Mitchel Field B-10

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

The 11th Bomb Squadron rumbles over Mather Field on April 4, 1930

Ju 90

Billing itself as the “Koenigin der luft” (Queen of the air), the Junkers Ju 90 was a pretty decent aircraft. Most were pressed into service with the Luftwaffe as transports.

Two seat P-39

Bolting another cockpit in front of the P-39’s existing cockpit afforded the front-seater an excellent view of the propeller whirling inches from his toes.

Brand new Bell P-39’s

Selfridge Field’s 31st Pursuit Group go for a cruise high in the Michigan sky.

Latest news from Bell

The December 17, 1953 front page of the Bell Aircraft News features the “old man” himself, Larry Bell, and the man who made Bell aircraft synonymous with speed, Chuck Yeager. Once again, he was the fastest man in the world.

O1-C (27-268)

The caption on this photo of an O1-C states: “Lt. Wheeler in Curtiss Falcon attack plane at Curtiss-Wright Airport, Chicago, June 27, 1930. I was in gunner’s cockpit while we flew in formation over the city for an hour.”

Y10-1G

What started as a Curtiss O-1E Falcon, turned into a XBT-4, and finally a Y10-1G. Whatever you want to call it, 29-295 had a short but interesting career. After all those name changes, 295 crashed in 1932.

Curtiss B-2 Condor

General William E. Gilmore, head of the Air Corp’s Material Division at Wright Field, demonstrates the latest wonder to take to the sky: two-way communications. He’s perched in the nose of a B-2 Condor of the 96th Bomb Squadron. Photo dated 4-11-30.

A-8 & A-12

With it’s shark-like nose, I prefer the look of the A-8 over that of the radial engined A-12, but I like the aircraft’s overall design, no matter what.

Curtiss A-8 and A-12 Shrike

The Curtiss A-8 and A-12 Shrike are hands-down my favorite aircraft of the 1930’s. (The A-8 more so) Unfortunately, there are no survivors of the type. (Why can’t my favorite plane have at least one example extant?)

Fleet Aircraft

Ya just gotta love the ads they cooked up in the 1930’s. Fleet Aircraft inc. in Buffalo NY had some of the best.

Curtiss B-2 Condor visits Boeing Field

Webp.net-resizeimage (7) Good camouflage job. In the background are a pair of Boeing 247’s, and a brace of Boeing Model 80’s.

Sketch of C-119 operations in Korea, 1951

B-47E Stratojet doing just what a 1950’s jet aircraft did with perfection…

…that is, smoking like rubber factory going up in flames. Here, 51-5222 of the 96th Bomb Wing makes its contribution.

Berliner-Joyce OJ-2 (9199)

Aircraft served with VS-6B on the light cruiser USS Concord in the mid 1930’s.

“Mainliner Hawaii”

United Airlines never made much money from their Boeing 377s. I’ll let my dad (UAL pilot 1945-81) give his verdict: “The 377 was one expensive mother to operate.” The beast seen here is N31225, “Mainliner Hawaii.”

Pitcairn autogyro

A Pitcairn autogyro always attracted an audience, but unfortunately for the pilot of this PA-18, the onlookers aren’t arriving to take in the wonders of his hybrid aerial marvel. The place is Floyd Bennett Field, date, June, 3rd, 1939. The pilot is standing next to the aircraft and calmly unbuckling his helmet. One of New York’s finest has arrived via Harley Davidson.

FJ-3 Fury (BuNo 135801)

P-51B 43-24856, 319th Fighter Squadron

Crew chief is putting the final touches to the words “The Third Dallas Blonde.” Aircraft was shot down in November, 1944. The pilot, Donald P. Kerns, bailed out but unfortunately became a POW and died in captivity.

F-51 44-63495, Michigan Air Guard.

F-51, Minnesota Air National Guard

This aircraft, 44-73656, belongs to the 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Check out the gopher emblem on the tale. Gopher = Minnesota’s favorite beast.

California Air National Guard P-51 Mustangs

Well, come to think of it, by the time these photos were taken, it was the F-51, but let’s not split hairs. Serials are 44-74720, 44-74825, and 44-74607.

Grumman Goose of the Coast Guard

New & Shiny KC-135A 56-3594

This is one of the so-called “short tail” tankers, a feature found on the earliest 135’s. Photo taken at Walker AFB, NM. Although closed decades ago, Walker is used for many aviation activities (the now former Reno Air Races will soon be one of them). The massive SAC hangar in the background is still in use today.