Never seen before in public – 8mm WW2 footage of the 325th Fighter Group
The following footage was filmed by Flight Surgeon Lt. Col. Morris Grayson, MD, who served with the 325th Fighter Group
“The Checkertail Clan” during WW2.
The film was last viewed at some point before 1971 by his friends and family and soon after they were placed in a drawer at the family home and lay there, undisturbed, effectively forgotten.
Morris Grayson passed away in 1971.
In 2015 his son Fred Grayson found the films and then transferred the footage to video and sent it to me to use if required for the third and final part of my Checkertails films, which I subsequently did.
Where the footage is over-exposed I have done my best to recover any detail that may exist and so apologies in advance if the following video isn’t perfect for everyone watching it.
The first few clips are the only known footage that survives from their time in North Africa where they flew P-40’s
I have put the video into sections starting with footage captured on and around the bases and finishing with footage captured in various locations where Morris took his camera during
his time away from the base.
Sadly there is no documentation with the footage and as such most of the individuals and events shown are unknown, as are the locations where they were filmed.
For the first time since 1971 this film is now available to view , this time not just by close friends but all who wish to view it.
This is “The Lost Film of the Checkertail Clan”
By: Flying_Pencil - 22nd January 2018 at 23:53
OK, edited my post above will all the nasty sausage making details of my adventure in film conversion.
A bit of additional news:
Besides the short clips of RAF Spitfires and Halifax’s (yes, with black underbellies), there is a 4 second clip of an Farman F.2200 F-AOXE!!
One of only 4 F.2200, this is quite a find. I think it is Algiers, and pretty certain it is 1943!
A pic I found on net.
https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac5/ROW%20Europe/F-AOXE%20Farman%202200.jpg
By: Aviart - 19th January 2018 at 16:33
Just some searches. Although there were differing opinions as to whether it was an E-1 or E-2 from what I could see so I only included the “E” designation… 🙂
By: Flying_Pencil - 19th January 2018 at 15:15
Former Croat Do17E, WNr.2095 sent to America after the war to be tested as FE-2000. Scrapped in 1946.
WOW! where you find that!
Looked all over for that info.
….edit add…
Been a while since I was looking for that info, like at least a year.
More like I was using wrong search query, FE-2000 was getting limited results at time.
This post did not mention is US designation.
By: Aviart - 19th January 2018 at 07:43
Former Croat Do17E, WNr.2095 sent to America after the war to be tested as FE-2000. Scrapped in 1946.
By: Flying_Pencil - 18th January 2018 at 23:35
Gotta upload what I have on this.
I was informed the film was originally digitized by Costco (big warehouse store), and it is utter crap, but at least something!
That Dornier is really quite surprising! Are we sure that is what it is?
Yes.
FE means Foreign Evaluation – not an airfield in the US
Correct. Discovered that later. Mystic copied over an earlier message to him.
[HR][/HR]
OK, added some still from the film (1/22):
Lt. Col. Morris Grayson (MD. was a doctor post war)
Images in order:
Our HERO himself (use a WET method)
Morris in his office (also WET)
A still of the VLC (VERY low cost) film digitizing (COSTCO store)
Still from a PROFESSIONAL company using a DRY method in HD resolution (1080p) ProRes 422! Not only image much sharper, but much more of image seen!!
Comparison of a DRY and WET scanning technique. YES, this is the same frame!! (find the dots)
Another comparison of the Band of Brothers, WET vs DRY.
DRY??
WET???
My years of researching I discovered there are 2 methods of feeding the film though the telecine.
DRY is as you guess, running though the “gate” (the window the light projects though) in dry condition.
WET the film enters a liquid applicator coating the film in some clear liquid (glycol?) before entering the gate. This fills in the cracks and scratch of the film so the light does not have distortion as it passes though film. The liquid immediately evaporates.
WET had down side: sharpness is lost and so is some light intensity. Dark scenes in film become very dark.
The WET company also applied some digital enhancement, making the result better.
If the film was in better condition, then DRY scanning is better, but this on clearly needed a WET process.
Some day soon will post about my adventures in this.
Companies:
WET by Posthouse
DRY by MyMovieTransfer
Both USA, and both have superb customer service!
By: DaveM2 - 16th January 2018 at 02:18
FE means Foreign Evaluation – not an airfield in the US
By: adrian_gray - 15th January 2018 at 22:58
I’m pretty sure that the Dornier turned up in a small photo in Flypast in the last couple fo years.
Love the way the chap climbing into a P47 has to mountaineer up the side.
Adrian
By: Mysticpuma - 15th January 2018 at 21:52
I got the following information about the Dornier from FlyingPencil:
“I am researching the Dornier Do 17 aircraft, and the film showing this aircraft is invaluable to piece together lost history.
To be sure all that I have seen is fantastic, to see in color what is normally black and white!
However my resources force me to my subject (Do 17).
It is a Do 17E model, a light bomber built by Dornier in the mid 1930’s. It uses 2 BMW VI engines.
It was said it came from Croatia, but other locations possible.
Designad FE-2000 by the USAAF and nicknamed Axis Sally (after the notorious radio broad-caster).
Actually, not sure what came first, as the FE is an airfield in USA, so code was likely assigned after it was shipped to USA.
Fate is unknown.”
By: Beermat - 15th January 2018 at 21:27
That Dornier is really quite surprising! Are we sure that is what it is?
By: Ant.H - 15th January 2018 at 20:34
A very interesting film, a great shame some of it isn’t in the best condition. The most surprising thing aircraft-wise for me is the bright yellow Do17E in US markings at 32.45, never seen that one before.
Thanks for sharing the link.
By: trumper - 15th January 2018 at 17:56
:applause: Thank you for posting this.It brings to life the history and the very basic conditions they served in .
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January 15, 2018 at 5:22 pm