In closely examining the shipping case for Mitchell NC #239, we were able to learn a bit more about where this camera likely worked at the time of its original purchase. While it is a bit difficult to read, we believe that the front of the case identifies this camera as belonging to the 18th Army Air Force Base Unit, which was also known as the First Motion Picture Unit. They operated out of the the Hal Roach Studio in Culver City, California during the 2nd World War. The mission of the First Motion Picture Unit was to create training and recruiting films and to train combat camera units that would operate in all theaters of the war. To bring this unit to complete readiness in a hurry, talent was recruited from all of the studios in Hollywood to fill all of the roles required in regular movie production. In all, the FMPU produced more than 400 films between 1942 and 1945 and trained at least 16 combat camera units. At the end of the war in 1945, the studio was returned to Hal Roach, complete with the wartime improvements make by the Army Air Force.
Besides the camera serial number, the lid of the case is also stenciled with what we think are the letters DMPU. If this is an acronym for something, we have not been able to identify it yet. Do you know any more information about this, or about the First Motion Picture Unit? If you do, we would love to hear from you!