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Photographer of atomic bomb destruction dies at 96
ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/18/05 | AP

Posted on 12/18/2005 9:12:21 AM PST by NormsRevenge

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) - Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel A. McGovern, a combat photographer who filmed the aftermath of the atomic bomb detonations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, has died. He was 96.

McGovern died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Laguna Woods.

Weeks after the bombs were dropped in August 1945, McGovern began taking photographs that have since appeared in history books, newspapers, television shows and movies. Earlier during the war, McGovern photographed President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House.

In 1943, McGovern flew missions as a cameraman while stationed in Chelveston, England. He survived two crashes and shot footage used in William Wyler's 1944 wartime documentary, "The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress."

McGovern talked about his war experiences with the Los Angeles Times when Steven Spielberg's World War II film, "Saving Private Ryan," was released in 1998.

"Combat men don't like to talk about what they did," he said. "Airplanes crashing, headless bodies with helmets still on. Limbs here, limbs there. You say, 'There but for the grace of God,' but you don't talk about it. You relive it in your sleep. You go through recollections of pulling bodies out of airplanes - an experience you never forget."

He said he spoke about what he witnessed because of encouragement from his children and grandchildren.

McGovern and several colleagues founded the International Combat Cameramen Association to recognize photographers who risked their lives shooting combat footage.

After World War II, McGovern wrote, directed and produced classified films about nuclear weapons at Lookout Mountain, a secret Cold War-era government film lab and studio in the Hollywood Hills.

He is survived by his sister, four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: atomicbomb; danielmcgovern; destruction; dies; hiroshima; memphisbelle; nagasaki; obituary; photographer; photography; veteran; wwii
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To: COEXERJ145
Highly unlikely

Like I said, we'll never know.

41 posted on 12/18/2005 11:22:28 AM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: Dick Vomer
there was only one guy that's gotten out alive, and he had to be stuck on a cross for a couple of hours.

Not so!! There are two others God called out early, Rumor is since the bible says it's appointed unto each man a time to die, that they will be the prophets at the wailing wall during the tribulation whom the anti-christ will strike down and they will lay in the open for three days then rise again!!!

42 posted on 12/18/2005 11:22:46 AM PST by logic ("All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing......")
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To: COEXERJ145
here is a previous post that I left when discussing how bad atomic weapons are. I think Atomic Weapons are GREAT!!!Have you all seen Nagasaki recently?^

http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/kokusai/index-e.html

Looks like atomic weapons are good for business.

Clears out the dead wood.

Brings about peace.

Encourages people to live in peace as opposed to opening their yaps about ruling the world or wiping this or that country off the face of the earth.

I say, "Peace through superior firepower".


43 posted on 12/18/2005 11:26:33 AM PST by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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To: elbucko
"It's no secret", huh? Well, FYI, the nuclear detonations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were air bursts above 5,000 Ft, AGL. There was very little nuclear contamination in the debris at these sites.

The sites were still contaminated with radiation. You may want to read a little more carefully. I never said to what degree. There is nothing to argue about here

But thanks for all those details.

44 posted on 12/18/2005 11:28:34 AM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: Nathan Zachary
Right on. That 'radioactive' myth was generated by these anti- nuke nutz, and silly Hollywood movies like 'black rain'.

Agreed. I've had more than cursory military training regarding tactical nuclear weapons. That said, I would rather have a 5kt. warhead as a coffee table support in my living room, than an attorney over for dinner. I know the warhead is safe.

45 posted on 12/18/2005 11:30:29 AM PST by elbucko
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To: brooklin
Elijah(sp, the prophet, was taken in a flaming chariot. He may not have died.

Yes, Elijah was one, can't remember the other's name (I remembered Elijah's name but not how to spell it so I left him un-named...)

46 posted on 12/18/2005 11:31:12 AM PST by logic ("All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing......")
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To: ncountylee
"Note that AP threw in cancer to imply exactly that."

I think you may be too quick to ascribe an ulterior motive to that line of the article. You generally have a cause of death in an obit. He died of cancer. What are they supposed to do, make something up?
47 posted on 12/18/2005 11:31:47 AM PST by SmoothTalker
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To: logic; brooklin

Lazarus got an awakening from the dead as well or so I heard.


48 posted on 12/18/2005 11:39:33 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Jigsaw John
The sites were still contaminated with radiation. You may want to read a little more carefully

OK, I will.

Q. Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Answer: "Atomic bombs differ from conventional bombs in emitting explosive energy on an entirely different order of magnitude and radiation. Of the emitted energy, 5% was initial radiation and 10% was residual radiation."

"The initial radiation emitted at the moment of detonation inflicted great damage to human bodies. Most of those exposed to direct radiation within a one-kilometer radius died. Residual radiation was emitted later. Roughly 80% of all residual radiation was emitted within 24 hours. Research has indicated that 24 hours after the bombing the quantity of residual radiation a person would receive at the hypocenter would be 1/1000th of the quantity received immediately following the explosion. A week later, it would be 1/1,000,000th. Thus, residual radiation declined rapidly."

The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies."

Text in quotation marks are from:

http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/q4e.html.

I reckon that this site is about as well read on the subject as one can get!

49 posted on 12/18/2005 11:45:42 AM PST by elbucko
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To: elbucko
Q. Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

This wasn't my question, but thanks for the info.

50 posted on 12/18/2005 11:48:13 AM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: NormsRevenge
I was able to tour Trinity Site this past October at WSMR with my family. It was such a moving experience. Eerie and rich with history. If anyone ever has the opportunity to do so - do it!
51 posted on 12/18/2005 11:48:28 AM PST by Lil'freeper
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To: COEXERJ145

You must have forgotten about Cobalt Thorium G...


52 posted on 12/18/2005 11:54:24 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Jigsaw John
This wasn't my question, but thanks for the info.

IIRC, you did not have a question, but a few erroneous opinions. And you're welcome.

53 posted on 12/18/2005 11:59:14 AM PST by elbucko
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
You must have forgotten about Cobalt Thorium G...

IIRC, that it was the material used in the "Doomsday Device".

54 posted on 12/18/2005 12:04:45 PM PST by elbucko
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To: elbucko

Specifically, what erroneous opinions are you referring too?


55 posted on 12/18/2005 12:05:36 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: elbucko

That's right, Mandrake.


56 posted on 12/18/2005 12:07:31 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Jigsaw John
Specifically, what erroneous opinions are you referring too?

Specifically, the following:

" Besides, it's no secret that atomic bombs put out lots of contamination in the form of radiation".

Not according to the City of Hiroshima Web Site.

57 posted on 12/18/2005 12:12:24 PM PST by elbucko
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To: Lil'freeper
I was able to tour Trinity Site this past October at WSMR with my family. It was such a moving experience. Eerie and rich with history. If anyone ever has the opportunity to do so - do it!

I visited Trinity in April, 2003. Despite the cold weather, sleet, and rain, it was a great time. It's one thing to read about it, write my senior thesis on the Manhattan Project, but to actually get to walk there was something I had wanted to do for a long time.

There are two other nuclear test sites in New Mexico that one can visit but of course they were underground. One is the test South of Carlsbad and the other is about 60 or so miles East of Farmington.

58 posted on 12/18/2005 12:15:43 PM PST by COEXERJ145 (Those Who Want to Impeach President Bush Are the Party of Treason.)
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To: elbucko
You consider statement below an erroneous opinion?

"Besides, it's no secret that atomic bombs put out lots of contamination in the form of radiation".

Try "dial an argument". You may find it enjoyable.

59 posted on 12/18/2005 12:15:44 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: NormsRevenge
item image
 
The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress - First Motion Picture Unit of the U.S. Army Air Corps
This film is a war documentary produced by one of the "Hollywood Colonels," William Wyler, who joined the Air Force Film unit and recorded the sights and sounds of the last mission of a B-17 bomber known as the Memphis Belle, named after the girlfriend of the pilot. A narrator told the story of the 10 crewmen as examples of simple average American boys doing a tough job. The men and plane were filmed during the bombing raid on the submarine plens in Wilhelmshafen, Germany, "just one mission of j...
Keywords: WWII; war; documentary; b17

60 posted on 12/18/2005 12:16:09 PM PST by wolficatZ (Jonathan Quayle Higgins III - "Zeus...Apollo...Patrol!"....)
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