Photo: Rachel Arroyo — Public domainSource
Charles Russhon
photographer
- March 23, 1911 · New York City
- June 26, 1982
- 71 years
About Charles Russhon
Charles Russhon, 71, American photographer and military officer
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Full Biography
|Charles J. Russhon (March 23, 1911 - June 26, 1982) 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.
Biography
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Russhon worked as a sound engineer for NBC in New York City and for Hollywood-based Republic Pictures in Hollywood.
He served as a photographer in World War II and He served in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II with the 1st Air Commando Group as the unit's photographic officer. His service alongside the Chindits led him to be awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
He was the first American to photograph Hiroshima after the atomic bomb attack. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Air Forces, later transferring to the United States Air Force when it became an independent service in 1947.
After the war, Russhon was a technical adviser to several filmmakers, using his experience from the military. In 1963 he negotiated the use of land in Istanbul from the Turkish authorities during the making of From Russia with Love. In 1964 he obtained rights to use Fort Knox for Goldfinger. The producers acknowledge his help by a sign in the film at Fort Knox that reads "Welcome to Fort Knox - Gen. Russhon".
He was also an adviser on the 1965 Bond film Thunderball and was able to supply the Bell Rocket Belt, the experimental rocket fuel jetpack which is used by James bond to avoid capture in the pre credits sequence. 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 in 1966-67 where he was able to bring Gyrojet weapons into the U.K. and Live and Let Die in 1973 where he was able to stop traffic in New York City for a sequence in the film.
Personal life
Russhon was a lifelong close friend of the renowned cartoonist Milton Caniff, and provided Caniff with the inspiration behind his ice cream-loving character Charlie Vanilla in the comic strip Steve Canyon, Caniff was well aware of Russhon's fondness for the dessert. though the ice cream cone was fashioned after Charles's addiction to chocolate ice cream, but Caniff decided that 'Vanilla,' with the dangling vowel sounded more ominous.
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.
Filmography
- Thunderball (1965) - Air Force Officer (uncredited)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Russhon
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Charles Russhon's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Charles J. Russhon born?
- A.June 26, 1911
- B.June 26, 1910
- C.March 23, 1912
- D.March 23, 1911correct
Charles J. Russhon was born on March 23, 1911.
Source: Biography header
2.Where did Charles J. Russhon work as a sound engineer before the attack on Pearl Harbor?
- A.NBC in New York Citycorrect
- B.CBS in Washington D.C.
- C.ABC in Los Angeles
- D.BBC in London
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Charles J. Russhon worked as a sound engineer for NBC in New York City.
Source: Biography section
3.With which military unit did Charles J. Russhon serve in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II?
- A.1st Air Commando Groupcorrect
- B.5th Fighter Squadron
- C.8th Armored Brigade
- D.2nd Infantry Division
Charles J. Russhon served in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II with the 1st Air Commando Group as the unit's photographic officer.
Source: Biography section
4.For what achievement was Charles J. Russhon awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross?
- A.His service alongside the Chinditscorrect
- B.His photography in Hiroshima
- C.His work at Fort Knox
- D.His navigation of the Skyhook system
Charles J. Russhon's service alongside the Chindits led him to be awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
Source: Biography section
5.What historic distinction did Charles J. Russhon achieve after the atomic bomb attack in Japan?
- A.He directed the documentary on the aftermath
- B.He was the first American to photograph Hiroshimacorrect
- C.He helped rebuild the city infrastructure
- D.He negotiated the peace treaty in Tokyo
Charles J. Russhon was the first American to photograph Hiroshima after the atomic bomb attack.
Source: Biography section
6.In what year did Charles J. Russhon transfer to the United States Air Force?
- A.1963
- B.1947correct
- C.1945
- D.1950
Charles J. Russhon transferred to the United States Air Force when it became an independent service in 1947.
Source: Biography section
7.What did Charles J. Russhon negotiate for the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love?
- A.The use of Fort Knox in Kentucky
- B.The use of land in Istanbulcorrect
- C.The use of a jetpack in London
- D.The use of a naval ship in Greece
In 1963, Charles J. Russhon negotiated the use of land in Istanbul from the Turkish authorities during the making of From Russia with Love.
Source: Biography section
8.What sign was placed at Fort Knox to acknowledge Charles J. Russhon's help during the production of Goldfinger?
- A.Authorized by Lt. Col. Russhon
- B.Welcome to Fort Knox - Gen. Russhoncorrect
- C.Property of Charles Russhon
- D.Charles Russhon Security Zone
The producers of Goldfinger acknowledged Charles J. Russhon's help by a sign that reads Welcome to Fort Knox - Gen. Russhon.
Source: Biography section
9.What specific item did Charles J. Russhon supply for the film Thunderball?
- A.The Aston Martin DB5
- B.The underwater breathing apparatus
- C.The Bell Rocket Beltcorrect
- D.The Gyrojet weapon
Charles J. Russhon supplied the Bell Rocket Belt, the experimental rocket fuel jetpack used by James Bond in Thunderball.
Source: Biography section
10.Which rescue system did Charles J. Russhon help gain access to for the film Thunderball?
- A.The Royal Air Force extraction harness
- B.The US Navy's Skyhook rescue systemcorrect
- C.The underwater submarine lift
- D.The emergency helicopter winch
Charles J. Russhon gained access to the US Navy's experimental Skyhook rescue system used at the end of Thunderball.
Source: Biography section
11.What item was Charles J. Russhon able to bring into the U.K. for the film You Only Live Twice?
- A.Military parachutes
- B.A rocket jetpack
- C.Explosive detonators
- D.Gyrojet weaponscorrect
Charles J. Russhon was able to bring Gyrojet weapons into the U.K. while working on the film You Only Live Twice.
Source: Biography section
12.What feat did Charles J. Russhon perform during the filming of Live and Let Die in 1973?
- A.He secured filming rights in Harlem
- B.He stopped traffic in New York Citycorrect
- C.He designed the boat chase sequence
- D.He provided a military submarine
While working on Live and Let Die in 1973, Charles J. Russhon was able to stop traffic in New York City for a sequence in the film.
Source: Biography section
13.Which cartoonist was a lifelong close friend of Charles J. Russhon?
- A.Charles Schulz
- B.Milton Caniffcorrect
- C.Bill Watterson
- D.Walt Disney
Charles J. Russhon was a lifelong close friend of the renowned cartoonist Milton Caniff.
Source: Personal life section
14.What is the name of the character in Steve Canyon based on Charles J. Russhon?
- A.Charlie Vanillacorrect
- B.Agent Canyon
- C.Chocolate Charles
- D.Lt. Colonel Russhon
Charles J. Russhon provided the inspiration behind the character Charlie Vanilla in the comic strip Steve Canyon.
Source: Personal life section
15.In what city did Charles J. Russhon die?
- A.London
- B.New York Citycorrect
- C.Los Angeles
- D.Istanbul
Charles J. Russhon died at his Manhattan home on Saturday June 26, 1982.
Source: Personal life section
16.Who survived Charles J. Russhon upon his death in 1982?
- A.His business partner Milton Caniff
- B.His brother Arthur and sister Mary
- C.His daughter Sarah and wife Claire
- D.His wife Claire and son Christiancorrect
Charles J. Russhon was survived by his wife Claire, and a son, Christian.
Source: Personal life section
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