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.

.

Seaman_Hornsby · 11-03-07, 02:42 PM

Nice work, man!

How about black and white for "realism?"

Elder-Pirate · 11-03-07, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaman_Hornsby

Nice work, man!

How about black and white for "realism?"

Why? There has been color film since the thirties ( actually around 1906 was the start http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1041889 ) but black & white was more popular at the time. I've some personal color photo's my dad took in 1944 at Guam. These are not my Dad's WWII films but check this site out: http://www.ww2incolor.com/chart1.html
I'm pretty sure the Japanese had color film at that time also.
In reality there is too much B&W film used today referring to older times. Maybe people that use B&W today trying to show older days do not realize everything was in color since we have known the planet was born. LOL
TV today is so full of B&W ads and the showing of old times when it's just not necessary. Useing color to show this would sure be more appreciated. I think anyone could tell the times in the past just judging by their clothes, cars, etc.
Heck even some hospital X-Rays are in color now.
It's 2007 people, treat it so.

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.

Seaman_Hornsby · 11-03-07, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elder-Pirate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaman_Hornsby

Nice work, man!

How about black and white for "realism?"

Why? There has been color film since the thirties

Oh, I know there was plenty of color film floating around, I have a few books of such pictures on the ol' bookshelf here at home. I didn't mind the color used here, I was more thinking out loud about the possibility of b&w and some graininess thrown in to add "drama." Just a thought.

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?

Rockin Robbins · 11-03-07, 05:50 PM

The unexpected. It's a legitimate part of war, and when we find it here should we be dismayed? I think it's a well-executed story with some poignant observations highlighting some of the normally unexplored emotional effects of war. The story says that war is not a football game where you just cheer for your team. There is misery enough for all. Great job!

SteamWake · 11-04-07, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maerean_m

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?

I have to agree here... sorry Stevo...

What I want to know is how in the hell did he get those camera angles ! :p

bookworm_020 · 11-05-07, 02:45 AM

I can't see them!

Guess my computer isn't up to it!

SteamWake · 11-05-07, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

I can't see them!

Guess my computer isn't up to it!

Most likely a firewall issue.

jazman · 11-05-07, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elder-Pirate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaman_Hornsby

Nice work, man!

How about black and white for "realism?"

Why? There has been color film since the thirties ( actually around 1906 was the start http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1041889 ) but black & white was more popular at the time. I've some personal color photo's my dad took in 1944 at Guam. These are not my Dad's WWII films but check this site out: http://www.ww2incolor.com/chart1.html
I'm pretty sure the Japanese had color film at that time also.
In reality there is too much B&W film used today referring to older times. Maybe people that use B&W today trying to show older days do not realize everything was in color since we have known the planet was born.

This reminds me of the Calvin and Hobbes strip (note: this is text only, use your imagination):

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1100879

Quote:

CALVIN: Dad, how come old photographs are always black and white? Didn't they have color film back then?

CALVIN'S DAD: Sure they did. In fact, those old photographs are in color. It's just the world was black and white then.

CALVIN: Really?

CALVIN'S DAD: Yep. The world didn't turn color until sometime in the 1930s, and it was pretty grainy color for a while, too.

CALVIN: That's really weird.

CALVIN'S DAD: Well, truth is stranger than fiction.

CALVIN: But then why are old paintings in color?! If the world was black and white, wouldn't artists have painted it that way?

CALVIN'S DAD: Not necessarily, a lot of great artists were insane.

CALVIN: But ... but how could they have painted in color anyway? Wouldn't their paints have been shades of gray back then?

CALVIN'S DAD: Of course, but they turned colors like everything else in the '30s.

CALVIN: So why didn't old black and white photos turn color too?

CALVIN'S DAD: Because they were color pictures of black and white, remember?

(CUT TO: EXT. Tree limb, Calvin talking with Hobbes)

CALVIN: The world is a complicated place, Hobbes.

HOBBES: Whenever it seems that way, I take a nap in a tree and wait for dinner.

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.

11-03-07, 05:50 PM	#11
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Great job! The unexpected. It's a legitimate part of war, and when we find it here should we be dismayed? I think it's a well-executed story with some poignant observations highlighting some of the normally unexplored emotional effects of war. The story says that war is not a football game where you just cheer for your team. There is misery enough for all. Great job! __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

11-05-07, 02:45 AM	#13
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I can't see them! Guess my computer isn't up to it! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"