American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1946)

Filming Rockets (Continued from Page 81) be pointed out, in order to provide time information, the dial of the camera¬ man’s stopwatch was registered at the end of each high speed shot to provide the scientists with exact timing when the film was studied in detail. Many Rocket Weapons Developed The scientists and photographic unit were concerned with many types of rocket weapons under development for various uses in offensive campaigns. Each development followed a set pro¬ cedure and program. Initial test was on the ground from a stationary launching site, with missile aimed at target area 1,500 to 2,500 yards distant. Although the scientists and military observers were stationed behind concrete shields a safe distance of one-half mile from the range, it was necessary for members of the camera crew to get within 500 yards — operating in the open with long focal length lenses of four and six inches. General procedure was to set one cam¬ eraman directly opposite the launching site, a second mid-distant between the launcher and target area, and the third opposite the intended target area. With the rocket projectiles travelling anywhere from 600 to 1,500 feet per sec¬ ond, the cameramen could not use tri¬ pods, but each panned the entire line of flight with hand-held cameras. The men became so expert in the work that they seldom missed following throughout the trajectory from the time of launching till target was struck; thereby gaining invaluable ballistic data. In the early stages of experiments with new rockets, higher-powered pro¬ pellant powders, and fuses, both the scientists and cameramen were placed in most hazardous and dangerous situ¬ ations. They had to be alert for any¬ thing to happen. Premature detonation of experimental fuses would shower hot and jagged fragments of steel in all di¬ rections, and on one occasion, the maga¬ zine was knocked off a camera by flying steel. Miraculous escapes were the rule rather than the exception. Stressing Safety Factors Safety of the operators of the missile launchers, either from amphibious craft or airplanes, was of major importance in the tests and developments. After the initial ground tests, a stationary plane wing was set up with launching bracket attached. Exhaustive tests were then made to study — through the films — the stress and strain of the launching shock when the rocket was sent on its way. After insuring stability of the plane wing, next step was launching from a regular plane placed on a wooden ramp with tail lifted into flying position; mo¬ tor turned over at normal speed; with¬ out pilot or mechanic aboard; and rocket fired via remote control. At this point, three cameras — turning at normal, 64 pictures per second and 128 pictures per second — were employed. Resulting film provided the scientists with details on the blast effect and shock waves of the projected rocket on a plane in flight. Final Tests from Plane After assurance of the uniformity of a particular type rocket in performance, final tests in firing from a plane in flight were instituted. Cameras photo¬ graphed launchings from an accompany¬ ing plane 10,000 feet in the air — gen¬ erally over a desert range. This pro¬ vided further information for the sci¬ entists before green light was given for final tests where the rocket-launching plane flew in at low levels at indicated ground targets. Virtually the same procedure was fol¬ lowed in all phases of rocket develop¬ ment, which covered also launchings from the ground, surface craft, sub¬ marines, etc. Many types were devel¬ oped and designed for special purposes. Films to Chiefs of Staff When the specific rocket and launch¬ ing device for either air, ground, or sea use was felt ready, a concise film on the type was edited to show perti¬ nent points in the development, han¬ dling, and effectiveness of the final tests. These films, on account of the urgency and need of rocket weapons in warfare, told the entire story with a minimum of titles. Time was not wasted on re¬ cording a descriptive dialogued sound¬ track, as such a procedure would con¬ sume most valuable time through extra processing. Each film, as completed, was sent to Washington for viewing, and the visual reports on intimate phases of the ac¬ tion and performance of each particu¬ lar rocket missile vitally speeded up adoption and utilization in the field. Prints of each subject were then sent (as top secret material) to air, ground, naval and other forces for viewing by commands to ascertain adaptibility in their individual campaigns. From these short and concise films on each specific rocket development, of¬ ficers and commands charged with mak¬ ing decisions in the field were able to better evaluate the combat and mili¬ tary value of the weapon depicted than through the previous procedure of pro¬ viding them with long and lengthy writ¬ ten reports which previously had been highly technical and consumed much time of the top command to read and evaluate. The visual reports were far easier for military strategists to evalu¬ ate for combat use, with consequential speedier installation in warfare. By August, 1944, total of 77 reels on rocket weapons and projectiles made by Commander Gilks and his camera unit, were in the library of National Devel¬ opment Research Council for loans to Navy, Army, and Marine strategists and officers. The subjects, in addition, served as most valuable training and instruc¬ tional films for officers and personnel on each type of rocket weapon in the early introduction of the latter on various bat¬ tle fronts before specific training films of handling and operation could be turned out. In numerous cases, the test and development film subjects served for training and indoctrination of officers and men of the armed services. Commendation on Film Project As the photographic accomplishments of Commander Gilks and his small but compact crew progressed on the rocket program experiments and developments, the unit received continual commenda¬ tion for its results and the initiative and inventitiveness in overcoming seem¬ ingly impossible obstacles in achieving seemingly impossible photography in a most vital war program. E. C. Watson, official investigator of National Development Research Council at Caltech, completely summarized the entire film program on rocket projects with a report to Washington which stated; “Such films are of particular value during the early stages of the develop¬ ment of a new weapon when its tactical uses and its characteristics are still being explored, and when no nucleus of personnel familiar with the weapon is available. “The Films are used constantly to acquaint visiting scientists, and Army and Navy officers, with the nature of these new developments. They also re¬ sulted in a great saving of time and expense to us and to our increasing number of military visitors, as it was unnecessary to stage special demonstra¬ tions for them with consequent loss of time. “The films are of definite scientific and technical value, being particularly useful in study of blast effects on launchers and of launchers reactions, in fuse, fragmentation and explosion tests, and in tests of flash effects.” Later, Watson advised General Dono¬ van: “filming of field and range tests, are not only valuable in the research and development work itself, but of especial value in bringing about the acceptance of rockets by the fighting services, in getting them into combat use promptly, and in training military personnel in their use.” Special commendation in 1945 was issued by the Chief of Naval Operations for “the valuable color film made by the photographic unit under Commander Gilks.” A State Department representa¬ tive wrote Commander Gilks, “I know only too well what incredible results you have obtained in filming rocket pro¬ jectiles.” Praise for Unit Commander Gilks, in disclosing the film activities in the rocket projectile program during the war, lays particular stress on the success of the assignment to the members of his unit. He mentions the late Jack MacKenzie, jr., chief photographers’ mate; the late Edwin Roach, photographers’ mate both of whom were killed last year in an auto accident returning from a particularly dangerous flying mission; and photo¬ grapher, first class, Herb Wolf, who was injured in the same crash. He also points out the important contributions in the project of chief photographer, (Continued on Page 101) 88 March, 1946 • American Cinematographer