Charles Russhon
Encyclopedia
Charles J. Russhon was an American
photographer and Lieutenant Colonel
in the United States Air Force
who later became noted for his role as a technical adviser and liaison officer on the Sean Connery
and Roger Moore
James Bond
films of the 1960s and 1970s.
He served as a photographer in World War II
and was the first American
to photograph Hiroshima
after the atomic bomb attack
. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater of WWII and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
in the United States Army Air Force.
After the war, Russhon became interested in motion pictures and served as a technical adviser to filmmakers. He used his former position in the airforce and expertise most notably on the James Bond
films enabling the producer to gain access to previously off boundary locations and equipment. In 1963 he negotiated the use of land in Istanbul
from the Turkish authorities during the making of From Russia With Love
and gained the rights to use Fort Knox
for Goldfinger
in 1964 using his position in the Army Air Force to allow special use in film. The producers acknowledge his help by a sign in the film at Ft Knox that reads "Welcome Gen. Russhon".
He was also an adviser on the 1965 Bond film Thunderball
and was able to supply the experimental rocket fuel used to destroy the Disco Volante
in the film. Russhon using his position was also able to gain access to the US Navy's still experimental Skyhook rescue system which was used to lift actors Sean Connery
and Claudine Auger
from the water at the end of the film. Russhon appears in Air Force uniform in the film.
Russhon later worked on You Only Live Twice
and Live and Let Die
in 1973.
Milton Caniff
and provided Caniff with the inspiration behind his ice cream
loving character Charlie Vanilla in the comic strip Steve Canyon
., like Russhon sharing a fondness for the dessert.
He died at his Manhattan
home on Saturday June 26, 1982 aged 71 and was survived by his wife Claire, and a son, Christian, both of New York City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer and Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
who later became noted for his role as a technical adviser and liaison officer on the Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
films of the 1960s and 1970s.
He served as a photographer in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to photograph Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
after the atomic bomb attack
. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater of WWII and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the United States Army Air Force.
After the war, Russhon became interested in motion pictures and served as a technical adviser to filmmakers. He used his former position in the airforce and expertise most notably on the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
films enabling the producer to gain access to previously off boundary locations and equipment. In 1963 he negotiated the use of land in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
from the Turkish authorities during the making of From Russia With Love
From Russia with Love (film)
From Russia with Love is the second in the James Bond spy film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1963, the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the...
and gained the rights to use Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
for Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
in 1964 using his position in the Army Air Force to allow special use in film. The producers acknowledge his help by a sign in the film at Ft Knox that reads "Welcome Gen. Russhon".
He was also an adviser on the 1965 Bond film Thunderball
Thunderball (film)
Thunderball is the fourth spy film in the James Bond series starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, which in turn was based on an original screenplay by Jack Whittingham...
and was able to supply the experimental rocket fuel used to destroy the Disco Volante
Disco Volante (ship)
The Disco Volante is a fictional ship in the James Bond novel Thunderball and its 1965 film adaptation of the same name. It was a hydrofoil craft owned by Emilio Largo, an agent of SPECTRE. It was purchased with SPECTRE funds for £200,000. The craft plays a pivotal role in the seizure and...
in the film. Russhon using his position was also able to gain access to the US Navy's still experimental Skyhook rescue system which was used to lift actors Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Claudine Auger
Claudine Auger
Claudine Auger is a French actress best known for her role as Bond girl Dominique "Domino" Derval in the James Bond film Thunderball . She earned the title of Miss France Monde and was also the first runner-up in the 1958 Miss World contest.Born in Paris, France, she attended St...
from the water at the end of the film. Russhon appears in Air Force uniform in the film.
Russhon later worked on You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
and Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (film)
Live and Let Die is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman...
in 1973.
Personal life
Russhon was a lifelong close friend of the renowned cartoonistCartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
Milton Caniff
Milton Caniff
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff was an American cartoonist famous for the Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon comic strips.-Biography:...
and provided Caniff with the inspiration behind his ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
loving character Charlie Vanilla in the comic strip Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon was a long-running American adventure comic strip by writer-artist Milton Caniff. Launched shortly after Caniff retired from his previous strip, Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon ran from January 13, 1947 until June 4, 1988, shortly after Caniff's death...
., like Russhon sharing a fondness for the dessert.
He died at his Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
home on Saturday June 26, 1982 aged 71 and was survived by his wife Claire, and a son, Christian, both of New York City.