International Naval Review NAS Norfolk in 1957

[Mark Allen M]

From the good ole LIFE archives. Source and conversation about them here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/t ... ugh+-+Life

I would say it's the seaplane ramp at NAS Pensacola as well or possibly NAS Norfolk. date unsure.

[lmritger]

That's NAS Norfolk during the International Naval Review in 1957; tons of foreign naval ships visited during this event including HMS Ark Royal (still trying to find pics of her Wyverns during this trip).

Being a native of the area, I always get a smile when I see stuff like this.

Lynn

[Mark Allen M]

That's NAS Norfolk during the International Naval Review in 1957; tons of foreign naval ships visited during this event including HMS Ark Royal (still trying to find pics of her Wyverns during this trip).

Being a native of the area, I always get a smile when I see stuff like this.

Lynn

Thx Lynn, I knew someone around here would have the answers. Can you see what type helo took the photos?

[J. Thompson]

What a nice selection of aircraft..
Got to go with the Bearcat (sorry!)

[Courier Sportster]

i like the non-float version of the kingfisher i see. i can't name a few of these though. i like the ryan fireball. i must be blind, can't spot a bearcat. i'd like one of those silohuette deals with an outline and a number that gives all the answers away. i assume any of the WW2 birds in this pic survive to this day?

[Courier Sportster]

oh i see it now, across from the white single seat skyraider, right?

[Mark Allen M]

From a post on the link's site:

"Working from the back against the Martin P5M-1 and -2 Marlins, I see:

N.A.F. N3N on floats
N.A. SNJ
Beech T-34B Mentor (Interestingly, never assigned the typical naval designation of the period, rather the Air Force T-34 designation)
N.A. T-28B Trojan (ditto above)
Lockheed TV-1
Grumman TF-9J
Ryan FR-1 Fireball
N.A. AJ-1 Savage
Douglas AD-5 Skyraider
One of the prototype Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior
Vought V173 flying pancake prototype
Grumman AF-2 Guardian
Douglas AD-5W Skyraider
Grumman S2F-1 Tracker (Stoof)
N.A. FJ-1 Fury
Vought F7U-3 Cutlass (my fave)
Douglas F3D Skynight
Douglas AD-6(?) Skyraider
Grumman F9F-5 Panther
McDonnell FH-1 Phantom
McDonnell F2H-1 Banshee
Grumman F9F-6 Cougar
(off to the left there)
Grumman F7F-2D drone control Tigercat
Grumman F8F drone control Bearcat
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (bad paint scheme)
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (bad paint scheme)
Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer
Grumman F4F-4 or G.M. FM-1 Wildcat in GSB (!)
Vought OS2U Kingfisher in GSB (!)
Grumman F6F Hellcat
and just the tail end of a Vought Corsair
and way over on the right, a Douglas A4D-1 (or 2) Skyhawk
and just the wing and tail of a N.A. FJ-3 Fury"

[dusttinbound]

I see a NAS Olathe FJ-1 that I wouldn't mine having.

[C VEICH]

Wow! What a fantastic collection of Navy hardware! It would be VERY difficult to choose just one. I can pretty easily narrow it down to five (Hellcat, Bearcat, Tigercat, Guardian, Savage) but then it gets much tougher. I'd probably have to go with the Hellcat though given the opportunity.

[Chris Brame]

I just wonder, considering the 1957 date, if the Kingfisher, Helldiver, Wildcat and Dauntless are among the current survivors?

[Mark Allen M]

Here's additional LIFE photos from the International Naval Review in 1957, looked to have been quite the event.


battleship Iowa (BB-61), during the International Naval Review at Norfolk, VA, June 1957


The Dominican frigate Pres. Peynado, at International Fleet Review.


The US aircraft carrier USS Randolph during Int'l Naval review


23 US cruisers during the International Naval Review


An overhead view of the Iowa (BB-61), during the International Naval Review at Norfolk, VA, June 1957


US submarine Barbero, with crew lined up on deck to salute as cruiser passes.


The Spanish schooner Juan Sebastian, at the International Fleet Review.


The Spanish schooner Juan Sebastian, at the International Fleet Review.


Spanish sailing ship, Juan Sebastian enter Hampton Roads.


International Naval Review, Pamphlet, June 1957

[lmritger]

Oh.
My.
God.

Mark, I don't know where you found that brochure, but you are my new INTERNET HERO. I've sailed these waters for years, and cannot begin to imagine the sheer number of ships anchored right off Willoughby, Ocean View, and all the way down past Chick's Beach. Holy crap, that must have been jaw-dropping!

As an aside, the map shows the earliest configuration of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel islands, one of which was built onto Fort Wool; it's amusing to see how close the Sara was anchored to the north island, it is RIDICULOUSLY shallow around there nowadays. In fact, it's not far from the spot where the Mighty Mo ran aground a few years earlier!

Absolutely superb, sir, just superb. Thank you for this!

Lynn, proud resident and native of Hampton Roads

[SaxMan]

The Iowa's captain - F.J. Becton - is he the same person as the CO of the Laffey (DD-724) during World War II?

[over/out]

What a nice selection of aircraft..
Got to go with the Bearcat (sorry!)

x2

[oz rb fan]

can i have three......1 f7f...for the fun......2 guardian...i used to fly a control line carrier deck model.....3 savage....just like the look of that beast!!!