Armed With Cameras

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 4 OCT 1993

Military historian Maslowski (co-author of For the Common Defense ), whose father became an Air Force combat photographer in 1944, here presents in comprehensive detail the virtually unknown story of how U.S. armed forces produced photography (still and motion picture) in WW II for intelligence training, public information and historical use. Included are cameramen's moving, risky personal exploits, often ahead of main forces. The author describes the travel, morale and supply problems they encountered. Drawing on archival research and interviews conducted over 20 years, Maslowski gives new insight into the making of wartime documentaries such as San Pietro and The Fighting Lady , and into the circumstances behind such coups as the photographing of the U.S. Marine flag-raising on Iwo Jima. Combat photography, the author recalls, helped in mapping enemy positions and boosted both war-industry production and War Bond Drives. Maslowski succeeds in giving proper due to these camera warriors, who at the time received little of the recognition given to their civilian counterparts.