Operation Crossroads Training Photo – The Enola Gay and Top Secret in Roswell, New Mexico 1946

January 5, 2012 / portraitsofwar / 1 Comment

Not sure if I’ve posted this image before, but thought that now would be a good time to add some aviation related color slides from my personal collection. A jackpot of an ebay find a few months back turned out to contain original color images of the 509th Composite Group training in Roswell, New Mexico prior to the Operation Crossroads testing. I have other images from this grouping, as well as some original paper material related to the 509th posted to this blog. Please enjoy this first (and one my favorites) image of the Enola Gay and some other B-29’s of the 509th lined up at Roswell. Not sure who the crew member is, but I’m glad the photographer missed the focus on this one!

WWII Photo Negatives Capture the Fall of Germany – POW Photos

December 31, 2011January 1, 2012 / portraitsofwar / Leave a comment

The myriad of uniform variations and service branches in the following images is a reminder of the chaotic nature of the late war in Germany. A member of the 9th Armored Division snapped a series of two dozen images of captured German soldiers. I’ve chosen a small selection to share here. These medium format negatives scan with great quality.

June 1946 Operation Crossroads ORIGINAL Newsletter – 509th Composite Group – 58th Wing – Atomic Blast

September 20, 2011October 3, 2011 / portraitsofwar / Leave a comment

The WWII Nose Art of Hal Olsen – U.S. Navy Mechanic on Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateers

September 9, 2011 / portraitsofwar / 10 Comments

I recently had the esteemed pleasure of acquiring two nose art photos of PB4Y-2 airplanes. Using the power of the internet, I was able to look up the two planes, the Green Cherries, and the Lady Luck II. With a bit of luck I tracked down the name of the original artist. Hal Olsen painted over 100 nose art pin-up ladies on various planes in the PTO. He charged $50 per painting and eventually used the money to enter formal art school and travel with his wife. Having tracked him down, I wrote him a nice letter asking for his autograph and promising that I would send along some copies of my photos. They go out in the mail tomorrow! For now, check out the shots and the nice card he sent me.

Thanks Hal!