The second installment of Pacific Theater images from the LIFE archive. Be sure to click on the images to see the details. The shots of the fighters over the ocean really blew me away. I came across a lot of images of “deck scenes,” showing the solders en route to their next engagement. It looked hot and boring, not to mention nerve-racking. Part I can be seen here.
Dan
on Dec 20th, 2008
@ 11:48 AM:
My father did a tour on a carrier in the Indian Ocean. He said it was so hot and humid that the polish on their dress shoes would run onto the deck during morning muster. Former Navy myself, but never having served on a ship, I thought of his story while standing on the blazing hot pave of a Texas country road outside Amarillo. The rubber on my Doc Martens stuck to the blacktop.
Great pics!
jk
on Dec 20th, 2008
@ 3:19 PM:
Stunning.
wayne pate
on Dec 20th, 2008
@ 4:21 PM:
The colors in these photos are incredible. The blues,
military green and those brown boots! Ironic how
wartime could look so beautiful. The clothing obviously played a huge factor in the beauty of
some of these photos.
Joshua
on Dec 20th, 2008
@ 6:16 PM:
thanks for my new desktop image
Heavy Tweed Jacket
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 1:08 AM:
The photos over the Pacific are really amazing photos. Like nothing I’ve really ever seen.
matt
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 9:34 AM:
It’s amazing how recent these photos make the scenes appear.
I have to ask though, how do you find these photos? Searching pacific theater didn’t turn them up for me.
Beeks
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 11:19 AM:
Try searching wwii and click on the color photographs which appear.
Kyle
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 11:56 AM:
Truly breathtaking photography. Keep up the good work Michael.
One thing perplexes me though; why do the guys in the back of the planes not get covered by the cockpit?
Michael Williams
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 12:24 PM:
A lot of these were found through searches like:
Deck Scenes: http://tinyurl.com/73z65p
Palau: http://tinyurl.com/8lcupx
Midway: http://tinyurl.com/9skhpt
This image is pretty awesome as well: http://tinyurl.com/76exhk
Michael Williams
on Dec 21st, 2008
@ 12:40 PM:
I would venture to say that the gunners are not covered by a canopy so it is easier for them to see and track enemy aircraft.
John
on Dec 22nd, 2008
@ 5:47 PM:
i founded the Life Archives on A Continous Lean, now im completetly amazed! thanks for the tip and for managing my favourite blog!
http://images.google.com/images?ndsp=21&hl=sv&q=Yale-Vassar+Bike++source:life&start=0&sa=N
keep up the good work!
Blue in the Face
on Jan 5th, 2009
@ 5:39 PM:
It’s a good thing wars aren’t so gorgeous anymore. Maybe we’ll have less of them.
PS–That top shot, of the dive-bombers (Dauntlesses?) is particularly breathtaking.
joanna goddard
on Jan 5th, 2009
@ 5:49 PM:
love the one of them sleeping on the deck.