| This is a shot of me at the Tuzla Airbase. Needless to say it was all mud, ice and fog. The main power plant for the city burns coal, and there are no EPA controls. So the soot from the coal creates terrible "smog" in a region with very few cars. | |
| This is (from right to left) Wayne (a fellow "photog"), Sharon (our great escort), and a serious looking member of our Marine helicopter flight crew, in Bari, Italy. We were also accompanied by two TV reporters and a print journalist. The group stayed together for 3 long weeks. | |
| We flew from Bari, to the USS Wasp in a large cargo helicopter. The ride was bumpy, but the view was great. The Marine crew members normally man these windows keeping an eye on the lookout for the enemy. Luckily, we were over safe waters. | |
| These are the Harrier Jets aboard the USS Wasp, just prior to take off. They are impressive machines that seem to defy the laws of physics with their vertical take offs. | |
| After spending some time on the Wasp, we came back ashore, and flew into Tulza, Bosnia. One of the stories that really touched me was the Tuzla orphanage. All of these children lost their families to the war. Some even witnessed their parents deaths, but they still manage to smile. They are the innocent victims our troops have gone in to protect. | |
| We were lucky enough to work with the ABC News Tuzla Bureau, which was set up in a local Bosnian's house about a quarter mile walk from the airbase. The people there were great, and with the equipment set up in someone's bedroom, it was an interesting working environment. We did a live shot for our 5pm newscast back in Norfolk, but because of the time difference, we did it at 11pm local time. | |
| And finally, this is me back at the Tuzla Airbase. I'm standing next to a downed Russian Mig. It had been checked for mines, but I probably shouldn't have touched it anyway. | |
What do you think about what is going on in Bosnia. I would like to hear from you. Send your opinions to B Roll Online and I'll post them here.
While working for the ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach in 1992 I helped to smuggle in 2 million dollars worth of medical supplies into the Sarejevo area. Mostar to be exact. To avoid the black market's interception of these supplies we went through Gratz, Austria taking back roads at night to avoid the malitia. We were stopped 18 times at gun point getting into the country. Eventually the black market was successful at stealing one of our trucks full of supplies. Little did they know we planted the driver in a truck full of 300 cases of avon deoderant soap....
We were to leave through the Sarejevo airport the day 12 people were killed at that airport. The Serbian guards boarded our bus, ordered me to stop shooting and began looking through my equipment. Upon finding my White House credentials they decided to let us leave if we could find another airport. Twenty four hours later we found one.
Very interesting trip considering the US State Dept turned their backs on us. I would love to be able to return now to compare what I shot then to what the Hospital in Mostar and the surrounding towns look like now. Anyone with video from Mostar today please let me know.
I can no longer shoot video because my back gave out upon retuning from that trip. i would love any e mail from fellow photogs...
Take care of yourselves out there...
Jim Donnelly Margate, Florida
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