Get Those Guys Off My Boat, Another Jug or Two, Some Guard Mainstays, And a Couple of SEA Phantoms

The Skyhawk Hits the Big Time

Everybody knows the Douglas TA-4J had a lengthy career with the Navy's Training Command, and everybody knows that TraCom had a dedicated aircraft carrier assigned to it. What a lot of folks might not know is that the "Scooter" occasionally bounced off the Big Boats as well. Rick Morgan was on CV-65 USS Enterprise in September of 1987 and took these fascinating images:

Coming aboard. It's easy to forget how tiny the TA-4J really is until you have something nearby to put the size (or lack of it!) into perspective.This "Scooter" from TW-2 is in position for a textbook-perfect three-wire trap and is absolutely dwarfed by Enterprise's deck. There was good reason for that whole "Bantam Bomber" nickname!  Rick Morgan

Sometimes it's tough to find a parking place even when you aren't at the mall. This assemblage of "Scooters" includes aircraft marked for TW-2, TW-3, and VT-7, and at least one of them carries the legend "MARINES" rather than "NAVY" on the port side of the fin. It's interesting to see the way the Insignia Red under the slats is displayed when said slats are deployed. (On the A-4 the slats were aerodynamic and therefore extended when the aircraft was parked, the A-4Fs of the Blue Angels being the exception to the rule, and that exception being A Story for Another Day.)  Note the different styles and colors of the unit designators on the vertical stabs.  Rick Morgan

Taxiing out. Those TraCom birds were used pretty hard and their paintwork could suffer as a result. This TW-2 bird is a fine example; note the overall condition of her paint and, in particular, the badly-worn and faded paintwork under her starboard slat. The "Scooters" shown in this piece display two distinctly different wing-walk treatments as well; check out that photo of the pack that we ran just above this one for a perfect illustration of what we're talking about.  Rick Morgan

It's been fun, but it's time to go home now! 735 is one of at least two VT-7 aircraft that carries the "MARINES" identifier on the port side of the fin; the starboard side still reads "NAVY" on both aircraft. The Navy Reserves used to do it this way, but it's not all that common in TraCom. Note that, in direct comparision to our previous photo, this aircraft is immaculate and quite possibly just out of the NARF. Fly Navy!  Rick Morgan

Hey, That's Not Gabby's Airplane!

Republic's legendary P-47 Thunderbolt achieved fame and glory in both the Pacific theater and in Europe back during The Big One, but the airplane soldiered on for quite a while afterwards in the Guard and, to a far more limited extent, the regular Air Force. Those airplanes were tired and mostly gone by the time of the Korean Unpleasantness so their combat time was limited to the Second World War and a few skirmishes in Latin America, which means most folks aren't familiar with them in their post-War plummage. Today, thanks to the kindness of Jim Sullivan and Dave Menard, we're going to take a look at some of those almost-forgotten D models.

They're late enough to have their "PE" buzz number appended to the lower wings and fuselage, but other than that we don't know a whole lot about this shot except that it was taken in late 1947 and there are a whole bunch of "Jugs" sitting on that patch of PSP.  Jim Sullivan Collection

Virginia had this unusually configured F-47D on strength after the conversion to the "new" national insignia in 1947. That ADF football on the fuselage spine behind the canopy isn't very common on the "Jug" and really sets this one apart.  Jim Sullivan Collection

The year is now 1948, and here's what a whole bunch of 149th FS Virginia ANG P-47Ds look like when they're all running up at once. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that these aircraft are bereft of the fuselage star and bar, not an uncommon thing on Guard birds of the late 1940s.  Jim Sullivan Collection

New York's 136th FS flew the "Jug" post-War; here we see 44-32669 from that unit sitting placidly on the ramp. There were all sorts of ways to display the "NG" identifier on the Thunderbolt. Here's one of the more creative ones.  Peter Bowers via Menard Collection

Very few people think of Rhode Island when they think of fighter aircraft, but their National Guard flew them briefly after the war. 44-32927 sits on the ramp at Providence in this classic shot; note the squadron badge and presentation of the Rhode Island ANG designator. Menard Collection

New England was apparently a hotbed of fighter activity as far as the Guard was concerned, with large numbers of F-47 and F-51 units concentrated there during the late 40s and early 50s. This gorgeous example is from Massachusett's 131st FS. We're guessing her paintwork is red and white over a natural metal airframe with flat black anti-glare panels, and her markings are simple enough that she could be modeled with no requirement for decals beyond national insignia, letters and numbers. Anybody out there looking for a somewhat out-of-the-ordinary subject to build?  Besecker via Menard Collection

If you frequent any of the various modeling periodicals or internet boards, you'll eventually read where somebody or other is lamenting that it was the F-51 that went to Korea rather than the F-47. It's a little-known fact that some National Guard P-47 units were still around at the outbreak of that particular party, and that at least a couple of them were Federalized as a result of the conflict. 44-32894 belongs to either New Jersey's 141st FS or Virginia's 149th, and it's shown here getting ready to get ready to rumble. The Air Force saw things differently, though, and the somewhat limited supply pipeline for the Thunderbolt plus large numbers of F-51Ds and Ks already in the Far East guaranteed that it was to be the Mustang's war.  Menard Collection

Here's a nose shot of 894. We could argue the point that this airplane belongs in your collection of Korean War models since its parent unit was Federalized for that conflict---there's logic there, and it would definitely be a conversation-starter among knowledgeable modelers! Any takers?  Menard Collection

Republic built a whole bunch of Thunderbolts during the course of just a couple of short years, but in the post-War world there just wasn't any room for a piston-engined fighter, no matter how good it was. A few airplanes of the species had survived both conflict and the passage of time and one lived on to be restored by the factory in honor of the type's 20th birthday in 1961. Here's 44-32691 in all her restoration glory, gleaming in the sunshine. She looks proud, doesn't she?  Menard Collection

This isn't our favorite picture of the "Jug", but it defines how a great many of them ended up. A substantial number of the species survived conflict to be scrapped at the end of the war, while some of those that had served in the Pacific were simply bull-dozed into the ocean. A handful survived in Latin American, and a tiny percentage of P-47s are flying today as Warbirds. The airplane deserved a better fate.  Menard Collection

At some point in the very near future we'll take a look at the post-War P-47N, so hang around. We'll make it worth your while!

And While We're Talkin' About the Guard

We've been traveling down the post-War ANG path quite a bit of late, and there's certainly no reason to stop now! We've mostly covered piston-engined fighters so far, but Mark Nankivil has provided us with a couple of photos of Guard birds that aren't fighters. We think you'll like 'em!

When we were in elementary school (that "we" being Third Person Speak for me, in case you hadn't figured it out yet) the TB-25N was a normal part of life; Sheppard AFB was still operating the type as a trainer and it wasn't at all unusual to look up and see one chugging along overhead. That, plus a featured role for the airplane in the movie No Time for Sergeants, pretty much guarantees that it's a favorite around here, which makes this TB-25N of the Missouri ANG a special treat. Oh yeah, and check out the way the ANG markings are presented on this airframe!  Greater St Louis Air and Space Museum via Mark Nankivil

Our next-door-neighbor's sons had this enormous yellow T-6G hanging from their ceiling when your editor was a kid at Sheppard in 1957. That makes it yet another personal favorite, and also means that we really like this photo from Mark's collection. The airplane is pretty typical for an ANG T-6; late-model canopies, an ADF football, and lots of yellow paint. Beauty!  Greater St Louis Air and Space Museum via Mark Nankivil

The Bent-Wing Bug Sucker at War

Since we've been riding that F-4 horse of late, it's only appropriate that we run another shot or two of them today. These are from the collection of Chris Williamson and depict aircraft involved in the latter days of the Vietnam conflict.

There's just something about an F-4D with a towel rack on it that makes us want to reach for the old Monogram F-4C/D kit. Here's a fine reason why; this example is undergoing last-minute maintenance at Udorn during the early 1970s. She belonged to the 435th TFS/8th TFW when the photo was taken, and was very likely involved in the early deployment of "smart" munitions to the theater. The photo is probably a little bit faded and those SEA colors were notoriously prone to fading all by themselves without help from anyone's camera, but this shot provides a great illustration of how paint went south in the field. Camouflage pedantics beware!  Williamson Collection

It's good to be home. The airplane is an early F-4E and is from either the 307th or 308th TFS/31st TFW, and appears to be coming off a combat mission. The year is probably 1972, and she's a well-used Phantom. Have we ever mentioned that we like the F-4?  Williamson Collection

We don't know how you might feel about it, but this airplane is carrying a load full of hurt that we'd just as soon avoid. She was with the 13th TFS/432nd TFW when this photo was taken, and is another LORAN-equipped F-4D. A lot of those towel-racked Delta-models had black bellies and spent more than a little time dropping laser-guided munitions, but this bird is configured for an in-country strike. Check out that emblem on the intake splitter!  Williamson Collection

Happy Snaps

A few weeks ago Doug Barbier, former fighter pilot and photographer extraordinaire, sent us a small series of air-to-air F-16 shots for this section of the blog. Here's the final one in that series for your enjoyment today.

You gotta admit it; Doug Barbier knows his way around a camera. This beautifully-marked "Electric Jet" is from Michigan's 191st TFS and was taken shortly before they gave up the fighter business for good. It was a sad day for all concerned but obviously a wonderful photo op. We miss the 191st, though...  Doug Barbier

The Relief Tube

And here we are again, with another batch of corrections, additions, and comments, which is as good a time as any to ask that our readership feel free to write us regarding same. The address is replicainscale@yahoo.com and we answer our mail. We also welcome contributions as long as they fall within the rather obvious parameters we've set for the project, so please consider contributing photography if you're so inclined!

We're going to start off a little differently than we normally do, with a request for help on a project. If you've got any previously-unpublished pictures of the 58th FG in the Pacific during WW2, would you consider scanning them (at a high resolution, please, since they're intended for print publication rather than electronic) and forwarding them to that now-famous replicainscale@yahoo.com address? Friend of Replica and author Frank Emmett is working on a monograph of the unit and could use a few more photos. Full credit will be given for any images used. And now; back to our never-scheduled corrections and comments!

We were talking about FH-1 Phantoms a couple of issues ago, and made mention of those yellow covers on the nose. Tommy Thomason thought about that for a while and offered this thought:   Looking more closely at those yellow "access panels" on the FH-1 color picture, I'm pretty sure that they are yellow zinc-chromate painted vents, added after delivery to resolve some problem like compartment cooling or gun-gas buildup. They would have come from McDonnell, primed but unpainted, and locally installed. Apparently painting them the exterior color was a low priority. Another example of an unpainted fleet modification is attached, the gun-gas vent on the F9F Panther nose.  T

Here's Tommy's photo of the gun gas vent on an F9F to substantiate the thought that those covers are yellow zinc chromate (Mil-P-8585T). Based on this shot we'd tend to agree.  Thomason Collection

Another one of our readers sent in the following comments regarding the TAF-9 photos we ran last issue. The clanger we dropped on that one was large enough to merit instant correction, but here's Rex's comment on the mistake:  Phil, those "TF-9As" would have been either TAF-9Js if they were single seaters or TF-9Js if they were two seaters, both were based on F9F-8 which became F-9J, or F9F-8B which became AF-9J. Hope this helps!   RexTN  Thanks, Rex! (You just never know what we're going to mis-identify next!)

A further note and some insight on that whole TraCom thing from one who was there is provided by former "Stoof" driver Doug Siegfried:  Phillip, the shots of TraCom were over the top. Great shots of the real oldies. By the way - a correction. In the summer of 1971 the Naval Air training Command was reorganized for the first time since late 1945. TraCom disestablished the Basic and Advanced Training commands and coordinated all flight training through eight new training wings under the single base concept. The new TraWings 1 thru 8 were to be at NAS Meridian, Chase, Kingsville, Corpus, Whiting, Pensacola, Saufley and Glynco. The wings at Glynco and Saufley were disestablished when the two bases closed. There were no Tra Wings in 1964. The squadrons belonged to the base and the the Basic and Advanced Training Commands. Great shots all the way around.  Cheers, Doug  Many thanks, Doug!

Our last F-102 installment included a photo of F-102A 56-1334. Marty Isham and Dave Menard both sent unit IDs on that one, and Dave also added some comments regarding the F-84F factory shot we ran:

Hi, Phil. Two more (corrections) for you! That Deuce 61334 is from the 332nd FIS, who was based at beautiful Thule AB Greenland, not Alaska. I was TDY up there during April, May and June of 1958 and know those hangers well! Also, that factory fresh F-84F was 53-6776, not 56, as there were no F-84s built with a higher FY than 1953. That shortened tail number was a result of some moron in HQ USAF deciding that radio call numbers (the official name for tail numbers) should only be four digits. This meant that many a/c got totally SNAFUed numbers for a year or so til sanity returned. I know of one F-86D 210035 that wound up with 2035 as her number. Will try to dig up some shots of this farce to send along. Oh, yes, the Thunderbird F-84Fs got the four digits only scheme. Since they flew that model in late 55 and then into 1956, that will help ID possible dating for future photos perhaps? Great job on the blog, usual. Cheers, dave 

We'll run that shot of 52-10035 in a minute, but first let's hear from Marty about that "Deuce":  Hi Bud...just a bit of a geography lesson, the 332nd was based at Thule AB, not Alaska, from July 60 to Apr 65, last 5 a/c left to Perrin. Hanger space only allowed 12 a/c. 332nd inactivated on 1 July 1965.  Cheers....Marty
Thanks as always, guys! And here's that F-86D that Dave mentioned:

                                                                                   A. Pendleton via Menard
 

                                                                                             Menard Collection

Look closely at these photos, then read Dave's explanation above. Sometimes it's possible to overthink a problem and come up with a truly goofy solution...  Menard Collection

It's not often we get to see where the airplanes we feature ended up, but reader Kevin Kuhn found one of them on display:  It was with some amazement that I opened the first photo in your selection of Texas Voodoos to see F-101B 57-0308, a Voodoo I've become quite familiar with over the past few years. By some weird twist of fate, she's now the gateguard at Wilmington Airpark (ex-Airborne Airpark) in Wilmington, Ohio. As I go to school just south of Cincinnati, and live in Columbus, I've tried to stop and photograph her whenever I'm traveling between the two cities. Her presence is probably a result of the airport's former status as Clinton County Air Force Base, but I'm at a loss as to why, as I don't think it was ever a fighter base, and the only Voodoos in Ohio that I'm aware of were based in my hometown of Columbus, at Rickenbacker AFB. I've attached a pair of photos of the old lady as she appears today; she's looking a bit rough but she's still a proud bird standing her guard post. They're probably not nearly as interesting as the in-service pictures but if you'd like to publish them go right ahead, just credit me as Kevin Kuhn.

I've only seen one other photo of 308 while in service, found here: http://www.airfighters.com/photo/39499/L/USA-Air-Force/McDonnell-F-101B-Voodoo/57-0308/
To be honest I'd never expected to find any photo of her while in service, let alone two. If you happen to come across any photos of F-86H 53-1528 while still in service please let me know, as she's another airframe I've got some connection to. I'm a big fan of your blog-only discovered it recently but the wealth of photographic information contained in it is astounding. Enjoy the photos, and keep up the good work!  Kevin Kuhn  Thanks, Kevin, both for your kind words and for the photos!

She looked a lot better when she was in active service, but at least 308 ended up with a home that didn't include incorporation into a set of cookware. Many thanks to Kevin for providing these photos. (And if any of our readers have a photo of F-86H 53-1528 in their collections, please consider forwarding it to us at replicainscale@yahoo.com . Kevin would enjoy it and we'd like to see it too!)  Both photos by Kevin Kuhn

As a final note, we don't do much with aircraft of the Second World War around here, but we've recently been offered some extremely interesting images that we think you'll all enjoy. We'll begin looking at a few of them next issue but until then, be good to your neighbor. We'll meet again soon.
phil

Another Modular Hawk on the Bench, More Hogs, Some Mustangs, And a Couple of Spiffy Skyrays

Long Time Gone

Or, where I've been. It's New Job time again---what an odd little economy we've more or less got---and we missed last week due to the requirements thereof. Missing a week isn't my first choice, but if I don't pay the bills I can't do this blog; it's a classic case of priorities, as it were. Anyway, we're back again and, I think, with some really special stuff; let's us get started, whaddayathink?

Another Modular Hawk

There's something about the P-40 that has an appeal for most modelers, and I have to admit I'm hooked on the airplane too. For me it's mostly the early ones, most specifically the "E" models in use in the SWP back during The Bad Old Days of WW2, but I'll occasionally do an "N" to break things up a bit and, if I'm really in the mood to shake the tree, I'll build one in 1/32nd scale. That's what's happening today or, more specifically, for the past three weeks. Here's where I am as of today:

First, there was the simple act of getting the kit. I saw a release notice on one of those internet scale modeling sites and immediately put in a call to My Favorite Local Hobby Shop, the employees of which were convinced that such a marvel did not exist and that I was, in fact, chasing the 1/48th scale Hase offering of same. It took about 6 weeks before I was able to convince them that the 1/32nd scale kit really existed, and another two weeks after that to get it. Oh well, I'm stubborn, and I wanted the kit. I kept after it, and I eventually got it. There's a lesson therein.

Anyway, I got the thing, and now it's mostly together and partially painted and, as usual, it's going to be finished as an aircraft from the 49th FG; this time the 7th FS using some exceptionally nice decals made by the folks at Zotz. We're not going to to a blow-by-blow account of how to build the thing, because I figure you've already got some modeling skills to your credit, but there are a couple of things that could stand mention.

First, everything on this kit fits, which is in direct opposition to the ranting, raving, wailing, and general silliness you may have read on the internet about Hasegawa's 1/48th and 1/32nd scale Warhawks. All it takes is a little care when you're removing the parts from the sprues and cleaning them up, plus a little finesse when you're aligning things and Zip-Zap-Zoop; you've got an airframe! The Hasegawa P-40s are eminately buildable.

Second, there's not much of an aftermarket for the type. The cockpit can stand some Eduardizing, as it were, but that's mostly to get the various placards, etc, that you'll need to complete the interior. Those placards, plus a set of belts and harnesses, will finish off the almost-adequate kit cockpit very nicely. (I've only seen one release of the "N" model in 1/32nd, the Every-Schoolboy-Used-to-Have-the-Picture 1 of 15,000 bird. The only decals given with the kit are for that airplane, making the aforementioned Zotz sheet an essential.)

Third, and as to be expected with any airplane assigned to the 49th FG in the Pacific during the war, there are some questions about the markings. We'll get to those in modest detail later, but the bird I'm doing makes for the usual Interesting Study in Contradictions Regarding Airplanes of the 49th. If any of you hold original photography on the airplane, please wait until I've completely finished the model and couldn't possibly go back and un-do the damage, then scan and send those photos to replicainscale@yahoo.com . Right on!

 Here's where we are so far. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that there's a lot of work to do on that spinner before we call it Done. Masking it most assuredly was not my finest hour! The transparencies have been faired into the fuselage but not yet masked and painted, and the major paintwork (sans those transparencies) has been done. I'm not certain about the cut line where the white conspicuity markings on the emennage meet the aft fus and may alter them later, or maybe not. Colors are Testor ModelMaster enamel, with RAF Azure Blue being used for the pale blue tail stripe; it seems to be an excellent match right out of the bottle. The poorly-masked spinner is done with USN True Blue, and I've used Insignia Blue forward of that little white trim stripe on the nose, because the photos I've got all seem to show a color that's slightly darker than the surrounding area up there. That may be because the white stripe makes it appear darker, but there's no way to know for certain without a color photo of the area and we already know that nobody's going to send in a photo until after the model is done, right?

The starboard side of the airplane, offered mainly because of those dark green splotches. They were the norm on AAF aircraft of the 1942-1943 era and seem to have been a standard feature on the P-40N. They also seem to have had a well-defined pattern rather than being just a random thing. The best explanation of them that I've seen, and the one that I'd recommend to you, is a drawing in Ian Baker's excellent Aviation History Coloring Book 44; Green Splotches, White Splotches; Another Look at USAAF Camouflage 1942-1943. As with all of Mr. Baker's offerings, this one is superb and well worth its modest price. The placement of the blotches on the model were taken directly from that monograph. Note the area under the canopy; it's OD to match the surrounding fuselage. You don't want to follow Hasegawa's painting instructions back there, gang!

We'll come back to this P-40 in a later installment, when it's a little bit farther along. Meanwhile, how about some Real Airplane Pictures for a Monday?

Props Are Good, and Hogs Have Props

You see a whole lot of Chance Vought F4Us on this site, and there are reasons for it. First, and most important to me; it's my site and I happen to like the airplane. Also, frequent contributors Jim Sullivan and Doug Siegfried like the U-Bird too, and they send in some neat stuff from time to time. Finally, there are really good kits of the Corsair out there in any scale you could think of, and of almost every variant ever produced. In my world that's motivation enough to do yet another photo essay on the type so here, without further ado, are some more F4U photos for your enjoyment:

A prime example of how to load one's britches on the flight deck. An SNJ takes the wire on the FDR while an F4U-5 gets stupid overhead. The adrenalin level in those cockpits, and on the boat, must've been something else---if you look carefully you can see the LSO coming out from behind his wind screen to marvel at the festivities. I'd love to see the plat camera footage on this one!  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

133843, a Marine AU-1 from an un-named unit, shows off its pylon suite; the AU could carry a lot of ordnance! Of interest is the frequently seen Non-Specular Sea Blue anti-glare treatment on the upper fuselage decking and cowling.  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

The AU-1 saw considerable service in Korea during the "police action". This VMF-212 bird, "Miss Penny", is one of the more famous AUs of the period. Note the natural metal main landing gear and tail wheels, and the pylon suite. There are some oddly-shaped areas on the forward mlg doors, which could be painted a light blue but which are more likely to be silver duct tape picking up a blue sheen from the airframe. A mystery, as it were! Gotta love that arrow on the forward fuselage!  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

A Korean War veteran friend of mine once called that particular place "a very cold corner of Hell". I suspect he was right. This photo shows 129362, an AU-1 of VMA-323, getting ready for a mission. The fuse extender on the 250lb GP bomb is remarkable, and could provide a neat touch to a model. The spAD in the background is probably an AD-2, although it's tough to tell from this view. The shot, most likely taken at Kimpo, portrays typical operations for the Corps during the Korean War.  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

Another AU-1, this time 129401 from VMA-323, sitting in a revetment. This shot reveals the exhaust pattern on a well-used Corsair, and may be of interest to modelers. Note that the squadron code ("WS") has been applied to the mlg doors as well as the usual vertical stab.  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

If it goes up it will come down sooner or later! This landing falls into the "any one you can walk away from" category, and depicts an F4U-5N from VMF(N)-513 after a slight misfortune. The Corsair was a tough airplane and could take a lot of abuse, although that twisted aft fuselage would indicate that this bird became a parts source shortly after the picture was taken. A lot of profile illustrations show the squadron's -5Ns in overall black; a few of them may have worn that color but this aircraft wears the regulation Glossy Sea Blue.  Tailhook Association via Doug Siegfried

Some MO Birds for the Morgan Boys

It's been a long time since I first met the Morgan Brothers, Rick and Mark, but I think they're from Missouri, or at least they have an interest in airplanes from that State. That said, here's a selection of MO NG birds from the early 50s in honor of that interest (and for our mutual enjoyment as well):

There was a time, Way Back When, when almost every American military pilot learned his craft in North American's T-6 Texan. Here's a fine study of a 110th FS/71st FG AT-6D in flight to start the ball rolling. Of special interest is the lack of national insignia on the fuselage, although the star is evident under the starboard wing. Most ANG fighter units had at least one AT-6 (later T-6) on strength for proficiency training. Neat shot!  G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

A pair of MONG Mustangs on the prowl. The large discs on the aft fuselage appear to be in black, although dark blue could be equally valid; your guess is as good as mine! Note that the second aircraft is carrying a nose number, while lead is not. Spinners appear to be white but may also be yellow. Fred Roos via Mark Ninkivil

Here's that disc again, this time on aircraft No. 5. The mystery deepens when you look closely at the image, because the spacing of the "MO" and "NG" would barely allow a conventional national insignia to fit between them, and there's no indication that one was ever there. Sounds like an opportunity for a Relief Tube entry to me!  Fred Roos via Mark Nankivil

Taken on the ground at Lambert Field, this P-51D depicts a Missouri Guard bird early in its career. Note the pre-1947 national insignia (which appears to be greyed-out in finest WW2 ETO tradition) and the nose number. The early buzz number treatment is noteworthy; the P-51's "PF" became "FF" after the 1947 changeover to the USAF. It's really odd to see that greyed-out star on a post-War CONUS bird... G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

PF-105 flying a little form. There's nothing other than that nose number to indicate any sort of unit affiliation, although the aircraft does appear to have a red spinner. Of interest here is the oil streaking on the cowling, so typical of an operational Mustang. G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

And PF-106, bearing the nose number 16 and with an interesting spinner configuration; the aft portion is obviously in natural metal, while the forward part is apparently painted yellow (although it could just as easily be white). These guys were probably flying over Germany in the same kind of airplane just a few short years before! G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

Virginia Mayo was a popular actress of the day---here PF-650 (nose number 1) pays tribute to her. The photograph has obviously seen better days, but the airplane is pristine! Sure wish those guys had put a little more color on their birds---there's just not much there once you get past that red spinner. G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

Mustangs can crash too. This 116th FS P-51D exhibits all the classic signs of the results of a torque roll on takeoff. (A friend of mine once told me that his dad, who'd flown P-51s after the war, once informed him "you never straight arm a P-51!". Truer words were never spoken!) Then again, it may have landed long and flipped once it got to the over-run. Whatever happened, it provided a classic Bad Day for somebody!  G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil

A slightly later time frame, but once again torque roll seems to have been the culprit---look at the way the vertical stab is bent over. Everybody loves the P-51, but it's an airplane that can kill you in a heartbeat if you don't pay attention. Civil Mustang owners re-learn the lesson every year, it seems...  G. Sommerich via Mark Nankivil.

Remember the Skyray?

Frequent contributor Mark Nankivil's dad was a naval aviator during the 50s and 60s. Mark's sent along a couple of really nice "FORD" images taken by his dad, and I think that offers a nice round-out for our day:

Here's an F4D-1 from VF-20 getting ready to take on a little gas. The Skyray was a tiny airplane, and a ferocious performer. It was also woefully underarmed and short-ranged to boot, making it relatively useless in anything other than the fleet defence or point-defense interceptor roll. It was also one of the most beautiful jet fighters ever designed. This photo really defines the type's good looks.  Nankivil Collection

And THE F4D scheme, an F4D-1 from VF(AW)-3 out of North Island. This has got to be one of the prettiest fighter schemes of all time, even if those AIM-9Bs comprise the type's total armament!  Thanks, Mark!  Nankivil collection

The Relief Tube

Mark Morgan has sent along a comment or two on the F-94 photos we ran a few installments back:

Phil - WHOOPS, I goofed big time and left off a couple of items. The first shot with the 2nd FIS F-94As was taken at Nellis, the photo was marked by the Nellis photo lab on the back. I assume the event was oneof the early fighter gunnery meets.



The -94C shot is Burbank, my old plant (as distinguished from Plant B-1, which was further north near the railroad tracks). That hanger in the center background is where the Skunk Works was located while I worked there, 1/87-5/89, with the office building on the far side, out of sight. I fully expect that hanger had several U-2s under construction at the time this photo was taken; the aircraft in the foreground are pre-delivery F-94Cs and T-33As. Sad to say, this entire historic old complex is now gone, bulldozed in order for Lockheed Martin to get it off the California tax rolls. Sigh.. last time I rolled through there was May of '04 while I was doing the Noble Eagle road trips, was shocked to see everything removed..MK
 
A quick note from Tom Gaj regarding the Boeing T-43; the type flew its last operational mission last Friday, 16 September, out of Randolph AFB. The honors of that last GATOR flight fell to 73-1153. And another one bites the dust...
 
And please remember, I'm always looking for photographs and hard information on American military aviation of all eras, but in particular from 1919 to 1975 or so. If you've got anything of that nature that you'd like to share, please contact me at replicainscale@yahoo.com . I don't make money off this thing so you won't either, but full credit will be given for your contributions.
 
That's it 'til next time, so be good to your neighbor. We'll talk again soon.
phil