Gunsite Aiming Point footage WWII

bamaranger · October 13, 2014, 11:50 PM

C'mon, its firearms related. Like in 8 .50 cal Brownings!!!!!

As a teen, I read R.S. JOHNSON's book "Thunderbolt". Got my own copy and reread it again as an adult, and have leafed through it many more times. JOHNSON was an 8th Air Force ace, met the Luftwaffe at its peak, and surpassed Eddie RICKENBACKERS WWI kill rate.

Poring over YouTube video's, I came across Gunsite Aiming Point (guncamera footage) for the 8th....hours of the stuff. The camera rolls when the guns are fired....the pilot can also film without firing, it seems,as well. I've always been fascinated by the footage. The GSAP stuff has labels that list the pilot, mission, date, aircraft, and claims. I was delighted to find footage listed for RS JOHNSON!

I cannot wait to go back, note the dates, and find his narratives of the fights in his book.

DaleA · October 14, 2014, 02:36 AM

I think I remember reading the same book.

Didn't Johnson attribute a lot of his success to his extremely good eyesight?

And also didn't he bring back a P-47 that was positively riddled with bullet holes? After he initially got shot up a German pilot found him in his mostly crippled plane headed back to England and pretty much used him for target practice until he (the German) ran out of ammunition.

ballardw · October 15, 2014, 01:21 AM

DaleA, your memory is correct.

Also, Johnson was trained as a bomber pilot, not a fighter though that's what he wanted. I don't remember right now how he ended up in fighters. IIRC his initial aerial gunnery was less than stellar.

bamaranger · October 17, 2014, 01:35 AM

Well, I haven't found that clip of film...yet. You guys are right about JOHNSON and his shot up Thunderbolt.

Eight .50's at your finger tips....wow!

g.willikers · October 17, 2014, 11:50 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLxI6kW7bFU

mete · October 17, 2014, 02:34 PM

Pilots have better than 20/20 sight usually !! I remember the comments of a pilot about plinking .When theyn were serious the target was a uniform button at 100 yds !

Ridge_Runner_5 · October 18, 2014, 03:51 PM

I read the book in high school, probably Freshman year. I got a copy of it recently on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Thunderbolt-Ex...dp/1885354053/

bamaranger · October 19, 2014, 12:40 AM

G.wilikers.

That link of film is not the one. The film I'm searching for has no narrative, and has a cover slide that lists the pilot, unit, aircraft, date, etc. They are typically in 1-3 hr blocks.

But your link has some interesting footage none the less. The segment with the P38 Lighting flashing through is likely my all time favorite. THAT clip of film may well be P38 footage, note how concentrated the bullet strikes are. Also, I have about talked myself into believing that I can discern 20mm hits from the .50 hits as well. My interpretation of THAT segment is that the P38 that passes through hit the German aircraft with gunfire as well, as there is smoke and possibly debris visible the first moment the camera comes on.

Could be wrong. I have not seen a labeled version of THAT clip.

g.willikers · October 19, 2014, 12:09 PM

Did you notice the segments with the German jet fighters?
Boy, was the world lucky the war didn't favor the Germans a little longer.

October 13, 2014, 11:50 PM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	Gunsite Aiming Point footage WWII C'mon, its firearms related. Like in 8 .50 cal Brownings!!!!! As a teen, I read R.S. JOHNSON's book "Thunderbolt". Got my own copy and reread it again as an adult, and have leafed through it many more times. JOHNSON was an 8th Air Force ace, met the Luftwaffe at its peak, and surpassed Eddie RICKENBACKERS WWI kill rate. Poring over YouTube video's, I came across Gunsite Aiming Point (guncamera footage) for the 8th....hours of the stuff. The camera rolls when the guns are fired....the pilot can also film without firing, it seems,as well. I've always been fascinated by the footage. The GSAP stuff has labels that list the pilot, mission, date, aircraft, and claims. I was delighted to find footage listed for RS JOHNSON! I cannot wait to go back, note the dates, and find his narratives of the fights in his book.

October 15, 2014, 01:21 AM	#3
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	DaleA, your memory is correct. Also, Johnson was trained as a bomber pilot, not a fighter though that's what he wanted. I don't remember right now how he ended up in fighters. IIRC his initial aerial gunnery was less than stellar. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

October 17, 2014, 01:35 AM	#4
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	can't Well, I haven't found that clip of film...yet. You guys are right about JOHNSON and his shot up Thunderbolt. Eight .50's at your finger tips....wow!

October 17, 2014, 11:50 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLxI6kW7bFU __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 17, 2014, 02:34 PM	#6
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Pilots have better than 20/20 sight usually !! I remember the comments of a pilot about plinking .When theyn were serious the target was a uniform button at 100 yds ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

October 14, 2014, 02:36 AM	#2
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,310	I think I remember reading the same book. Didn't Johnson attribute a lot of his success to his extremely good eyesight? And also didn't he bring back a P-47 that was positively riddled with bullet holes? After he initially got shot up a German pilot found him in his mostly crippled plane headed back to England and pretty much used him for target practice until he (the German) ran out of ammunition.

October 18, 2014, 03:51 PM	#7
Ridge_Runner_5 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,925	I read the book in high school, probably Freshman year. I got a copy of it recently on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Thunderbolt-Ex...dp/1885354053/

October 19, 2014, 12:40 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	not it G.wilikers. That link of film is not the one. The film I'm searching for has no narrative, and has a cover slide that lists the pilot, unit, aircraft, date, etc. They are typically in 1-3 hr blocks. But your link has some interesting footage none the less. The segment with the P38 Lighting flashing through is likely my all time favorite. THAT clip of film may well be P38 footage, note how concentrated the bullet strikes are. Also, I have about talked myself into believing that I can discern 20mm hits from the .50 hits as well. My interpretation of THAT segment is that the P38 that passes through hit the German aircraft with gunfire as well, as there is smoke and possibly debris visible the first moment the camera comes on. Could be wrong. I have not seen a labeled version of THAT clip.

October 19, 2014, 12:09 PM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Did you notice the segments with the German jet fighters? Boy, was the world lucky the war didn't favor the Germans a little longer. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

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