WWII Gun cameras

[JohnB]

Were they 8mm or 16mm?
Also, for easy loading, was the film in a pre-packaged cassette like home movie cameras had in the '60s-70s?

[Tulio]

John:

I have a Fairchild-built AN-N6, Spec. #75-366.

Itis a cassette loaded camera, in 35mm. But I have also seen cameras in 16mm and without going by more than the looks SOME look to be the reel-to-reel type..


Saludos,


Tulio

[Forgotten Field]

There were multiple types of US gun cameras in WWII. The typical AN-N6 was a cartridge-loaded, 16mm camera. I believe they made an earlier version in 8mm (I have found wartime-made cartridges just like the N-6 but with 8mm film). There were earlier versions in different proprietary film sizes, but which didn't work out due to resolution, lens requirements, and film production. So I believe most of the ETO footage you see of Axis aircraft being shot down was on 16mm film, possibly 8mm earlier or later.

[lucky52]

Was all the gun camera film saved and stored or just some of it?

[JohnB]

Tulio...
Really, 35mm? That's surprising.
That would have been awfully large, especially in a fighter's leading edege.
From my days as an college intern at a TV newsroom during the waning days of film, I know a 16mm magazine would have been about 1"-1 1/4" wide, so a 35mms unit would have been at least double that.

[Tulio]

Tulio...
Really, 35mm? That's surprising.
That would have been awfully large, especially in a fighter's leading edege.
From my days as an college intern at a TV newsroom during the waning days of film, I know a 16mm magazine would have been about 1"-1 1/4" wide, so a 35mms unit would have been at least double that.

John:

I have one, like this one:

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-o ... 0020305000


Saludos,


Tulio

[Tulio]

Were they 8mm or 16mm?
Also, for easy loading, was the film in a pre-packaged cassette like home movie cameras had in the '60s-70s?

Your original question did not say ANYTHING about wing gun cameras.

Just asked about GUN cameras. There were gunner's cameras, too.

Additionally, if you could stick the bulk of a .50cal,Mg, or a 20mm cannon in the wing, you could certainly place a 35mm camera in. Remember, that the only thing sticking out the leading edge, if at all, would be an opening for the camera lens.


Saludos,


Tulio

[old iron]

[url]I have one, like this one:

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-o ... 0020305000

[/url]

Interesting: The long description of this site is all about the De Hav Chipmunk that this camera came out of, without the camera-specific information of the summary.

Also, the camera here may or may not be from WWII (the aircraft this came out of was post-war)

[JohnB]

Tulip

Thanks for the photo.
I wasn't doubting your word, just really surprised by the use of 35mm for film that didn't have to be super high quality.
Seems like a bit of overkill (no pun intended).

[Ruberneck]

Here's a link for some information. Take it for what it is.

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/origin ... 1745750085

[Tulio]

Jon:

We's cool.

One of my research subjects has been gun cameras, and more precisely cinematographic machine gun cameras. It is a different animal than the subject of this thread, although closely related..

WIXer Tom Friedman of the Ohio's frozen lands, had a beautiful Japanese machine-gun camera.

I have bought in the past an AN-N6 in 16mm, and also at some time had a bulky Fairchild hand-held.

Interesting subject. I wish you will get a definitive response to,your queey.


Saludos,


Tulio

BS (yup not PS) I have a small collection of teflector gunsights.

[JohnB]

Okay...how about a very specific question....
What size (8,16,35mm) and model gun camera was usually fitted to P-51s...specifically Bs?

[4RG.I.'S]

Okay...how about a very specific question....
What size (8,16,35mm) and model gun camera was usually fitted to P-51s...specifically Bs?

The closest I've found so far is for the A model from the maintenance manual dated Aug. 1 1943, page 345:

"24-volt Type N-1 gun sight aiming-point camera... self-contained type A-6 film magazine used with this installation is interchangeable on all 16mm gun sight aiming-point cameras."

[Hamilton H-37500]

For what it's worth, here's some information on the special Hamilton watch integrated in some of these cameras. The dials were made in both horizontal and vertical formats. I restored many of these during my career as a watchmaker. Many collectors today opt to use them as wristwatches by bolting a strap to the mounting holes.

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