Warbird Information Exchange

... So you want to be a Navigator? Seems easy enough way back when .... right!

Lowry Field, CO c 1942

A LIFE series by photographer William Vandivert















































... but you still have to learn how to shoot a gun as well.



... only when school is finished do you get to smell the flowers.

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Mark, as always some interesting photos. The last photo shows a field elevation of 5391 feet, so it might be Lowry Field in Colorado, near Denver. I'm not sure if it was a navigator's school but it was a training field. Just FYI.

Randy

Thanks Randy, yes now that makes more sense. Lowry Field would be more logical.

M

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Both large hangars remain with "Wings Over the Rockies" museum located in one.

Air Corp Gunnery School

Las Vegas, NV c 1942

LIFE Series by Photographer Eliot Elisofon

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[Thread title is ridiculous btw]

SO cool to see some of the last active B-10s in service! This one is B-10B 35-235:

AAIR lists it as a taxiing accident and refers to it as a B-10BM, one of several so converted; did the "M" suffix denote target towing or something else?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Chris, in Martin Aircraft 1909-1960 by Breihan, Piet & Mason, the M designation is mentioned in this on page 55:

"Despite a number of disputes between Air Corps materiel officers and Martin over design and construction defects in the B-10 series, 119 of the 151 planes purchased during 1932-35 were still in service in the Spring of 1940. Redesignated B-10M and B-12AM, most were assigned to target-towing and training duties, though seventeen planes in the Philippines were still in combat status."

It is likely that some B-10B models were also used and got the M designation, as you suggest.

Randy

Hey, thanks for all the AT-6 shots, Mark. Since Z-7 is identifiable as an AT-6A-NT, I will make the bold (foolish?) assumption that the others are as well.

cheers
Doug