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Paul Mantz was much experienced in flying a camera for any filming project. He was certified as an Aerial Director and many filmmakers commented on him being able to position aircraft in just the right way for aerial filming. He used any number of airplanes to mount cameras on, including an as-yet unidentified Stearman. Later, Tallmantz Aviation continued that level of expertise and continued to provide just the right camera plane for every project. Here are a few of the better know ones…better known perhaps but not as well known as the B-25 camera ships that Mantz and Tallmantz were best known for.
An inspired view of the Mantz Lockheed Sirius 8A, NC117W, as photographed by Bill Larkins. The “gun ring” seen in the aft cockpit was actually a mount for a 35 mm motion picture camera. The Sirius was lost in May 1940 near Downey, California, in a mid-air collision with a Vultee. The crew of three on the Sirius was lost. (William T. Larkins)
Mantz Lockheed Orion 9C, operated as NR12222. Mantz used this airplane as a cameraship and it was held by Mantz and Tallmantz until the 1966 sale to Rosen-Novak. It is seen here in August 1957 at his PMAS facility. (J.D. Davis)
This Lockheed 12A (carrying the same civil registration number as that of Amelia Earhart’s ill fated Electra) was used by Mantz as a camera plane for at least one project, that being the 1952 filming of the TV series Terry and the Pirates. It was noted as being involved in a midair collision with a DC-3. Both planes landed damaged but safely. This Electra ultimately was destroyed in a 1961 crash.
This Stinson L-1, civil registered as N63230, was a long and dependable camera ship for both Paul Mantz and, later, Tallmantz Aviation. It was slow and stable and had ample room to carry a camera and cameraman in the aft, open-air, cockpit. In the view at right, the underwing apparatus observed was also part of a camera mount.
Another slow and low mover that worked well as a camera plane was this Curtiss-Wright Jr. CW-1. It provided an excellent camera view from the front of the fuselage with the pilot flying from the flight controls aft. This airplane went to Kermit Weeks in 1985 and remains in his collection.
No doubt many of the Mantz and Tallmantz planes were put into use as camera planes if the situation warranted it. Evidence here with the Boeing 100, N873H, operated by both Mantz and Tallmantz. This view shows the rigging of a camera on the upper wing for a mission to be flown by Frank Tallman.
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