With the Boardwalk in their sights, the 11th Bomb Squadron was moments away from pounding the resort city to flinders.  That is until, at least if we read the caption correctly, they were intercepted by the pursuit ships we see stealthily approaching from the southeast.

I say “lucky”, but there is always the possibility that when this photo was snapped the instructor was in the middle of giving his student unshirted hell.  Either way, great shot of a BT-14.

The 105th of the Tennessee National Guard was participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers when these men took a break from buzzing the bayous.

This photo hung on our squadron wall until the unit deactivated. It was in an ancient frame, and they were going to toss it out (!)

Coated in slabs of armor plating, and carrying more machine guns and cannons than there are days in the week, the GA-1 was an ungainly brute to fly.  William Boeing is 3rd from left. One cannot fault Boeing for the design – he built what the Air Service asked for.

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.

With 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.

The BT-8 was a spin-off of the first aircraft the company built, the SEV-3.  The Air Corps bought 30 BT-8’s, but then lost interest.

 

Interesting newspaper clippings from the Seattle Times in 1939 telling the story of the XP-38’s ill-fated cross-country flight. Things were going pretty well until the carbs iced up.  The aircraft crashed near Mitchel Field, NY.

Don’t what the occasion was, but some event of note brought this group of pilots together in the 1930’s.  Center is Lewis Brereton, later a Lieutenant General.  Brereton has the distinction of being the only officer to consecutively serve in the USAF and all its progenitors: The Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps.  Aviation Section, Signal Corps – Air Service – Army Air Corps – Army Air Forces – US Air Force.

Other notables are in this photo as well, including George “Bill” Holloman, namesake of the Air Force Base.  It is also noteworthy that two enlisted pilots are in this photo, Colby and Rosenberg.

Seen at its home field at Fort Crockett.  This Falcon (30-13), when withdrawn from service in 1937, had the distinction of being the last A-3B in the inventory.

Members of Mitchel Field’s 5th Bomb Squadron pose proudly with one of their brand new Martin B-10’s.