it even disguised itself as a chicken), i'm not sure that tank will be able to fly.

<p>Thanks for the comments! Specifically: They don't offer rides on the days of the show, <strong>Les</strong>, but many of the planes are available on other weekends for a joyride. I took a turn in a Harvard a while ago, and really enjoyed myself. Also, the camera in the video you've posted sound pretty much like mine, though the film wind has a ratchety sort of sound that's not so apparent in my copies but it could just be in the recording. <strong>Tony</strong>, that's pretty much all that was worth posting from the one film before things became a little repetitious. I'll never use a TL again without being reminded of you...</p>

<p>You're quite right, <strong>Q.G</strong>., #8 is more for the anti-aviation fans. As for the tank, it seems that aviation buffs are usually interested in military matters, and who can resist a hint from <strong>JDM</strong>, knowing his ongoing interest in tanks of various kinds? Incidentally, did you know that the military tank got it's name after the first examples were shipped from England to the battlefields of Europe, disguised in large wooden containers boldly marked "<strong>Tanks</strong>"? After all, they were a secret weapon... And thank you<strong> Allard</strong>, <strong>Pete</strong>,<strong> Mike</strong>, <strong>Rick</strong>, <strong>Paulo</strong>, <strong>Colin</strong>, <strong>Charles</strong>,<strong> Ed</strong> and <strong>Craig</strong> for your contributions.</p>

<p>Pleasantly captured warbirds and militaria.<br /><br />The M45 Maxson quad .50 anti-aircraft gun, complete with tombstones is one vicious piece of work. They don't call it the "Meat chopper" and "Kraut Mower" for nothing. <br /><br />AA-Elements of the 2nd US Armored Division used these as close-in defense during 'Death Night' on the 29th/30th of July 1944 near St.Denis-le-Gast in France, desperatly fighting off an assault by determined German paratroopers.</p>

Not a military buff myself, i didn't know about the name, no. Thanks Rick. For a moment i thought you were going to explain they were all called "spring chicken" and why. ;-)<br><br>Les, protecting airplanes by spraying a high speed shower of metal bits at other airplanes will still harm airplanes, right?<br><br>This thread is taking a scary turn, from a nice Yashica and beautiful Anson to vicious weaponry mowing down creatures of flesh (nah... let's call it 'meat') and blood. What cameras would those people have used, Rick (van Nooij)?

<p>According to Jorge Lewinsky, towards May 1945 roughly every one in two GI's ended up with a camera; bought, stolen or traded. So I think pretty much any contemporary camera was used. <br /><br /><br /><br /></p>

Would be interesting to see how setting foot on continental European soil changed the allied forces' 'camera pool'. But with most liberated cameras going to 'private' hands, probably not something that can be discovered.<br>Where did they get film? Was there a regular supply from the homecountries?<br><br>Anyway, that's also not something for aviation fans. Sorry!

<p>Rick, a wonderful post. I have the same camera and it too is a good performer. The only drawback is that the exposure lever takes a lot of force to get a reading.</p>

<p>Good work with a nice camera, Rick, and quite interesting. I've never seen AA at an airshow before. One could settle the above dispute about it by noting that if these are mostly Allied planes, and it's an American AA gun, then "it's on our side," so indeed something for fans of the aviation in question. :)<br>

Rick, have you got some kind of drought going on down there, or is the field always so dry? That might make things easier for the airplanes, but not for life in general...<br>

<em>--Dave</em></p>

<p>Interesting debate; thanks for the information regarding the Maxson, <strong>Rick</strong>; you would have enjoyed the military display, with what was apparently a world record number of about 30 Bren Gun carriers assembled on one spot. An investigation into the cameras used by the soldiers of WWII and their film could make a fascinating post... Thanks,<strong> Dave</strong>, it's not quite a drought, but close to it. Typically, the countryside looks like this at this time of the year, an overall golden brown in the summer heat, and farming life is geared to cope with the dry summer conditions. You're right <strong>Randy</strong>, those stop-down levers can be sticky, on many models and brands of cameras, and I suspect they don't improve with age. The Prakticas have some of the best, a good springy lever operated with the tip of the right index finger, adjacent to the shutter release.</p>

<p> Last year I managed to get a flight on a 1936 Ju 52 aircraft from Stuttgart am Main to Muenster in Germany. I took my 1928 Leica and we flew over the Leitz factory at Wetzlar so my camera returned home. Here is one of the shots I took. It could almost be the 1930s.<br>

In the UK the Spitfire is regarded as the aircraft to see, and the Mustang uses the Packard version of the Merlin that powered the Spitfire.<br>

Airshows are perfect for photography</p>

<p>Pic which should have gone with message.</p><div></div>

<p>I have a repair manual for the TL Electro X <strong>Tony</strong>. Sing out if you want a copy of it. NZ really punches above its weight when it comes to classic aeroplanes <strong>Rick</strong>. Your excellent images leave me in no doubt of that.</p>

Wow.. what a great assebly of flying machines.. your images are great! The TL does well .. I have wanted

one of those Tamioka 1.4s for some time now!