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Few things capture the imagination like the idea of a forgotten roll of film surviving for decades inside an old camera. This page presents the widely shared collection known as Photos stored in camera for 68 years, said to show the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Below the original material, you will find background on the Kodak Brownie camera that made photography available to ordinary people, an explanation of how old film ages, wider historical context on the attack itself, and some practical advice on how to judge viral historical images.
The Pearl Harbor Photo Collection
Isn't it amazing how a film could last so long in a camera without disintegrating?
Fantastic photos taken 68 years ago. Some of you will have to go to a museum to see what a Brownie camera looked like? Here is a simple picture of what we are talking about. . .. |
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| These photos are absolutely incredible... Read text below the first picture and then at the end. |
Casualties
US Army: 218 KIA, 364 WIA.
US Navy: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.
US MarineCorp: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.
Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.
TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.
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Battleships
USS Arizona (BB-39) - total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in the harbor.
USS California (BB-4 4) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS Nevada - (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk.
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Cruisers
USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage..
USS San Francisco (CA-38) - Light Damage.
USS Detroit (CL-8) - Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena (CL-50) - Light Damage.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage..
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Destroyers
USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin - (DD -3 7 2) Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.
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Minelayer
USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
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Seaplane Tender
USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.
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Repair Ship
USS Vestal (AR-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.
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Harbor Tug
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
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Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)
The Kodak Brownie: A Camera for Everyone
The Brownie was introduced by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1900, and its arrival marked a turning point in the history of photography. Before it, cameras were relatively expensive and complicated instruments used mostly by professionals and wealthy hobbyists. The original Brownie was a simple cardboard box camera sold at a very low price, and it was marketed heavily toward children and families.
Simple Design, Lasting Impact
The Brownie used roll film and a basic fixed lens with a simple shutter. Users did not need to understand exposure settings or focusing; they simply pointed the camera and pressed the lever. Kodak's famous approach was that the customer took the pictures and the company handled the developing. Over the following decades, Kodak released many Brownie models in different shapes and materials, and the name remained in use for much of the twentieth century.
Why It Matters to Historians
Because the Brownie was cheap and common, it allowed ordinary people, including soldiers and sailors, to record their own lives. Many family albums from the early and mid twentieth century were created with Brownie cameras, and these amateur snapshots now serve as valuable records of everyday life and major events.
Can Film Really Survive for Decades?
Exposed but undeveloped film can sometimes yield images many years later, although the results vary greatly. After exposure, the film holds what photographers call a latent image, an invisible chemical record waiting to be developed. Over time, this record weakens, and the film can also be affected by heat, humidity and background radiation.
- Storage conditions: Cool, dry and dark places give old film the best chance of survival.
- Fogging and fading: Aged film often shows overall haze, reduced contrast and loss of detail.
- Special processing: Labs that handle vintage film sometimes adjust development methods to recover as much as possible.
Real cases of decades-old rolls being successfully developed do exist, which is one reason stories like this one feel believable.
A Word of Caution About This Collection
This collection circulated widely by email and on websites for many years. Fact-checkers and historians who examined it have pointed out that many of the images closely match official U.S. Navy photographs that have long been held in public archives. That does not reduce the historical importance of the scenes themselves, but it does suggest that the story of a single sailor's forgotten Brownie should be treated with caution. Readers interested in authentic records can consult official naval and national archive collections, which preserve thousands of images from that day.
Historical Context of the Attack
The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States directly into the Second World War. Tensions between Japan and the United States had been growing for years, shaped by Japanese expansion in China and Southeast Asia and by American economic measures, including restrictions on oil exports.
The Day of Infamy
The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress and described December 7, 1941, as a date which will live in infamy. Congress declared war on Japan shortly afterward, and within days Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, turning the conflict into a truly global war.
Memory and Memorials
The wreck of the USS Arizona still lies in the harbor, and the USS Arizona Memorial built above it has become one of the most visited historic sites in Hawaii. Each year, ceremonies honor the people who lost their lives, and the attack remains a central event in American historical memory.
How to Evaluate Viral Historical Photos
- Look for the original source and ask who first published the images.
- Use reverse image search tools to see whether the photos appear in official archives.
- Compare details such as ship names and dates with reliable historical records.
- Be careful with dramatic stories attached to images, especially in forwarded messages.
- Check reputable fact-checking sites and museum collections before sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was a Brownie camera?
It was a low-cost, easy-to-use box camera introduced by Kodak in 1900. It helped popularize amateur photography by making cameras affordable for ordinary families.
Is it possible to develop film that is decades old?
Yes, in some cases. Results depend on the film type and storage conditions, and old film usually shows fading, fog or grain, but specialist labs have recovered images from very old rolls.
Are these photos authentic images of Pearl Harbor?
The scenes appear to show the real attack, but many of the images match official Navy photographs, so the story about their discovery in a single camera is doubtful.
Conclusion
The story of a camera that kept its secrets for 68 years is appealing, and it touches on real facts: the Brownie truly democratized photography, and old film can sometimes be developed long after exposure. At the same time, the history of this particular collection reminds us to check sources before accepting viral claims. Whatever their exact origin, images of Pearl Harbor continue to remind us of a day that changed the course of the twentieth century and of the people who lived through it.
