
The Photo Lab

The most important function of this section is the installation of cameras for bombing missions and the development of the negatives taken during the mission. A typical example of the work done in this respect is as follows:
Alerted from Group Operations – Formation plan received from Group Ops – Alert photo technicians and start the ball a’rolling. First of all, decide on which planes will carry cameras and the type camera. This is done and the men get to work. The cameras are carried to the planes and the delicate work of wiring them to the automatic bomb release and the bombs is started. This is finally accomplished, the work is passed as, “OK” by the Photo Chief. The crews arrive at the ships and one EM familiar with the installation is on hand to brief the bombardier on the camera installed. When the A/C arrive back to the base, the EM are on hand to remove the cameras, take them to the lab and start the development of the negatives.
The "Photo Interpreter"

AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE LIBERATOR STATION, ENGLAND: -- Cpl. Joseph C. Langguth of Altoona, PA. is seen here examining a target film of his group’s final combat bombing mission over Germany. Cpl. Langguth, who is a photo interpreter in the intelligence section of the 458th Bombardment Group, is viewing the group’s bomb bursts on an important rail junction at Bad Reichenhall, Near Hitler’s Bertechsgarden.
Cpl Langguth’s wife, Mrs. Marion Langguth, lives at 2504 Union Ave., Altoona, PA. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Langguth, live at 1507 Sixth Ave., Altoona, PA. Prior to his induction in the Army [on] April 7, 1943, Cpl. Langguth was an assistant manager for Walgreen Drug Co. in Altoona. He has been overseas since January 18, 1944.
The 458th Bombardment Group, which is a part of Major General William E. Kepner’s Second Air Division, has completed 240 bombing missions over European targets.

Prints are then obtained from the frames of negatives showing the bomb impacts and annotated to show the assigned aiming points. The bomb bursts are counted to ascertain the number of bursts within a 500’, 1000’ and 2000’ area within the MPI [see examples below]. Copies of the prints scaled to show this information are forwarded to the division, the wing, group bombardier, group operations and additional copies posted on prominent bulletin boards on the field giving all the group personnel tan opportunity to see the results of the mission.
A complete study is then made of all prints and a bomb plot is constructed, accounting for every bomb carried over the target.






"The Photo Lab is On the Ball"
Cameras




Personnel
Rank | Name | Serial # | Job Title | Home | Date | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sgt | Arthur L Allen, Jr | 12216326 | Photo Technician, Aerial | Rochester, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 754th Bomb Sq (H) |
S/Sgt | Robert L Baker | 11096329 | Photo Technician, Aerial | Providence, RI | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 752nd Bomb Sq (H) |
Capt | Waldo D Butler | 0564962 | Aerial Photo Interpreter | 5-May-45 | Appointed Public Relations Officer | |
S/Sgt | Donald L Byrn | 13070565 | Draftsman | Little Rock, AR | 1-May-45 | Reclassifed Radio Operator-Gunner |
Sgt | George W Clark | 35536664 | Photo Technician, Aerial | Cleveland Heights, OH | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 753rd Bomb Sq (H) |
Pvt | Arthur Fast | 32883796 | Bronx, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) | |
Sgt | David S Fruchtbaum | 13094463 | Philadelphia, PA | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 753rd Bomb Sq (H) | |
Cpl | Alton A Haynie | 15331974 | Photo Technician, Aerial | Paducah, KY | 7-Jun-45 | Ferry Crew 5 of 18 - Pilot Ferriell |
S/Sgt | Herman H Hetzel | 19092471 | Photo Lab Chief | Guthrie, OK | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 753rd Bomb Sq (H) |
Pfc | Robert J Hughes | 32447437 | Camera Technician | Amsterdam, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) |
Sgt | Gene W Hunt | 36594034 | Camera Technician | Pontiac, MI | 7-Jun-45 | Ferry Crew 2 of 18 - Pilot Hiner |
Capt | Gordon S Jones | 0861609 | Aerial Photo Officer | 1-Jun-45 | Photo Section | |
Cpl | Joseph G Langguth | 33757974 | Clerk Typist | Altoona, PA | 7-Jun-45 | Ferry Crew 3 of 18 - Pilot Minor |
S/Sgt | Salvatore G Livigno | 32443712 | Photo Technician, Aerial | Brooklyn, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) |
Sgt | John Petrella | 32423399 | Brooklyn, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) | |
S/Sgt | Arnold Sadow | 20118356 | Dorchester, MA | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 752nd Bomb Sq (H) | |
S/Sgt | Kenneth E Scott | 35597452 | Camera Technician | Akron, OH | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 753rd Bomb Sq (H) |
S/Sgt | Eugene C Steed | 39027980 | Machinist | Sandy, UT | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) |
Pfc | Leonard I Swanbom | 37341690 | Denver, CO | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 754th Bomb Sq (H) | |
T/Sgt | Ivan P Tolley | 39679329 | Delphos, KS | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 753rd Bomb Sq (H) | |
Pfc | Francis W Townsend | 32433121 | Brooklyn, NY | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) | |
S/Sgt | Leonidas Veins | 11044262 | Attleboro, MA | 1-May-45 | 2AD Roster - 755th Bomb Sq (H) | |
2Lt | Lebbaeus B Waldron | 0863420 | Photo Officer | Florida | 18-Jun-44 | Transferred to 489BG |

Back Row: Unknown, Unknown, Eugene Steed, Ivan Tolley, Kenneth Scott, Unknown, Herman Hetzel
Middle Row: Robert Baker, Francis Townsend, Sal livigno, Gordon Jones, John Petrella, Unknown, Gene Hunt, David Fruchtbaum
Front Row: Robert Hughes, Leonard Swanbom, Arnold Sadow, G. Warden Clark, Arthur Fast, Arthur Allen, Leonidas Viens


Sgt James A. Harper, gunner on Lt Charles Brown crew and Herman Hetzel
(From the collection of James Archie Harper, courtesy of the James & Harper Families)

G. Warden Clark, Sal Livigno, Unknown Bombardier, Herman Hetzel

Photo Lab Techs
(Courtesy: Brendan Wood)


Captain Waldo D. Butler
Capt. Butler had been with the group since September 1943 as an Intelligence Officer. In December, as the group was moving overseas, he became the Station & Group Photo/Public Relations Officer. He remained in that position until January 1945 when he was relieved of that duty. It is not clear what his job was with the group after January, but in May 1945 he was reappointed Public Relations Officer.
(Photo: Anthony Recchia)