120 Original WW2 Strike Photos Rabaul Raid Nov 1943 by B-25s 345th 38th 3rd BGs For Sale

120 Original WW2 Strike Photos Rabaul Raid Nov 1943 by B-25s 345th 38th 3rd BGs
Over one hundred and twenty (120) WWII aerial photos, known as \"Strike\" photos, taken during a combat bombing \'strike\' mission in the SouthWest Pacific Theater - New Guinea at Rabaul, New Britain on Tue 2nd November 1943. The USAF 5th Air Force sent some 78 B-25 Mitchells to Rabaul with the targets being the shipping in Simpson harbor and the nearby Lakunai airfield. The B-25s, known as \'strafers\' due to their multi gun 50 cal MGs mounted in the nose, had a camera in a ventral position under the rear fuselage. The pilot activated the bomb door switch as they approached the target and the Fairchild K-20 camerabegan recording at a rate of 1 frame/sec with the view out the back captured on 4\" x 5\" roll negative film. The sale comprises these strike photos, which are mainly from the 345th and 38th Bomb Groups plus a small number from the 3rd Bomb Group. The images taken are required to have stamped on back the US Army Examiner “passed” stamp or signed with hand written initials of Officer approving use.
Overall there are a total of 121 photos in this sale, which are loosely compiled into groups according to the Bomb Group and the different targets at Rabaul: shipping in Simpson harbor, Lakunai and Rapopo airfields, Matupi island and Rabaul town.
Condition:
Overall the strike photos are in fair to good condition with the majority of the photos contained within having only light edge damage with small dog eared corners. The image area is mostly clear and free from creases . The occaisonal photo has heavier wear and sepia staining caused in the lab when the negative roll fillm from the onboard camera was processed.All of the strike photos are original WWII strike photos printed from negatives during the time - around November 1943. They came into the Moky Collection via an sale in 2018 after they had been found by chippies doing renovations on a terrace house in the Sydey, Australia suburb of Newtown. The previous seller aquired them from one of the tradesmen so their provenance is assured as many 5th Air Force bomb groups rented or even purchased houses in Sydney that they could live in when on leave from frontline operations in New Guinea. The US service man who brought the photos to Sydney, wrapped in stiff cardboard, hid them beneath the floorboards of the house and may have left them behind ready for his next visit. For some reason he never returned and so the photos lay there for over 75 years before being discovered in 2017. There is a lot of history in these strike photos, probably the largest number ever saleed on in a single lot.
Shipping:
International: Australia Post Express International to the US is USD$45 (5 - 7 working days) which includes cardboard protective box, extra cover and signed for delivery. All photo contents are sealed in plastic bag to prevent water damage.
Domestic: Australia Post Parcel Post satchel to all Australian States and Territories is USD$20 (03 - 7 days) with extra cover and signed for delivery. All photo contents are sealed in plastic bag to prevent water damage.