Reel No 1 CVA 43, HC 1 Det 43, 1st Cruise '67 68

This video is one of seven copied and converted to digital from one of the seven reels of S8mm video film captured on my two Vietnam Era Deployments aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). During those two HC-1 Det-43 deployments on the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) 1967/68 and 1968/69 eras, I was into photography and accumulated just over two hours (2hrs, 12m, 09s) of Super8mm Film footage of carrier operations. Rare footage indeed (Filmed with a Beaulieu S2008 S8mm Camera), since at that time I was the only person I knew that was into Film Photography and had practically unrestricted access to the flight deck as well as ability to use our helicopter as a camera platform to film flight operations in, on and around the carrier.

Over the years, I have had this film footage converted to digital 3 times. First to VHS at 350 lines of resolution, then to DV at 720 lines of resolution and more recently to HD Video at full 1080P. Needless to say, even at 1080p the quality of the conversion leaves a lot to be desired compared to the magnificent colors captured and projected on a screen from the original S8mm Film. These seven reels are presented in 720p resolution, maintaining the same aspect ratio of the original footage and providing a more satisfactory reproduction of the originals.

Obviously, the film had never been copyrighted (though I did take the precaution of water marking this copy) and has enjoyed limited exposure over the years. Though there are, no doubt, a lot of people (many older and now gone) that would have enjoyed the footage, I have many regrets for not having done so sooner to make it available.

I have made some efforts recently to determine if the film can be monetized and pretty much determined that it has little value worthy of my consideration, thus I am pleased to publish the footage as public. I do appreciate the input from my friends with the HC-1/HC-7 Combat SAR Facebook site and Jim Nepomuceno with CriticalPast in determining that valuation.