The fate of soldiers, sailors, airmen, et al., in stock footage photos

Torvald Von Mansee · 03-30-12, 04:12 PM

Whenever I see stock footage (typically WW2), I frequently wonder: what happened to the people I am seeing? Examples include: the various 101st paratroopers Eisenhower visited before D-Day, the three guys coming ashore on Omaha and the guy on the far left falling (you see the bullet impacts around him

), or the landing craft full of Commonwealth soldiers about to land on Gold, where one guy is being patted on the back by his friend just before the door/ramp opens. I don't even really need to try to describe this scenes beyond this bare information, as I'm sure they're scenes we've all seen innumerable times, before.

When I do know what happened, it's usually not for the better. An example of this would be the B-24 (viewed from 1030 high) being hit near the root of the port wing by either flak or possible ordinance dropped by a bomber higher up in the formation, the wing buckling, and the Liberator falling to earth. I heard no one got out. Another example would be footage of a Tiger rolling around among hedgerows. I recognized Michael Wittmann as the commander, and thus realized this was likely from a newsreel crowing about he and his crew's achievements of 13 June '44 at Villers-Bocage. I know at the very least Wittmann would be dead inside of two months, though I know some of his crew from the Villers-Bocage action were reassigned before he was killed.

So, what are some ways to find out what happened? Do any of you know anything?

EDIT: subject line - there should be a hyphen between footage and photos

Why can't we change this ourselves?

Sailor Steve · 03-30-12, 08:20 PM

Good questions, and ones I've never considered. I'm not sure how easy it would be to find any answers, but some of them must be available.

As to editing the thread title, I don't know why we can't.

Oberon · 03-30-12, 08:32 PM

When I see footage of lads going over the top in the First World War...I try very hard not to think of their fate...

Stealhead · 03-30-12, 08:58 PM

Fate is fate I would say obviously not every last one died in the ensuring battle over the top.My step father he had a great uncle this man managed to survive WWI just fine only to die in the influenza pandemic in 1920.

I have seen in books about the Australian military in WWII they seem to have kept very good records as in some books they say the fate of every man in each photo(at least the ones that died in battle at some point).

Never put much thought to it to be honest not for lack of caring though I just have the view that your fate is your fate may as well embrace it and keep on going about you life be you in a war or driving down the road you life might come to an end at any time.Many people that have survived combat and extended combat also feel that luck certainly played a part in their surviving sometimes you are the one that the enemy did not notice or something else was in your favor.Others like E.B Sledge said that they actually heard a voice or had an undeniable feeling that let them know that they where going to survive.

You can probably find out more than you might think though for example the B-24 you mention you could find out what unit it was a part and even the date of the mission though it can be hard to saw they may have been listed as MIA.Others like Whittman probably had it coming seeing as the amount of combat many Germans saw the odds of getting killed really go up and Whittman was in an action that got a lot of attention from allied assets which sealed his fate.And that to me was a weakness of the Germans they had too much faith in highly skilled people and overly complex weapons two things that will harm you in a war of attrition where numbers is the factor that wins.

magic452 · 03-31-12, 12:35 AM

I have often though the same thing watching these shows What ever happened to these guys and did they survive.

Well one time I did know or at least may have known.

A very long time ago I was watching some WWII show about Patton's drive through France. There were two guys standing in front of a tank and the interviewer ask their names, something almost never done unless the person was some sort of a top ranking officer. One of them was a Joe Brady. One of my friends in school was a Jerry Brady and his father was a tank commander under Patton. Might be coincidence but I'll always think that Joe was Jerry's father. He did survive by the way.

Magic

Jimbuna · 03-31-12, 06:47 AM

When I look at photos and movie footage of those who are killed I tend to think of their relatives and what they must be going through as they view the same material and recognise the victims.

03-30-12, 04:12 PM	#1
Torvald Von Mansee Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA4528 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	The fate of soldiers, sailors, airmen, et al., in stock footage photos Whenever I see stock footage (typically WW2), I frequently wonder: what happened to the people I am seeing? Examples include: the various 101st paratroopers Eisenhower visited before D-Day, the three guys coming ashore on Omaha and the guy on the far left falling (you see the bullet impacts around him ), or the landing craft full of Commonwealth soldiers about to land on Gold, where one guy is being patted on the back by his friend just before the door/ramp opens. I don't even really need to try to describe this scenes beyond this bare information, as I'm sure they're scenes we've all seen innumerable times, before. When I do know what happened, it's usually not for the better. An example of this would be the B-24 (viewed from 1030 high) being hit near the root of the port wing by either flak or possible ordinance dropped by a bomber higher up in the formation, the wing buckling, and the Liberator falling to earth. I heard no one got out. Another example would be footage of a Tiger rolling around among hedgerows. I recognized Michael Wittmann as the commander, and thus realized this was likely from a newsreel crowing about he and his crew's achievements of 13 June '44 at Villers-Bocage. I know at the very least Wittmann would be dead inside of two months, though I know some of his crew from the Villers-Bocage action were reassigned before he was killed. So, what are some ways to find out what happened? Do any of you know anything? EDIT: subject line - there should be a hyphen between footage and photos Why can't we change this ourselves? __________________ "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you" - Leon Trotsky

03-30-12, 08:20 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Good questions, and ones I've never considered. I'm not sure how easy it would be to find any answers, but some of them must be available. As to editing the thread title, I don't know why we can't. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-31-12, 12:35 AM	#5
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I have often though the same thing watching these shows What ever happened to these guys and did they survive. Well one time I did know or at least may have known. A very long time ago I was watching some WWII show about Patton's drive through France. There were two guys standing in front of a tank and the interviewer ask their names, something almost never done unless the person was some sort of a top ranking officer. One of them was a Joe Brady. One of my friends in school was a Jerry Brady and his father was a tank commander under Patton. Might be coincidence but I'll always think that Joe was Jerry's father. He did survive by the way. Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l

03-31-12, 06:47 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	When I look at photos and movie footage of those who are killed I tend to think of their relatives and what they must be going through as they view the same material and recognise the victims. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-30-12, 08:32 PM	#3
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	When I see footage of lads going over the top in the First World War...I try very hard not to think of their fate...

03-30-12, 08:58 PM	#4
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Fate is fate I would say obviously not every last one died in the ensuring battle over the top.My step father he had a great uncle this man managed to survive WWI just fine only to die in the influenza pandemic in 1920. I have seen in books about the Australian military in WWII they seem to have kept very good records as in some books they say the fate of every man in each photo(at least the ones that died in battle at some point). Never put much thought to it to be honest not for lack of caring though I just have the view that your fate is your fate may as well embrace it and keep on going about you life be you in a war or driving down the road you life might come to an end at any time.Many people that have survived combat and extended combat also feel that luck certainly played a part in their surviving sometimes you are the one that the enemy did not notice or something else was in your favor.Others like E.B Sledge said that they actually heard a voice or had an undeniable feeling that let them know that they where going to survive. You can probably find out more than you might think though for example the B-24 you mention you could find out what unit it was a part and even the date of the mission though it can be hard to saw they may have been listed as MIA.Others like Whittman probably had it coming seeing as the amount of combat many Germans saw the odds of getting killed really go up and Whittman was in an action that got a lot of attention from allied assets which sealed his fate.And that to me was a weakness of the Germans they had too much faith in highly skilled people and overly complex weapons two things that will harm you in a war of attrition where numbers is the factor that wins.