The Naval and Marine Corps Reserve at NAS Seattle took turns with their Skyraiders. To keep everyone happy (or near to it) the dual designation on the AD’s reflected each branch of those services. AD-5 133872 was later transferred to the South Vietnam Air Force.
Newly-minted mechanics of the 5th Bomb Group at Hickam Field in 1941. The names of the men are on the back of the photo and research shows that one, unfortunately, was killed December 7th 1941. Another man was killed at the Battle of Midway.
SAC often sent aircraft and crews to civilian airports in order to disperse the bomber force. This B-47E (53-2143) of the 307th Bomb Wing, Lincoln AFB, is seen at Chicago O’Hare airport in 1960.
Lt. F. H. Goodrich, Major Lloyd Showalter, and Capt. Ralph Snoke admire a P-6 Hawk from Selfridge Field. All were serving in the Air Corps reserve when this photo was taken in 1932.
When the movie “Hell’s Angels” hit the screen, audiences got to see a host of authentic WW1 aircraft. This isn’t one of them. It is the post-war (and one-off) Sikorsky S-29 done up like a German Gotha bomber. Eh, close enough. This was not the aircraft’s first “acting” job. In its pre-Hollywood days, the S-29 had been fitted out as a bomber in the hopes of attracting the attention of the Air Corps. It did nothing of the sort.
In fact, the S-29 never had much luck finding its niche, this despite the aircraft’s solid performance. The first twin-engine aircraft able to maintain altitude on one motor, this power was also utilized to haul baby grand pianos. (I dunno, was that also a first?). The list goes on (first plane to operate as a flying radio station, etc.). But, it never met with success in its intended role of a passenger plane. Sold off by Sikorsky, it continued to perform a variety of roles (flying cigar store – maybe another first?) before ending up in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, the aircraft came apart during the filming of Hell’s Angels, the pilot parachuting to safety.
From the seaplane tender USS Tangier at Oakland, CA, July 1941. At that time, Tangier was still being placed in commission, so I’m guessing this Kingfisher (2216) will lose his wheels once its ship is ready.
The L-15 Scout never made it as a military aircraft, but the dozen aircraft that were built eventually found work elsewhere. Nifty idea with the quick-attach wings.
A pair of P-80’s of the 56th Fighter Group. 45-8320 is from the 61st Fighter Squadron, Jet. 44-85464 is from the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Jet. It wears the kill markings of Group CO, Dave Schilling.
Republic AT-12 (41-17509) was a two-seat trainer version of the P-35. Built for the Swedish air force, The AT-12 and other foreign-bound aircraft were impounded by the US early in WWII. This AT-12, like most of the impounded aircraft, entered US service.
The Jive Bomber 