I
recently acquired in Belgium a series of vintage press photographs from a period of time
running from 1913 to the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Among many
gorgeous pictures (several Eisenhower's in June 44 for example), was a copy of the well
known Iwo Jima raising flag.
After some
researches and the help of Ray Jacobs and Dick Gaines, it
appears that the photo (shown below), could have been a shot made during the filming of
the movie : Sands of Iwo Jima.

Dimensions : 10" X 8" (25,5 cm X 20 cm)

The
negative was marked with a serial number : 1769 - 78
Below are
details of the photo



If you have something to tell about that vintage (1949) photo, just send an email
here : info@photogene.com
My name is
Gerard Henrotin and I live in Belgium (French speaking area).
Here are some other pictures about the movie : http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/iwo-jima-2.html
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Other products by The
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Reply of Ray Jacobs (He
was there on the Mount in Iwo Jima)
Hello Gerard...I have never seen the
version of the second flag raising picture you emailed. There are significant differences
between your picture and that of the Rosenthal original. For example...the rubble on the
ground...the posture of the first Marine bent over the flag pole.
I can only guess that your picture is a
composite or an artists conception. I have seen other pictures of the same type. Over the
years when various artists were commissioned to create monuments depicting either the
first or second flag raising on Iwo Jima they produced models or photographs with
added elements and changed the position or postures of the Marines involved.
I am afraid my explanation is not of much
help to you but it is my best guess.
I am attaching a copy of one artists
conception of the first flag raising which was used as the basis for huge Iwo Jima
monument dedicated in Long Prairie, Minnesota during August of this year. There is
nothing in this concept that remotely resembles the actual event on Feb.23,1945.
If I can be of further help please contact
me.
Ray Jacobs Email : RAY1JACOBS@msn.com

Dick Gaines has found
the answer. The photo was shot during the realisation of the well known movie :
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949).
Here are some other pictures about the movie
: http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/iwo-jima-2.html
Here is Dick's site : http://www.angelfire.com/ca/dickg/IWO.html
New version from Dick Gaines :
Gerard:
I had assumed--assumptions are rarely all that great--that the scene from
Sands Of Iwo Jima had been re-created--Tedd Thomey now indicates that the
scene from Sgt Bill genaust motion picture version was actually used by the
producers of Sands--Tedd is the author of immortal Images, and I would yield
to his superior knowledge in this area, as I have not recently read deeply
into neither his book nor the webpage on Sands.
I'm sure Tedd--whose e-mail appears in the sent e-mail--would be happy to
discuss that aspect in depth.
What think Tedd Thomey author of Immortal Images
It is my guess that the Iwo flag-raising
photo under discussion is from the motion picture shot by Sergeant William H. Genaust.
He stood beside Rosenthal and together they
shot as the flag went up.
Genaust shot in Kodachrome color, but the
producers of SANDS OF IWO JIMA converted it to black and white.

Poster
of Iwo Jima raising flag
Joe Rosenthal Picture

Iwo
--- $14.95
Richard Wheeler
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DVD on Iwo Jima
VHS video's on Iwo Jima
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