Rare photos found of Taichu Maru sinking Sept '43

Quagmire · 11-03-07, 12:49 AM

A Japanese youth discovered a series of rare photographs taken by his grandfather aboard the Taichu Maru during WWII. His grandfather was a sailor on board the Taichu Maru when it was sunk by the USS Balao in September of 1943. The freighter was enroute to Iwo Jima from Tokyo and its demise occurred just north of Chi Chi Jima. The boys grandfather was a life long photography enthusiast and it was said he always had his camera with him. He captured the sinking from before the first torpedo strike to his time in the lifeboat. His work follows below...

While shooting a beautiful sunset the first torpedo was captured seconds before impact.

This photograph was snapped as the surviving sailors waited to board the remaining lifeboats. The carnage on the deck was caused by the blast of the second torpedo.

The captain of the Taichu Maru looks on as his ship sinks.

The USS Balao surfaces remarkably close to finish off the ship with its deck gun. The Japanese crew defiantly ignores their enemy and does not ask for rescue.

Another example of Japanese defiance as the crew continues to ignore their enemy.

The USS Balao finished off the Taichu Maru with its deck gun and then slipped beneath the waves. The Americans left the crew of the freighter to the sea. Fortunately a Japanese patrol aircraft responded to the distress call sent before all power was lost. The floatplane landed near the lifeboats and rescued the crew. All crew members returned to the merchant marine but only the boys grandfather survived the war...
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maerean_m · 11-03-07, 07:17 AM

Sailor Steve · 11-03-07, 12:24 PM

Are the two existing photo threads broken?

I thought we would see a real, rare photo.

maerean_m · 11-03-07, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I thought we would see a real, rare photo.

you do

Quagmire · 11-03-07, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maerean_m

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I thought we would see a real, rare photo.

you do

Maerean, you rock!

Thanks for the compliments on my little short story. This sim has unlimited potential as to what can be done with the 3D environment.

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Seaman_Hornsby · 11-03-07, 02:42 PM

Nice work, man!

How about black and white for "realism?"

Sailor Steve · 11-03-07, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maerean_m

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I thought we would see a real, rare photo.

you do

No, I don't.

What I do see is some excellent work, and I applaud it. It is just my opinion that it didn't need its own new thread.

maerean_m · 11-03-07, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It is just my opinion that it didn't need its own new thread.

It's the separate thread that created the emotion of "hey, lets see those unique photos". It wouldn't have had half the effect if he would have posted on the regular thread, isn't it?

11-03-07, 12:49 AM	#1
Quagmire Watch Officer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 335 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Rare photos found of Taichu Maru sinking Sept '43 A Japanese youth discovered a series of rare photographs taken by his grandfather aboard the Taichu Maru during WWII. His grandfather was a sailor on board the Taichu Maru when it was sunk by the USS Balao in September of 1943. The freighter was enroute to Iwo Jima from Tokyo and its demise occurred just north of Chi Chi Jima. The boys grandfather was a life long photography enthusiast and it was said he always had his camera with him. He captured the sinking from before the first torpedo strike to his time in the lifeboat. His work follows below... While shooting a beautiful sunset the first torpedo was captured seconds before impact. This photograph was snapped as the surviving sailors waited to board the remaining lifeboats. The carnage on the deck was caused by the blast of the second torpedo. The captain of the Taichu Maru looks on as his ship sinks. The USS Balao surfaces remarkably close to finish off the ship with its deck gun. The Japanese crew defiantly ignores their enemy and does not ask for rescue. Another example of Japanese defiance as the crew continues to ignore their enemy. The USS Balao finished off the Taichu Maru with its deck gun and then slipped beneath the waves. The Americans left the crew of the freighter to the sea. Fortunately a Japanese patrol aircraft responded to the distress call sent before all power was lost. The floatplane landed near the lifeboats and rescued the crew. All crew members returned to the merchant marine but only the boys grandfather survived the war... . __________________ The day publishers figured out that they could sell flashy first person shooters to teenagers in numbers greater than sand on a beach was the day that quality simulations died. --Col. Tibbets UBI SHIV Forums I guess they should have made SH4 an open boat where we run around inside and shoot each other a 1000 times. They seem to handle those games with numerous patches. --Longam UBI SHIV Forums A sad day has dawned...

11-03-07, 07:17 AM	#2
maerean_m Captain Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 529 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	__________________ Kilroy was here

11-03-07, 12:24 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Are the two existing photo threads broken? I thought we would see a real, rare photo. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

11-03-07, 02:42 PM	#6
Seaman_Hornsby Engineer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 203 Downloads: 71 Uploads: 0	Nice work, man! How about black and white for "realism?" __________________ Friends, when once a man is launched on such an adventure as this, he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honor and his reason.