Paul Mantz ....

[Mark Allen M]

Images from Albums belonging to air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz. Some interesting reading. Source SDASM archives. Looks to have been donated by Mrs Paul Mantz 3/11/1981
Wiki Bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Mantz

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Part 2

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Part 3

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Part 9

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Part 10

Some of P Mantz "stuff" at his Museum c 1960

[Craig59]

Another great photo essay and one on a favorite of mine. Thanks, Mark. There are also some great photos of Mantz on the Google Life Magazine archives including some early photos of Mantz's B-25H, N1203 (The Smasher) with a mock-up camera platform suspended below the nose and in front of the nosewheel!

Mantz was so well accepted in Hollywood not just for his flying skills but, for his filmmaking technical skills as well. If you ever watch the opening credits of the Spencer Tracy film, "Bad Day At Black Rock," you'll see a shot that starts from behind the diesel engine of a Southern Pacific passenger train and moves forward over the engine and then down and in front of it.

Mantz knew it would be far too dangerous to film it that way with the helicopter carrying the camera trying to fly in front of the engine and then pace it. So, he had the train run backward, began filming in front of the engine, then lifted up and accelerated over the engine. The film was then run backward for the final print to achieve the shot as desired.

Here's a couple of screen caps of N1203's only "starring" role during its brief appearance in the sci-fi thriller, "Them!"

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Last edited by Craig59 on Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Fantastic!!! Craig thx much.

[Robbie Stuart]

Mark this is outdamnstanding! I have a professionally taken photo of "Excalibur" a good friend did for me years ago, from the Smithsonian.
I would have to say Paul Mantz is one of my favorite bygone day "Aviation Heros".
Thanks for your time & effort doing this!
Robbie

[aerovin]

I'll second that outstanding part. As one who has researched Mantz for many years, that is an incredible find. I had no idea the San Diego museum had this material.

[Mark Allen M]

Hey!!! your all d*mn welcome, happy to post them, remember I'm just the mailman on this stuff and take no credit. Very little effort on my part and I'm glad some of you dudes enjoy these threads. I'm learning a lot myself with your posts so keep it up. Eventually someday we all will be the experts. (As opposed to the novice I am today)