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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: phillbrett68 on Sunday 26 July 15 02:39 BST (UK)
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hello photo restorers any hope of making this image clearer or cleaner at all any help would be greatly appreciated thanks
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Slight improvement.
Sorry Phill - I don't know how to get rid of the stripes from the album without blurring the men's faces, so :-\
Hope some of the better restorers can do a better job.
Wiggy
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And with the background blurred to remove stripes.
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thanks for the wonderful attempts much better than i could ever do so it is very much appreciated
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Still with stripes:
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How wonderful to have a photo like that with all the names on!
Good jobs too! M
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Just a wild thought .... it might be worthwhile getting a quote to have it fully/professionally restored - then get some relevant press coverage/PR and/or crowdfunding or an event to raise funds to have it done. There must be somebody interested in its preservation, due to so many names being present. Maybe some organisation might be willing/able to trace the descendants of everybody in the photo - depending on whether it's a strong local interest, or a particular Unit interest. There's usually some specialist keen to consider it.
I've no idea how much a professional restoration would cost - but it wouldn't be "much", especially if you can get it funded.
It's nice for you to have a better copy, but think how much nicer it'd be if you could get a fab copy available to all the descendants.
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Agree Stanley - this is a very tricky scan - only 72 dpi so hard to do much with it.
Sorry that's not an excuse for my lack of ability - just a comment!
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Hi Phil,
Who are the subjects of of the photograph, it would be interesting to know more about the photograph.
Sarah :)
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thanks everyone for your wonderful efforts i believe the photo is off 459 squadron 2nd world war about 1943 and i believe it is of non commissioned officers that is the only information i have but thanks for all the wonderful restorers
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Quote from the Australian War Memorial Site:
459 Squadron was formed at Burg-el-Arab on 10 February 1942 as a maritime patrol squadron in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme It joined 201 Group of the Royal Air Force's Middle East Command and commenced operations off the Egyptian coast on 14 February. Initially, the squadron was equipped with two Lockheed Hudson aircraft and four Bristol Blenheims borrowed from 203 Squadron RAF but by May was fully equipped with Hudsons. The Mediterranean Sea was the focus of the squadron's operations throughout 1942 and it operated from several airfields in Egypt and Libya. Until the Allied victory at El Alamein in October, the squadron's main role was to interdict German watercraft running supplies between Tobruk and Mersa Matruh - the closest landing point to their defensive position. Once the German land forces began to retreat following their defeat at El Alamein, 459 Squadron roamed wider escorting Allied shipping, and seeking out and attacking enemy shipping across the eastern Mediterranean as far north as the Greek islands. During 1942, detachments from 459 Squadron also conducted anti-submarine patrols over the Red Sea from Khormaksar in Aden (current day Yemen), and around Cyprus from St Jean in Palestine.
In December 1942 459 Squadron moved to Gambut III airfield in Libya, between Bardia and Tobruk, which was to be its home for the next sixteen months. Maintaining the efficient reputation it had already established, the squadron continued its convoy escort and anti-submarine work over the Mediterranean throughout 1943. In September of that year it was also employed to conduct attacks against land targets in Greece and Crete.
The new year brought new aircraft - Lockheed Venturas - and the squadron continued to combine its maritime patrol duties with night bombing attacks on Rhodes and other land targets in the Aegean. The Venturas did not prove a success, however, and were replaced by Martin Baltimores in July 1944. In April 1944 the squadron relocated to Palestine and, operating from a succession of airfields (Ramat David, April - May 1944; St Jean, May - August 1944; Berka, August 1944 - February 1945) continued anti-shipping patrols and bombing attacks around the Greek islands.
In February 1945, 459 Squadron proceeded to Egypt and sailed for the United Kingdom, for retraining on Wellingtons prior to joining Coastal Command. The return of time-expired aircrew to Australia, combined with the transfer of other experienced crews to other squadrons, however, prevented a quick conversion to the new aircraft. Thus, 459 Squadron was disbanded at Chivenor in Devon on 10 April 1945.
There's lots more if you want to check it out
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I'd love to spend some time on this photo. Is there any chance you have the original and can rescan it and send me a large file via email?
There is quite a bit of work involved in removing the texture so it would be great to be able to work on a large file, where possibly the chaps faces are a lot clearer.
Cheers
Caz