Collection
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Photography

PBY Blister Gunner

Horace Bristol

1 of 2

Object Label

The naked figure in this photograph can seem incongruous, even surreal, without its historical context. During World War II, a PBY amphibian aircraft was sent to rescue a Marine airman who had been shot down while attacking Japanese forces at Rabaul Harbor. With the airman temporarily blinded and helpless in the water, the gunner from the rescue plane stripped down, getting rid of his encumbering flight suit and boots, dove into the water, and brought the injured man on board. In a combat situation, under enemy fire, the gunner had no time to get dressed again before returning to his battle station.

Caption

Horace Bristol (American, 1908–1997). PBY Blister Gunner, 1944, printed later. Gelatin silver print, image: 10 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (26.7 x 24.8 cm) sheet: 13 7/8 x 10 3/4 in. (35.2 x 27.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Harry Kahn, and Mrs. Carl L. Selden, 1994.77. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Photography

Title

PBY Blister Gunner

Date

1944, printed later

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Classification

Photograph

Dimensions

image: 10 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (26.7 x 24.8 cm) sheet: 13 7/8 x 10 3/4 in. (35.2 x 27.3 cm)

Signatures

Signed on verso in pencil: "Horace Bristol"

Credit Line

Purchased with funds given by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Harry Kahn, and Mrs. Carl L. Selden

Accession Number

1994.77

Frequent Art Questions

  • What can you tell me about this?

    The photo was taken in Rabaul Harbor in Papua New Guinea during WWII. Rabaul was a key base of air and naval operations for the Japanese in the South Pacific. During a battle, an American plane was shot down, and another aircraft was sent to retrieve the airman who was now in the water.
    The rescuing gunner realized he would have to go in the water to save his mate, so he stripped nude, jumped in, and brought the injured man on board.
    Before he had any time to put his clothes back on, however, he had to get back to his machine gun post, and so he did, butt naked! That is the moment the photographer, Horace Bristol, captured. Can you see the text behind the gunner's backside?
    Amazing. And he's hot...

  • Is this guy a pilot? What's going on here?

    This man is not a pilot, but he is in an airplane. This photograph was taken during the 2nd World War in the Rabaul Harbor in Papua New Guinea and this man was a gunner firing at the Japanese enemy. Allied fighters attacked the location continuously from 1944-45.
    This gunner had removed his clothes to jump into the water and rescue a fellow soldier. He didn't have time to put his clothes back on before returning to his station!

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Artists and makers

Horace Bristol

1 work in the collection