Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 12 October 1944, page 7


NOTED CAMERAMAN DIES AT 29

Took Historic Pictures

John Howes, who was cameraman for the making of three Australian films, and who was formerly war correspondent photographer for the Department of Information and the NEI Government in operational areas, died at his residence, Yarra-lumla, Toorak Rd, South Yarra, on Tuesday, and was cremated yes-terday. He was 29.

The three Australian films for

which he was cameraman were "The Flying Doctor," "That Certain Something," and "The Power and the Glory."

Early in his career he gained a re-putation for exclusive coverages. He photographed the arrival of Scott and Black in the Centenary Air Race, and his pictures were sent to Lon-don by picturegram the same day. Since 1941 he had specialised in documentary films for the NEI Go-vernment, and he made the most comprehensive film ever done in the NEI, including the Indies prepara-tions for war.

He was in Darwin on behalf of the Australian Department of Informa-tion when the first Japanese bomb-ing raid occurred. Though in bed with dengue fever he got up and photographed the bombing, but a near bomb burst destroyed the film and damaged his equipment. He never fully recovered from the fever and shock.

While engaged as war correspondent cameraman for the NEI Government Information Service he also covered the Dutch war effort in various parts of Australia and Dutch New Guinea, and was technical adviser to the Dutch Film and Photographic Unit. He pioneered the development of many processes and formulae, and at the time of his death was engaged in special research work.