Photography and airplanes came together in WWI when aerial cameras were used to shoot photographs for intelligence and surveillance of battlefield and enemy positions. A few years later the British Royal Flying Corps started outfitting fighting planes with cameras used to record the effectiveness of machine gun fire.
Still from gun camera film shot by Flight Lieutenant A G “Sailor” Malan, leader of ‘A’ Flight, No. 74 Squadron RAF, recording his first aerial victory, a Heinkel He 111 over Dunkirk. | Credit: Flight Lieutenant A G “Sailor” MalanThe Lewis machine gun was a common aerial weapon in WWI. After the war, the British created a gun camera based on this weapon. | Source: http://bit.ly/2GUv6mzGun cameras also recorded the effectiveness of staffing attacks. | Source: http://bit.ly/2CUrnTP
By WWII all the different air forces had adopted the use of camera guns. These were synced to machine buns and cannon – when the trigger of a weapon was pulled this also caused the camera to begin recording. This created a visual record of the effectiveness of bullets or canon shells on enemy aircraft or staffing of enemy positions.
Another version of the Lewis based gun camera. | Source: http://bit.ly/2HV8zrb
The gun camera footage that survives today has been used in countless movies and TV shows. Gun cameras are also used extensively to record “combat” in simulated dog fight scenarios presented by a number of services that give individuals the experience of what air to air fighting is all about.
SOME SURVIVING GUN CAMERA FOOTAGE
AIR TO AIR
AIR TO GROUND
AFGHANISTAN A-10 GUN CAMERA
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Bill Dobbins is a pro photographer located in Los Angeles. He is a veteran photographer and videographer who has exhibited his fine art in two museums and a number of galleries and who has published eight books, including two fine art photo books:
The gun camera is trigger automatically when the pilot fires his machine guns or cannon. | Source: http://bit.ly/2CTiKZuUS Army Air Forces AN-N6 Lackner Gun Camera WW2 16mm | Source: http://bit.ly/2GYDiCo
March 02, 2018
About the Author
Bill Dobbins
Bill Dobbins THE BODY PHOTOGAPHER became well known for his male and female physique photos - images of the aesthetic, athletic body.
Using the same distinctive personal style, characterized by strong graphics and a classic look in both color and BW, Bill Dobbins has also developed a body of work featuring fashion, beauty and glamor photos In a world in which so many images create a level of "noise" that makes it hard for advertisers to be noticed, Bill's work cuts right through the confusion and grabs the eye.
Bill has created two art photos books: The Women: Photographs of the Top Female Bodybuilders (Artisan) and Modern Amazons (Taschen) and his fine art work has appeared in two museums and several galleries.
WEBSITES
BILL DOBBINS PHOTOGRAPHY
www.billdobbinsphotography.com
BILL DOBBINS ART
www.billdobbinsart.com
THE FEMALE PHYSIQUE WEBZINE/GALLERY
www.billdobbins.com
EMAIL: billdobbinsphoto@gmail.com
