Author: thejivebombers

VC-5, early 1950s

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AJ Savage

One of the US Navy’s unsung yet most important squadrons was VC-5 in the late 40’s/early 50’s.  Flying first the P2V Neptune, then the AJ Savage, VC-5 was tasked with lugging atomic weapons from the decks of carriers at a time when the navy was struggling to maintain a viable role.  No longer allowed to possess bombers (thanks, USAF!), the navy scratched about and came up with “Attack Squadrons.”  (“No, no, these aren’t ‘bombers’; they are ‘attack’ aircraft.”)  Whatever the name, the successful innovation of a carrier-based nuclear bomber – er, attack aircraft – saved the navy’s bacon.

The dedication of the Columbia South Carolina Municipal Airport in 1930

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Many notables attended, but one of the real eye-catchers were the Keystone bombers of the 20th Bomb Squadron from Langley Field, VA.  The lead ship was christened “Miss Columbia SC” by Miss Clara-Ellen Owens, daughter of mayor L.B. Owens.  Hizzoner’s name was later given to the airport itself, and remains in use to this day.

The Wright Brothers

img901img902img903img904A series of original Wright Brothers photos that I have never seen before.  Comparing them with known photos, the first two were taken during the famous trials at Fort Myer, Virginia in 1908.  The second photo shows Orville standing in front of the “cockpit” while soldiers restrain the machine which ran at only one speed – full power. This series of demonstration flights ended in tragedy when the aircraft crashed killing the observer, Lt. Thomas Selfridge, and severely injuring Orville.

The next two photos show the Wright Flyer at Governors Island, NY, in September, 1910. The close-up sees Wilbur Wright explaining to a lady the finer points of the machine. With Orville recuperating from the Fort Myer crash, Wilbur carried on the brothers’s work. While at Governors Island, he undertook several flights the most famous being around the Statue of Liberty and New York harbor. If one looks closely, they can see the red canoe Wilbur strapped to the machine’s underside in case he had to ditch in that harbor. Ever the realist, Wilbur’s intent was not that the canoe would keep the aircraft afloat, but rather that it would make a water landing survivable – that set of forward elevators would have dug into the water and launched Wilbur right through them.

2nd Bomb Group B-17B

img898With all four motors turning, this B-17B Flying Fortress of the 2nd Bomb Group readies to taxi at Langley Field in the late 1930’s.

The story goes that when reporters saw the machine guns bristling from an early B-17, they dubbed it a veritable “Flying Fortress.”  I have often questioned that tale, and here’s why: The four machine guns of an early B-17 did not represent a quantum leap in quantity when compared to the other bombers of the era. (The Martin B-10 carried 3)  One man’s opinion, but I have always felt the Flying Fortress name derived less from its armament and more from its size and its ability to defend neutrally-minded America. Or, it was just a good sounding name.